[JeremysMom]

I got a beautiful split fin betta yesterday... Hes purple, pink, & his tail. has dark purple & blue... Anyways- He wont eat! I got a betta fish starter kit & food came with it. Ive fed him 3 times & he wont eat at all. Im worried about the little guy! Please help =)

 

[Theraggy1]

What type of food came with it? Flakes, or pellets and what brand.He might just be being picky.

 

[Aus]

I'm a new betta owner, too, and like you I flipped out when my betta refused food. It's pretty common, apparently, for bettas to go off their food after a move, which is pretty stressful for them. Also, they might just take a dislike to the food you're giving them. Mine hated his flakes. I fed him a mosquito larva and some brine shrimp to see if he'd eat at all (he gulped them like a shark) and switched him to betta pellets (he ate them with relish). He's even eating flakes again now he's got a wide variety of foods and no chance to get sick of anything.

Sid also picked up condition, health and appetite once I moved him to a 3.5 gallon, properly heated tank. Being cramped and in unsteady heat conditions might have also contributed to his appetite loss, which went on for about a week.

Your betta sounds very pretty.

 

[JBosley]

What size is your tank? And is it heated?

Also, try different foods! Flakes, pellets, small pellets, live food, frozen food

 

[SilkySiren]

Hi You said he is a split fin....I'm not being snarky but you mean a double tail right?
Because I had 3 double tail males, and they were the ones who gave me most issues with
eating...not sure why exactly...they always would hold protests at random times & refuse to
eat their normal food (pellets).
But bettas of any tail type in a new home will often refuse food for a bit due to the stress of change...
Keep trying different types of food...

Edit: Also, make sure to remove any uneaten food from the tank too...it will pollute the water....
Try some frozen blood worms or brine shrimp...those were my fishies favs.

 

[Rosso1011]

It is normal for a betta to go through a period where they won't eat for a while after being put in a new home.

Also, if your kit came with flakes, the flakes may not even be specific to bettas and he may not like them. If you think it may be the food, then pick up some new food, preferably betta food pellets (try Aqueon, Omega One Betta Buffet, or New Life Spectrum). It is possible that your betta will like betta specific flakes, but I think you will see the best results with pellets. Just to reiterate, if he doesn't take the new food immediately, just give him about a week and eventually he will come around and eat. Just make sure not to leave food laying around for too long, as it will pollute the water.

 

[Tikibirds]

have you tried frozen bloodworms??