New fish won't eat pellets

5064 Views 21 Replies 6 Participants Last post by Shirleythebetta, Feb 11, 2012

vermax

Discussion Starter · Feb 8, 2012

Hi everyone. I've been hanging around the forums for a few months now, but I just registered. I've got 5 betta fish, and my newest girl, Eldradine, is becoming a bit of troublemaker.

I just got Eldradine, a cellophane CT female, this past weekend. Since I got her, she's eaten twice, and only Hikari freeze dried bloodworms. I've tried to get her to eat NLS Small Fish Formula, Omega One Betta Buffet pellets and Aqueon Betta pellets. She just stares at them like they're little intruders floating in her water. :-?

My four other bettas (2 males, 1 female and 1 juvenile) love the pellets and I've never had a problem feeding them. None of my other bettas will eat flake food, so I don't have any on hand.

I'm wondering if there is anything I could do to the pellets to make them more appetizing to my ghost fish. Or alternatively, should I try to feed her flake food? In that case, since I have no experience with flakes, what are the best brands of flakes?

I'll try anything to get this little girl to eat!

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Shirleythebetta

· #2 · Feb 8, 2012

I had this problem with captain. Bettas are picky eaters so it can be a pain. I had to crush his pellets into powder before he would eat them. I still have to. They like a variety of foods though so maybe she doesn't like them. Sometimes you just have to give it time though. Some people suggest that it takes them a while to recognize certain things as food. I feed mine bloodworms, tropical fish flakes and pellets in rotation.

RedneckBettaGuru

· #3 · Feb 8, 2012

a couple suggestions.
Try the frozen bloodworms, even the pickiest normally take to them.
You can also get a product called "Garlic Guard". you basically soak what you are trying to feed for a minute or two and then put it in for them. The smell and taste is usually irresistible to them.

Shirleythebetta

· #4 · Feb 8, 2012 (Edited)

mmmmm i just had garlic french frys today. lol. I never heard of garlic guard. sounds interesting. oh and she could just need time to adjust to the new environment. it happens.

Enkil

· #5 · Feb 8, 2012

My Hannibal is like this.

As suggested, you can try soaking the pellets in "Garlic Guard" or garlic juice for a minute or two. From what I've been told, this usually works.
Flakes are something else you can try.
Frozen foods should work since she has taken to the freeze-dried blood worms.

Rosso1011

· #6 · Feb 8, 2012

vermax, depending on how long you've had her she may just be a little stressed. When I first got my boy, Rosso, he would wait for the pellets to sink to the bottom before eating. A little later he started eating from the top. Bettas can be rather obstinate when it comes to eating. Give her some time to build up an appetite (about a week) and if she's still turning his nose up, then you might want to consider other options.

If you don't want to go that route, you can try the garlic route or make your own with some crushed garlic and water. I haven't used it yet, so I don't know the exact parts.

vermax

Discussion Starter · #7 · Feb 8, 2012

Thanks everyone. I tried crushing a pellet for her and she ignored as well. I'm going to try the garlic like a couple of you recommended and see if I have any luck with that.

I actually did notice that Eldradine was picking at a sunken pellet earlier today, so maybe she's similar to Rosso

Either way, I'm going to keep an eye on her. Until I get the garlic, at least I can keep feeding her the freeze dried bloodworms so I know she's eating something. Hopeful she's just adjusting!

I don't know if this could be related to anything, but are cellophane bettas extra sensitive in anyway? I know that's totally random, but I figured I'd throw it out there.

Shirleythebetta

· #8 · Feb 9, 2012

let me know if the garlic works. that sounds interesting.

beckylou

· #9 · Feb 9, 2012

My new betta Sunshine isn't eating either :[ he'll eat a pellet and then spit it out 2 or 3 times and then just ignore it and I haven't seen him eat yet. I also tried flakes which he wouldn't even look at. Help :'[

vermax

Discussion Starter · #10 · Feb 9, 2012

Update: I finally got Eldradine to eat!

I took Rosso's adive and tried soaking a pellet to make it sink, since I saw her pecking at a pellet that had sunk previously. As soon as I let go of the pellet, she attacked it! I guess going almost a week on two freeze dried bloodworms made her plenty hungry. I'm still getting some garlic just in case she decides to act up again

beckylou- My VT male Elliot used to do that when I fist got him. The pellets were too dry for him to swallow. I fixed that by soaking the pellets first (or he fixed it by swimming around the tank with it in his mouth!). Try that and see if Sunshine will take it.

Rosso1011

· #11 · Feb 9, 2012

Once they start eating, they usually continue... but keeping the garlic around just in case is a good idea.

Shirleythebetta

· #12 · Feb 9, 2012

Great!

vermax

Discussion Starter · #13 · Feb 9, 2012

Thanks for all the advice, everyone! Garlic will be on-hand from now on!!

Hopefully Eldradine doesn't become another trouble-maker. Emma is already too crazy for me! Ahh, but I guess that's what attracts me to female bettas. So fiesty, but so cute...

beckylou

· #14 · Feb 9, 2012

he won't even look at the soaked pellets. and i've tried two different types. i reallly hope that he'll be okay

vermax

Discussion Starter · #15 · Feb 9, 2012

Just do what I did with my girl. Wait a few days and try again. If you've only had him for a little while, then it's probably just stressed and adjusting, like Rosso said. I know when Eldradine finally ate, she was ravenous.

Let me know if you have any luck!

beckylou

· #16 · Feb 9, 2012

Okay! Thanks for all the advice :]

vermax

Discussion Starter · #17 · Feb 10, 2012

No problem, and Good Luck!!

Shirleythebetta

· #18 · Feb 10, 2012

Vermax* I just notice your avatar. Looks like the girl version of mine. Too cute. My dad just got a female that looks like her.

vermax

Discussion Starter · #19 · Feb 10, 2012

XD I totally see that! That's great! I just love that color combination on a CT. Make sure your dad loves his new girl to death!

Shirleythebetta

· #20 · Feb 10, 2012 (Edited)

totally agree! My fiance spotted him and I fell in love. He just got a new tank upgrade hehe. My dad does spoil his bettas to death. They are in a 55 gallon! It's long in length and short to the top so it's well suited. It's a community tank and gets a kick out of his red and blue girl. She picks on his 14 inch long pleco. Such attitude

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