My Betta isn't eating, what should I do? Pet's info: Fish | Betta | Male | 0.00106 lbs

Check the water temperature first. Bettas are tropical fish and do best between 78 F and 80 F. Next, check water quality. This can be done by using a home test kit or by submitting a water sample for testing. The local pet store may do this for free or for a small fee. Aim for an absence ( 0 ppm) of ammonia and nitrites with nitrates at 20 ppm or less. Perform partial water changes if necessary. Use only conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Offer an appropriate diet as well. Bettas are carnivorous, so make sure the flake or pellet is not mainly vegetable matter. Hikari makes a great Betta diet in pellet form. You can also offer blood worms, shrimp or Daphnia to add variety to the diet.

Thanks for reaching out about Dustin. Betta fish can not live in those small containers for elongated periods of time. Small quantities of water are more likely to accumulate toxins such as ammonia. Uneaten food will degrade also into ammonia. Small containers are not stable for temperature change also. The minimal size container for a betta fish is probably 2-3 gallons. Good luck with your fish.

Check water chemistry and quality as well as temperature. Try a different brand of pellets. You can also try micro pellets, they may be easier to eat. Soaking food in some garlic juice may stimulate her to eat.