Betta refuses to eat, causing concern

[candystix]

Hi there,

I recently brought home a beautiful halfmoon Dumbo, on the twelfth to be exact. He seemed really content in my ten gallon tank with filtration and heating. I've got a moss ball in there, but no live plants just yet. There's a little log and some hiding spots for him to enjoy. He's been super active, exploring his new surroundings over the past few days.

The thing is, he hasn't eaten since I got him. I know he's stressed, and that's probably why, but it's hard not to worry - especially since I'm new to all this. I'd feel so much better if he'd just eat something. I've tried him on pellets, bloodworms, and even brine shrimp, but he just doesn't seem interested.

Any advice would be really appreciated.

[SeaBidder]

I'd be a bit concerned too if my fish wasn't eating by now. A week is a pretty standard timeframe for them to go without food, but it's been a few days since you brought him home. I've always found pellets to be the way to go, they float for a bit which makes them easy for the fish to find. Have you checked if your tank is cycled, and are you familiar with the nitrogen cycle?

[cavallo]

I'm dealing with a sick fish myself, and four weeks without eating is a real challenge - my girl's got fish bladder disease, so two days is barely a blip on the radar. Adding some real plants could be a great way to give your Dumbo a sense of security, just make sure he's got an open path to the surface for air. I've found that Tubiflex worms can be a real treat for them - try the freeze-dried kind, just be sure to rehydrate them properly so they don't cause any issues. A small cube, about half, should be enough, and get it nice and wet before offering it to him. Flakes are also a hit with most fish, and there are some good brands out there - just be mindful of overfeeding, or you'll be dealing with a tank maintenance nightmare. You might want to clean out any leftover food before introducing something new, just to keep things clean.