Is my betta a snob?

[kokomo]

My little guy's been home for two weeks now, and I've been trying my best to feed him right. Problem is, no matter what, he just won't touch those pellets. He gave them a shot at first, but spat them out and that was it.

I've got four different types of Betta pellets now, and let me tell you, they all go to waste - 100% of the time. Even after a fasting day, Mr. Snubinous looks at them like they're, well, you know... poop in the tank. And then he just begs for what he really wants: shrimp and worms. Is he playing me?

I tried so hard last week, I had to do daily water changes just to get rid of the rotting pellets at the bottom, and clean up a huge oil spill on the surface. It was crazy.

Right now, he's only been eating frozen brine shrimp, bloodworms, and tubifex worms for two weeks straight. I'm worried, to be honest.

How do I get him to at least give those pellets another try? And how long can he keep up this rich diet without any issues?

[aquamar]

I believe your little guy's just showing you what he'd naturally eat in the wild – tiny crustaceans, worms, and larvae. Given the choice, that's what he'd fill up on. For me, besides the blood worms and baby brine shrimp, I'd mix it up with live food like amphipods – just one by one, so he sees it coming. If he doesn't snatch it on the way down, it'll give him something to look forward to daily – the hunt. You could also try live daphnia or something from the local pet store, see if that sparks his interest.

[graye]

I've always found that insects are the way to go for Bettas, never really used pellets myself. Richness doesn't always mean quality, take whiteworms for example - they're rich and fatty, but that's not the case for other foods.

In the wild, I imagine a Betta's diet would mainly consist of mosquitoes, probably catching one every few days. A family member of mine had a Betta that lived close to 6-7 years, and its diet consisted of freeze-dried tubifex, decapsulated artemia cysts, dried shrimp, and the occasional flake. I was actually the one supplying the food, so I can attest to its quality.

[BadgersSong]

Dealing with a finicky eater, eh. In my experience, variety is key. Load up on those frozen treats - brine shrimp, mysis, and bloodworms. Mix it up so he doesn't get bored. Now, here's the thing - every now and then, try slipping in a pellet or two. Who knows, he might just surprise you and develop a taste for them.

[aquamar]

I've had great success breeding amphipods - it's surprisingly straightforward, and they thrive in separate colonies, away from the main tank. I keep multiple jars of green water on my window ledge as a backup, just in case one crashes. These tiny critters don't require special care; they'll even survive on microscopic algae if I forget to feed them. I've got jars that have never been fed, yet they're doing fine. In fact, having amphipods in your aquarium is a great way to control algae. The hardest part is getting the initial supply, but once you have them, it's smooth sailing. They'll eat decaying matter, leftover food - you name it. You'll rarely need to feed them specifically. My only losses were when I moved house and had to relocate my aquariums, and another time when my dog knocked over a container, and I had to vacuum them up from the carpet.

[kokomo]

I believe your little guy's just showing you what he'd naturally eat in the wild – tiny crustaceans, worms, and larvae. Given the choice, that's what he'd fill up on. For me, besides the blood worms and baby brine shrimp, I'd mix it up with live food like amphipods – just one by one, so he sees it coming. If he doesn't snatch it on the way down, it'll give him something to look forward to daily – the hunt. You could also try live daphnia or something from the local pet store, see if that sparks his interest.

I've been doing some reading on amphipod care and I'm considering giving it a shot. Making green water is a bit more challenging for me this time of year, but I'll look into what options are available and probably give it a try next spring. I had thought they required a certain level of salt in the water to thrive, though?