Do Marine Bettas eat copepods or amphipods?
- Thread starter Bayliner
- Start date
sanchoy
New member
the guy just wanted to know geeze.. very helpful
Recty
New member
I'd say it's better to just not post if that's all you're going to say.
To answer the original poster's question, I'd hazard a guess that yes, they eat small invert life. Almost all fish do if they can, especially predator type fish like a marine beta.
Once he/she gets big I wouldnt expect to see it much, but while small they probably will eat anything they can fit in their mouths.
Thanks Sanchoy and Recty,
The reason I want to know is that I spent a long time researching this fish before bringing it home, and I didn't read anything about it eating pods.
I brought home a few live baby shrimp to use as a last resort if the betta will not accept frozen food over the next few days. They are in a small spare tank at the moment. If he is eating pods then that will take a lot of the stress off me while I try to get him to eat prepared foods.
Thanks,
Cam
The reason I want to know is that I spent a long time researching this fish before bringing it home, and I didn't read anything about it eating pods.
I brought home a few live baby shrimp to use as a last resort if the betta will not accept frozen food over the next few days. They are in a small spare tank at the moment. If he is eating pods then that will take a lot of the stress off me while I try to get him to eat prepared foods.
Thanks,
Cam
velvetelvis
Active member
I'm just hazarding a guess, but maybe because they're interested in their fish and its habits?
I would give it time. I've seen mine even go after flake food. Not sure if he ate any, but he certainly started moving when flake food drifted near him. Given they don't move much unless there's a reason, I have to assume he went after some food.
Last night I turned the actinics on and shut off the other bulbs, then waited around 20 minutes to half hour (outside of the room). Then came back and peaked around the corner, he was out of his cave and looking at me. So, I got the mysis out, and very carefully and slowly targeted the mysis near his cave. He went after several pieces right away.
It was a very joyous moment for me! He may not have eaten much, but at least I know mine's starting to eat. I've only had him a week.
I expect it will get easier as another week or two goes by! And yes, mine picks at rockwork and sand as well. Which I am also happy for. Means he's getting hungry and willing to try to eat. I'm hoping to get him eating more regularly now.
Last night I turned the actinics on and shut off the other bulbs, then waited around 20 minutes to half hour (outside of the room). Then came back and peaked around the corner, he was out of his cave and looking at me. So, I got the mysis out, and very carefully and slowly targeted the mysis near his cave. He went after several pieces right away.
It was a very joyous moment for me! He may not have eaten much, but at least I know mine's starting to eat. I've only had him a week.
I expect it will get easier as another week or two goes by! And yes, mine picks at rockwork and sand as well. Which I am also happy for. Means he's getting hungry and willing to try to eat. I'm hoping to get him eating more regularly now.
flameangel88
New member
Never saw mine pick on glass or rocks but it's not fussy about food. It will eat all frozen and pellets.
I agree flame, I think once they settle in, and get used to feeding schedules, and their feeding drive has kicked in, they just start eating when they see food.
Mine tonight even did the tail flap at some mysis that floating by him, trying to knock it into his mouth. I actually think he missed though. It was cool to watch!
Mine tonight even did the tail flap at some mysis that floating by him, trying to knock it into his mouth. I actually think he missed though. It was cool to watch!
Hi everyone,
Thanks for all the advice.
I thought I would give you a little update and ask a question.
Sunday night he had still not eaten anything. Although I was expecting this it still is bothering. I tried mysis, brine, and krill.
So being a little worried I gave in and put a ghost shrimp in the tank... He attacked it in seconds. So he was hungry.
It's now Tuesday night and I have a piece of krill in there that he is kind of interested in but he will not eat it... just sort of staring at it.
Should I wait and let him get a little more of an appetite? Or give in again and give him another live shrimp?
Thanks again for all your help,
Cam
Thanks for all the advice.
I thought I would give you a little update and ask a question.
Sunday night he had still not eaten anything. Although I was expecting this it still is bothering. I tried mysis, brine, and krill.
So being a little worried I gave in and put a ghost shrimp in the tank... He attacked it in seconds. So he was hungry.
It's now Tuesday night and I have a piece of krill in there that he is kind of interested in but he will not eat it... just sort of staring at it.
Should I wait and let him get a little more of an appetite? Or give in again and give him another live shrimp?
Thanks again for all your help,
Cam
IME, they prefer food out of the water column and once it hits the bottom and doesn't move (looks dead) they don't like it. You may need to add food and move away from the tank while it feeds, they can be shy. Also you may have to add food in a certain spot in your tank so that the currents take it by the fish, or it floats down in front of the fish.
you only gave him one shrimp to eat or did you give more after he was done eating it?
If you just gave him the one, I'd give him a couple, wait until he finishes one, then feed another. The next day, throw some mysis (small amounts) in with the ghost shrimp.
Just keep alternating 1 ghost, next day 1 ghost and mysis, next day just mysis (Small amounts) the next day ghost and mysis. Mix it up and see if he keeps eating and starts eating any of the ghost shrimp.
These guys are very hardy fish and if he's starting eat he may just be shy..
May also want to feed mysis then walk away from the tank, I found if I stood 10Feet from the tank or so, I could see him starting to eat some.
They're very shy and don't like being watched while eating... At least mine doesn't though he's getting over it pretty fast now. Even eats flake food!
I'm alternating mysis one day, flake the next. Mine is eating everything I give it!
If you just gave him the one, I'd give him a couple, wait until he finishes one, then feed another. The next day, throw some mysis (small amounts) in with the ghost shrimp.
Just keep alternating 1 ghost, next day 1 ghost and mysis, next day just mysis (Small amounts) the next day ghost and mysis. Mix it up and see if he keeps eating and starts eating any of the ghost shrimp.
These guys are very hardy fish and if he's starting eat he may just be shy..
May also want to feed mysis then walk away from the tank, I found if I stood 10Feet from the tank or so, I could see him starting to eat some.
They're very shy and don't like being watched while eating... At least mine doesn't though he's getting over it pretty fast now. Even eats flake food!
I'm alternating mysis one day, flake the next. Mine is eating everything I give it!
Hi, He is eating and doing great !
I just want to thank all of you for the great advice. You are right; they do come around and start eating eventually. Alternating the live ghost and mysis does work, Also as mentioned walking away from the tank at first helps. Although he now comes out whenever I approach the tank.
This morning while feeding some mysis I put a piece of krill in the tank. He tail flapped it and ate it. It's an amazing thing to watch.
I should also mention that before adding my Betta I had so many pods in my tank that my rock looked like it was moving... now I can hardly see any.... So he did eat the pods as well. ( the reason I started this post).
I also didn't want this thread to fade away without an update as I hope someone else will read this one day and learn from it as I have.
It is so great to see him eating, They are an amazing fish.
Thanks again,
Cam
I just want to thank all of you for the great advice. You are right; they do come around and start eating eventually. Alternating the live ghost and mysis does work, Also as mentioned walking away from the tank at first helps. Although he now comes out whenever I approach the tank.
This morning while feeding some mysis I put a piece of krill in the tank. He tail flapped it and ate it. It's an amazing thing to watch.
I should also mention that before adding my Betta I had so many pods in my tank that my rock looked like it was moving... now I can hardly see any.... So he did eat the pods as well. ( the reason I started this post).
I also didn't want this thread to fade away without an update as I hope someone else will read this one day and learn from it as I have.
It is so great to see him eating, They are an amazing fish.
Thanks again,
Cam
Fishareawesome
New member
Thanks for posting your experience. Just got a baby (1.25") and was wondering the same things!
