Help with a Marine Betta eating

[musarra]

Ok,

I got a marine betta about a week ago and I have yet to see him eat anything. I tried after a few days to give him ghost shrimp and feeder fish. He would eat neither while I watched so I removed them after they died so they wouldnt pollute my QT tank (only 30 gal). I'm worried that he will starve as he doesn't like when I approach the tank. I have tried feeding him after the lights go off and before they come on. However, I cant see if he eats anything. I have clownfish that clean up any smaller salt water fish. I can't find any stores with brine shrimp or anything and he takes little interest in food on a stick. The most interest he had was a ghost shrimp I offered last week, but it crawled under a rock and the betta couldn't get at it. I have never had a carnivore before like this (probably a bad first choice for one).

So there is my problem. I would like any available information about getting one to eat. If anyone can give me advice of suggestions on what to do next that would really be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[MCCOOL]

Have you tried any frozen foods? Mine eats mysis shrimp and pellets daily, I've never tried feeding any live foods, but mine also ate before I bought it.

 

[musarra]

Yeha i tried frozen brine and mysis as well as flakes even tried dead ghost shrimp on a spear.

I don't want to feed it live, very hard to get and not healthy.

My LFS never has any fish in it and won't hold it after you order it they will sell it to the first person even if it doesn't eat so I order all mine online now. (bluezoo aquatics)

 

[musarra]

it looks healthy and swims around when it is light out but I think I terrify it when I walk up to the tank with the lights on so it hides and I know that chasing it around squirting it with frozen food usually doesn't help.

 

[musarra]

wondering about freeze dried krill

 

[MCCOOL]

Sounds like you're trying a nice assortment of foods, he may just need more time to settle in. I wouldn't worry too much about him starving unless he's looking emaciated currently, they are very hardy fish.

Ive never tried krill, live brine would be my first suggestion but it may be hard to find in your area.

 

[musarra]

Apparently they are hard to find anywhere tried online retailers when I bought some coral and they had nothing I even put it in my cart and they called to say they didn't have anything

 

[nonimmigrant]

I've a mated pair now for four years. I agree with MCCOOL on giving it time to acclimate. I've always used live shrimp - not feeder fish - to acclimate mine with good success. Bettas do have a slow metabolism, so don't be too worried. I'd also recommend low lighting for a week and maybe even cover the front of the tank with a cloth for a couple of days. These guys are great, great fish.