Spitting out the food is a common thing in betta fish. Many betta owners come with this issue.
When I first bought betta for my home, I became worried as my betta was spitting out the food. It becomes a matter of concern for a new betta keepers as they see that their betta is not eating and spitting out the food. However, it is not a matter of concern; in some cases, it can be an issue. So, Why is my betta fish spitting out his food? Let us find out.
Betta fish spit out the food because of the big size of the food. They spit it out to break down the food so they can eat and digest it easily. However, other reasons can be constipation, parasites, lack of hunger, and your betta fish being choosy or dumb.
This article will discuss all the possible reasons behind betta fish spitting out the food, and also, we will discuss how long betta fish can go without food. So, let us get into it.
Contents
Why is my betta fish spitting out the food?
The primary reason your betta fish spits out the food is that they break down the food into small pieces.
They do this when the food size is big, and they cannot eat it. So, they chew and break it down into small pieces so that they can eat and digest the food easily.
Spitting out the food is not alarming, as it is normal in betta fish.
So, don’t worry when your betta fish is spitting out the food and eating it slowly by breaking it down into small pieces.
However, if your betta fish is not eating or ignoring the food in the tank, there can be different reasons.
Let us discuss all the possible reasons behind betta fish not eating and spitting out the food.
Also read: Why Is My Betta Fish Not Eating?
What are the reasons behind betta fish spitting out its food?
All these are the reasons behind your betta fish not eating and spitting out its food:
- Your betta fish is just dumb or fussy.
- Your betta fish is suffering from digestive issues.
- Your betta fish is affected by parasites.
- Your betta fish is not hungry at all.
- Your betta fish is scared.
Your betta fish is dumb or fussy.
Spitting out food because your betta fish is just dumb or fussy is the other primary reason behind your betta fish spitting out the food and not eating it.
Your betta fish may not be familiar with the food you are providing them, and they are not taking that as food.
Also, if they know it is food, they are not eating it and spitting it out because they don’t want to eat it.
In such a condition, you are left with two options: continue providing that food until your betta fish get hungry enough and are not left with other options than to eat that food.
And the second option is to provide them with different brands or types of food.
These are some of the best food for your betta fish you can consider feeding them.
Make sure you are not leaving the uneaten food for more than 10 minutes, as not doing this will result in food getting decayed in the tank, resulting in an ammonia spike.
Also read: Can Betta Fish Eat Bloodworms?
Digestive issues
If your betta fish is not eating or spitting out the food, the betta may be suffering from digestive issues.
In most cases, constipation is the reason behind such digestive issues.
If your betta fish suffers from constipation, you will notice other symptoms like bloating and stringy feces.
To treat constipation, let your betta fish fast for three to four days and then start feeding them with high-fiber food like daphnia or boiled peas.
Parasites
Well, it is very rare that your betta fish is affected by parasites, but not impossible.
If your betta is affected by parasites in their stomach, it will not be able to eat the food and will spit it out.
You will also notice other symptoms, like your betta will have trouble swimming and becoming lethargic.
In such a case, make sure to separate your betta fish and place it in a quarantine tank.
Placing them in a quarantine tank is necessary to prevent the contamination of the disease all over the tank and infecting other fish.
After that, run the antibiotic medication recommended by the veterinarian.
Betta is not hungry
Your betta fish will not eat or spit the food out when it is not hungry at all.
So, if you are feeding your betta fish more than 3-4 pellets twice a day and notice that it is spitting or not eating the food, it is possible that your betta is not hungry.
Consider feeding your betta fish a small batch of food twice a day to ensure adequate feeding and prevent such issues.
Scared betta fish
It is also possible that your betta fish is not eating or spitting out the food because it is scared of something.
If you have introduced new fish to the tank or added betta fish newly in your tank, they will ignore eating as they will become scared.
Providing your betta fish with plenty of hiding spots and ample space will relax them.
Also, consider adding fish to your betta tank that is peaceful and less colorful than your betta fish.
How often should I feed my betta fish?
As discussed above, bettas have a stomach size similar to their eyes, meaning they cannot eat much food at once.
Consider feeding your betta fish 3-4 pellets twice daily to ensure adequate feeding.
Quantity more than that can end up overfeeding your betta fish.
Overfeeding can lead to constipation and bloating in your betta fish, which will make them suffer from a life-threatening condition.
So, consider feeding your betta fish a small batch of food twice daily to prevent such issues.
Also, providing a lot of food at a time will leave uneaten food in the tank, which will decay and produce ammonia.
And bettas are very sensitive to ammonia and can get affected by an ammonia spike.
How long can betta fish live without food?
A healthy betta can live for a week to two weeks without food.
However, it is not recommended to keep them hungry for this long as it can make them weak, and they can also come under stress.
Consider not feeding your betta fish for this long only when it is an emergency, and there is no way you will be able to feed your betta.
If you are going out for a vacation, consider asking your family or friends to feed your betta fish.
And, if there is no option left, you can leave your betta fish on their own as they can manage for 10-14 days without food.
Also, don’t ever consider overfeeding your betta fish before leaving for a vacation, thinking that this will eliminate their hunger for some days.
Overfeeding will do nothing but cause digestive issues to your betta fish.
You can consider installing an automatic feeder to your betta tank.
An automatic feeder will provide food to your betta according to the time and quantity you set.
First, try it for a week before going to check that it is working well.
Conclusion:
The big size of the food is the primary reason your betta fish spits out the food.
They break down the food by chewing and spitting it out so they can eat and digest it easily.
It is common in bettas, and there is nothing to worry about.
However, there can be other reasons behind your betta fish not eating and spitting the food, like constipation, parasites, and overfeeding.
Make sure not to overfeed your betta fish. Feed your betta fish 3-4 pellets or any other food twice daily to ensure adequate feeding.
Reference: Wikipedia