helping my betta eat less

[bronzefly]

Hey y'all, so I'm sure you remember my overstocked tank thread - I'm still in the process of getting it sorted. I've got my lovely betta, Honey (yeah, I know, not exactly the most fitting name for this feisty girl), who's doing great with her tankmates, no major aggression issues except for the occasional flaring with my one-eyed cherry barb, Tiger.

The thing is, Honey's got a serious food obsession - I'm talking Algae Wafers, flakes, bloodworms, omnivore pellets, even blanched zucchini... she'll eat it all and then some. I have to spread out food just so everyone gets a chance to eat, and even then, she'll gorge herself to the point of not being able to eat anymore, but she'll still try to grab more food and spit it out later. It's kinda charming, but I don't want her to harm herself, so I'm looking for a solution.

I'm thinking of moving her to a smaller container during feeding times, but that's not a permanent fix since I won't be able to set up another tank for a bit. Does anyone else have a betta with a huge appetite? Got any tips for reducing feeding or food drive? I'm even considering getting a fry box just for feeding times - that's how desperate I am. Thanks for any advice, -Caroline and Honey

[kingrise]

My fat betta sometimes munches on cucumber slices, I swear it's adorable. What kind of food are you feeding Honey, maybe she's just not getting enough nutrients and that's why she's always trying to chow down on everything in sight.

[sSjey]

Bettas are notorious for overeating - it's literally in their nature to stuff themselves till they're about to burst. I've seen it before, and honestly, the only way to prevent it is by separating them during feeding time. When you can manage it, a separate tank is the way to go - it's the most realistic solution to this common problem.

[bronzefly]

I've got a crazy list of foods I feed her - I know, I know, I overdo it XD. So here's what I've got: Hikari's got a bunch of stuff I use - their Tropical Algae Wafers, Sinking Wafers, Spirulina Brine Shrimp, Shrimp Cuisine Pellets, and Vibra Bites. Then there's Imagitarium Betta Pellets and Aqueon's Bottom Feeder Tablets and Omnvivore Shrimp Tablets. I also do Repashy's Bottom Scratcher Gel Food and Fluval Bug Bites. And of course, she loves her Frozen and Dried Bloodworms. Occasionally, I'll give her some Blanched Zucchini for a treat. I've also got some miscellaneous flakes just lying around from old tank kits - Aqueon Tropical Flakes, TetraMin Tropical Flakes, and GloFish Betta flakes, but I'm not really using those right now.

[sSjey]

Bettas are notorious foodies - they'll devour anything in sight. I learned this the hard way when I had frogs sharing a tank with my betta; it would chomp down on their specialized food, too. I've come to realize that the only foolproof way to curb a betta's voracious appetite is through permanent physical separation - not this temporary box thing during meal times. Continually scooping up your fish can be pretty stressful for them, so it's not a long-term solution.

[FinFan]

Honestly, setting up a spare tank for Honey might be the best option - her overeating could lead to some serious health issues, like bloating. If your mom's not on board, maybe just get it done and then show her how it's working out for Honey - sometimes it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission, you know?

[belleora]

I've got a pretty crazy food variety going on for Honey, but I guess that's just me being extra. So, here's the list of foods she munches on: Hikari Tropical Algae Wafers, Hikari Sinking Wafers, Hikari Spirulina Brine Shrimp, Hikari Shrimp Cuisine Pellets, Hikari Vibra Bites, Imagitarium Betta Pellets, Aqueon Bottom Feeder Tablets, Aqueon Omnvivore Shrimp Tablets, Repashy Bottom Scratcher Gel Food, Fluval Bug Bites, Frozen and Dried Bloodworms, and even Blanched Zucchini every now and then. I've also got some leftover flakes from tank kits, like Aqueon Tropical Flakes, TetraMin Tropical Flakes, and GloFish Betta flakes, but those aren't her main course.

[sSjey]

I came across another helpful tip for managing my extensive food collection - dividing new packs of flakes, pellets, or other foods into smaller portions, storing them in ziplock bags, and then freezing them until needed. This way, I can maintain the freshness of each type of food and avoid having to worry about them going stale or rancid over time.

[florap]

I've dealt with overzealous eaters before and found myself overfeeding in an attempt to ensure the rest of the tankmates were getting their fair share. This led to a lot of extra maintenance on my part, including more frequent water changes and light gravel work to remove the excess food.

[bronzefly]

Thank y'all so much for the advice, it's super helpful. Since my food is only a month old, I'll go ahead and freeze the amounts I'm not using, that's a great tip. I've actually moved Honey to a 20 gal tank now so I can keep a closer eye on her eating habits, and I'm really grateful for y'all's help - it's much appreciated.