introducing my new betta

[florin]

Hey, just got my first betta on Saturday. I tried giving him bloodworms for the first time today but he's not having it - won't eat them. Got aqua substrate and plants in the tank, should I take the bloodworms out?

[sSjey]

You should definitely take out the uneaten bloodworms, as they'll just break down and pollute the water.

Does your betta eat other types of food? Sometimes, bettas can be picky after a change in environment, especially if they were fed something different at the pet store. It may take a few days for him to get used to the new food.

[freshwave]

Did you properly cycle the tank before introducing your betta, and are you soaking the bloodworms before feeding them to him?

[sSjey]

To clarify, what form are the bloodworms in - live, frozen, or dried? The distinction is important as frozen ones require thawing prior to feeding, while dried ones need rehydration through soaking in water.

Cycling a tank involves cultivating sufficient bacteria to break down ammonia produced by the fish and decomposing waste products, as well as nitrite - a byproduct of ammonia. I see you have plants in the tank; could you tell me if there's a substantial number of them, and whether they're fast or slow growers? Are you monitoring the water for ammonia and nitrite levels?

[flumon]

Hey, just got my first betta on Saturday. I tried giving him bloodworms for the first time today but he's not having it - won't eat them. Got aqua substrate and plants in the tank, should I take the bloodworms out?

Add live mosquito larvae, they'll stay alive and he'll eat them.