Who Gives A Fish Forums

I've got a blind betta and feeding him is a real challenge. I have to use tweezers to hand-feed him, making sure the food is long enough for him to feel and grab. I've been using defrosted frozen mysis shrimp, which I've read is a good option for his situation. However, it's a pain to feed him that way, especially when I'm going to be away for an extended period - usually 4-7 days due to health reasons. In those cases, I give him a couple of bloodworms, which I've been told have more calories to keep him going longer. My other betta gets the same treatment, otherwise, he's on a good quality pellet.

I'm concerned that my blind betta might not be getting all the nutrients he needs from the mysis shrimp alone. I need food that's long enough for him to detect and eat. If you think he's missing out on essential nutrients, I'm open to trying other frozen foods that fit his requirements. It's frustrating searching for long enough shrimp, and using tweezers is tough on my arthritic hands. Plus, he often misses the food, and I have to suck it up with a turkey baster and try again.

What's a suitable daily amount of mysis shrimp for my betta? They're about 5 mm long, and I currently feed him until I run out of suitable shrimp or my hand hurts. I'm trying my best to care for him, and aside from his blindness, he's healthy. Any advice would be appreciated.

I think you might want to try live wingless fruit flies for your blind betta - they're an insectivore after all. The movement and sound of the flies should allow him to track them down easily.

Mysis shrimp are a good starting point, but I think it's a good idea to mix things up a bit. You might want to consider adding some freeze-dried tubifex to the mix, and frozen bloodworms as well - both of these should be manageable with tweezers.

Your betta is one fortunate fish. I'd stick with the hand feeding method you've got going on, it's clear you're putting in the effort to make sure he's comfortable and well cared for.

I'm going to play devil's advocate here. While it's commendable that you're willing to go the extra mile to hand feed your blind betta, what happens when life gets in the way and you can't do it anymore? Maybe you take a two-week trip, get married, or have to care for a family member - who's going to feed the fish then?

I've had my share of injured fish over the years, and my approach was simple: provide a safe environment and let them do the rest on their own. I recall a discus that smashed into the glass and damaged its brain - it could only swim nose down, but it managed to survive in its own 25-gallon planted tank for months, finding food and doing its thing.

When I'm away, I leave food packets for my brother to empty into the tanks, but it's not the same as hand feeding or even frozen foods. If the betta were mine, I'd probably consider euthanizing it. I've been in tough spots myself - 12 days in the hospital after bypass surgery, and a broken hip that left me bedridden for a week. My brother would feed the fish flakes or sinking sticks at best, but not daily.

I'm not saying this to criticize your approach, but rather to offer a different perspective. Fish have limited lives - they eat, swim, sleep, and mate. They try to avoid predators and injuries. Your betta can barely do one of these things, and it sounds like it can't even feed itself. I'm not making any decisions for you, just sharing my thoughts for you to consider.