One of the best aspects of caring for our pet betta fish is feeding them. Fish come right to the surface and engage with us during eating. They are at their most active and really appreciate the attention we lavish on them.
But what if we have to leave our betta fish tank for a while? Will they be okay without food, or are we really putting a healthy betta fish in danger?
Just how long can betta fish go without food? Let’s take a closer look at this important question!
Can Betta Fish Survive 3 Days Without Food?
Betta fish also known as Siamese fighting fish are a popular pet fish that are known for their beautiful fins and vibrant colors. Despite their popularity, betta fish require specific care to stay healthy. One question many betta owners have is how long their fish can go without food before it becomes an issue. In this article, we’ll explore how long betta fish can survive without food and the best practices for feeding your betta when you are away.
How Long Can Betta Fish Go Without Food?
The good news is that betta fish can survive without food for 3-5 days as long as they are healthy overall and live in a clean, optimized tank environment. Here are some general guidelines on how long bettas can go without eating:
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3-4 days: Most healthy adult bettas can go about 3 days without food as long as their tank water is clean before leaving.
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5-7 days max: Pushing it past 5 days increases risks of health issues like malnutrition, lethargy, weight loss.
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10-14 days: Extreme fasting for this long stresses bettas’ health and is not recommended.
Bettas can use stored energy reserves for the first few days but after that, they start entering starvation mode which carries risks. So while they can survive 3 days, leaving them for 5-7 days should be the max time.
Factors Affecting Fasting Time
Several factors impact how long individual bettas can safely go without food including:
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Tank Size – Bettas in smaller tanks (under 5 gallons) need more frequent water changes which is hard without someone present. Bigger tanks can go longer between cleanings.
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Filtered vs Unfiltered – Filtered tanks stay cleaner longer than unfiltered bowls or tanks.
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General Health – Older or sick bettas withstand fasting worse than younger, healthy fish.
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Metabolism – Slower betta metabolisms need less food than fast ones. Cooler water slows metabolism.
So optimize tank conditions, use larger filtered tanks, pick younger/healthier fish, and lower temperatures to 74-76°F to safely extend fasting periods if needed. Monitor bettas closely upon return.
Impacts of Fasting on Bettas
Here’s how a 3-4 day fast compared to 7-14 days without food impacts bettas:
3-4 Days Without Food:
- Normal hunger levels
- Usual stress/activity
- Good water conditions
- Bright colors, flowing fins
7-14 Days Without Food:
- Starvation mode sets in
- High stress and lethargy
- Poor water quality
- Clamped fins, dulled colors
As you can see, betta health and tank conditions decline rapidly after 5-7 days without food. Bettas start trying to jump out, get listless, and become susceptible to disease.
Caring for Fry & Juveniles
Betta fish fry and juveniles have higher metabolism than adults so they cannot go as long without food. Some guidelines:
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Fry: Feed 3-4 times per day. Go only 2-3 days max without food.
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Juveniles: Need feeding 1-2 times per day. Can go 3-5 days without, but not ideal.
Having an automatic feeder or fish sitter give them a small feeding is best for fry/juvenile bettas when leaving for more than 2-3 days at a time.
Best Practices for Feeding Bettas When Away
If you need to leave your betta for several days, here are some good ways to keep them fed:
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Automatic Fish Feeders – Drop in small amounts of food 2-3 times per day. Need to be tested ahead of time.
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Feeding Blocks – Slowly dissolve and release food. Attach the correct amount for the number of days away.
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Fish Sitter – Have a friend or pet sitter give pellets/bloodworms every 2-3 days.
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Fasting – For short 2-3 day trips, fasting with clean water may be OK for adults. Not suitable for fry/juveniles.
When using feeders or food blocks, only leave as much food as your betta would normally eat so excess food does not foul the water. Do a partial water change before leaving too.
For trips 5 days or longer, having someone come feed the fish is best. Review proper amounts and tank care with them. An automatic feeder programmed to release small amounts of food 2-3 times daily works as well.
Key Feeding Tips
Follow these tips for feeding your betta fish:
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Feed high protein foods like bloodworms, brine shrimp, mosquito larvae. Avoid exclusively pellet diets.
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Feed adult bettas what they can eat in 2-3 minutes 1-2 times per day.
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Remove uneaten food after feedings.
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Fasting 1 day per week can be healthy.
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Keep a consistent schedule around the same times daily.
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Avoid overfeeding which pollutes water.
Summary
Water Quality And How You Feed Your Betta Fish
There’s more to volume than meets the eye when it comes to betta fish health and what to feed them. One important element to think about is the water temperature.
Betta fish, like nearly all fish, are ectothermic. This means that their body temperature and metabolism are mostly or entirely regulated by the external environment.
Fish, unlike mammals (endotherms), move more slowly when the water is cool and faster when it is warm.
So what does this mean when discussing betta fish care?
If your aquarium’s water temperature is on the lower end, you should feed your betta fish less often. A warmer tank temperature means that the fish is more active and needs more food.
Since they are very tolerant of cool conditions, betta fish live in unheated aquariums and bowls for a long time. But these are still tropical fish and really should be kept with a heater.
This way, the water temperature never falls beyond the 75-84°F range they prefer.
You need to be extra careful about how much you feed your pets if they live in betta tanks that don’t have filters. There isn’t a filter for any leftover food, so most of the ammonia that is released stays in the tank and makes the water less clean.
Betta fish general health is almost always lower in unfiltered tank conditions. I always recommend using a filter in a betta tank for this reason.
Related Reading: Recommended Aquarium Filters for Fishkeeping Hobbyists
If a fish can live in bad conditions, that doesn’t mean you should always keep it in dirty water.
Not to mention the smell. An unfiltered betta tank tends to become smelly in just a few days. Why would you want that anywhere in your home?.
Is It Healthy For Fish To Go Without Food For A While?
A short fast can actually do a pet fish some good once in a while. A lot of people who own betta fish feed them so often that the fish easily gain fat around their middles. These plump little fish never go without food.
Even so, betta fish should eat a little less every once in a while, just like people. It’s also good for our pets to skip meals or even a day of food every once in a while.