A fish spitting food out can be seen in multiple species for many reasons. There is no one common reason why your fish is spitting out their food. In simple terms, they don’t want to eat their food because they are sick, the food doesn’t taste good, or they don’t like the environment. Some fish like to play with their food, spitting it out and in until they finally eat it. This is similar to other strange things they do.
At the aquarium, there was a balloon puffer that did this, which was very annoying because it took him a minute to eat one piece of food, and by the time he was done, there was no more food left because all the other fish had eaten it. Every so often, we’d move him to quarantine to fatten him back up. ).
As a fish owner, you may notice your fish occasionally spitting out food after taking it into their mouth. This seemingly strange behavior can occur for a variety of reasons. Understanding the potential causes can help you address any underlying issues and ensure your fish are getting proper nutrition.
Common Reasons Fish Spit Out Food
Here are some of the most common explanations for fish spitting out food
Poor Water Quality
Dirty water with high ammonia nitrites or nitrates can irritate a fish’s gills and make breathing difficult. This can interfere with their ability to properly chew and swallow food, causing them to spit it back out. Regular water changes and testing is key.
Food Size or Hardness
Fish may have trouble eating and digesting foods that are too large or too hard. For small species, break up large pieces. Avoid foods that are difficult to chew and opt for soft pelleted or gel foods.
Boredom
Feeding the same food daily can bore fish over time. Vary diet by rotating 2-3 high quality foods to keep them interested at mealtime.
Aggressive Tankmates
Fish swarming or nipping during feeding time can stress more timid fish, leading them to spit out food as they flee. Try isolating timid fish during meals.
Illness
Sickness from parasites, bacterial infections, or other diseases can cause loss of appetite, lethargy, bloating and other issues that interfere with normal eating. Consult an aquatics vet if it persists.
Air Gulping
Some fish like bettas will gulp air at the surface then accidentally spit out food as they swim back down. Ensure proper oxygenation and surface area.
New Food
When transitioning to a new food, some finicky fish may spit it out at first until they adjust to the taste and texture. Gradually mix in new food over 2-3 weeks.
Preferred Foods
Fish naturally prefer some foods over others. A fish spitting out one food but readily eating another may simply have strong preferences.
Improper Storage
Food that is old, expired, or stored improperly can lose nutritional value and become unappealing. Discard old food and store tightly sealed in cool, dark place.
Overfeeding
Excess food can diminish appetite. Spitting out food may indicate overfeeding. Feed only as much as fish can consume within 2-3 minutes 1-2 times daily.
Preventing Food Spitting
While occasional food spitting isn’t too concerning, you can take steps to minimize it:
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Perform regular water testing and partial water changes to maintain pristine water quality.
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Select the proper foods for your fish species and size. Avoid large, hard-to-chew pieces.
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Feed a varied, high quality diet to prevent boredom.
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If aggressive fish are preventing others from eating, separate during feedings.
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Quarantine new fish and treat illnesses promptly when found.
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Ensure adequate oxygenation and surface area for air breathers.
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Transition new foods gradually over 2-3 weeks by mixing with old food.
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Identify and feed preferred foods while also offering variety.
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Store foods properly and replace every 6 months after opening.
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Watch feeding sessions and adjust amounts to prevent excess.
When to Worry
Occasional food spitting generally isn’t cause for alarm. But if the behavior persists, examine water parameters and care regimen for any issues. Seek help from your aquatics veterinarian if fish are losing weight, acting lethargic, or spit out all foods. Lack of nutrition can have serious health consequences. With the right diet and environment, fish should consume and digest foods normally.
Why do Fish Spit Out Food?
Why do fish spit when they don’t eat?
When you keep on giving the same food to your fish for months without any treats and some different foods, they become bore. Fish take the food inside their mouth and spit it then because they are bored with their regular diet. The medical reason for fish not eating the food is their mouth-related problems.
What causes someone to spit up blood?
The medical term for coughing up blood is hemoptysis. People with bronchitis and a heavy cough can sometimes cough up a bit of blood streaked sputum (mucus) for a few days. But coughing up a large amount of blood or having the symptom persist or recur are reasons to seek prompt medical evaluation. There are many possible reasons for hemoptysis. The first diagnostic test is usually a chest x-ray or chest CT scan. Whether the person is a smoker and what other symptoms such as fever, chest pain or weight loss help determine the diagnostic process.
What does it mean if a fish spits food?
Whilst many fish species are known to spit food on a regular basis (Betta, Goldfish, Koi, Angelfish, Cichlids), it is important not to become complacent about it. Whilst it could indicate little more than they are softening up a tough piece of flake, it could also mean that they are ill or unable to eat.
Why do starfish spit them out?
According to the starfish facts gathered by zoologists, certain species of starfishes have a chemical coating in their bodies called saponin. Saponin is a chemical that gives the starfish a very unpleasant taste. So as soon as the predator tries to take a bite of the starfish, they can spit the starfish out because of its bitterness.