But sometimes their behavior is slightly alarming, such as when they keep spitting out their food.
It’s not always bad, but sometimes it signals a big problem. What is making your betta fish throw up food? This will help you figure out when to help it.
Most of the time, betta fish spit out their food because they take too big of a bite or are just messing around with it. Other non-emergency reasons include not recognizing it as food, getting older, and being picky. But in some cases, it’s caused by constipation or parasites.
As a betta fish owner, you’ve likely noticed your flashy friend greedily gobbling up food at mealtimes. But then you spot those little pellets floating back up to the surface, ejected from his mouth. Spitting out food is a common behavior in bettas, but what causes it and should you be concerned?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive into the top reasons for betta food spitting and simple tips to curb it.
An Overview of Betta Fish Eating Habits
With their vibrant fins and feisty attitudes, betta fish have impressive appetites for such small pets. A healthy adult betta will readily consume 2-3 small feedings daily. Their stomach is tiny – just the size of their eye! So they need multiple small meals, not one large serving.
Bettas are omnivores and will eat both plant and animal-based foods. Top choices include:
- Betta pellets
- Bloodworms
- Brine shrimp
- Daphnia
- Mosquito larvae
- Chopped fruits/veggies
When feeding, watch your betta’s abdomen. It should have a slightly rounded belly after eating, but notappear swollen or bloated. Adjust feed amounts accordingly.
Now let’s explore why your betta may be spitting out instead of digesting this food,
Reason 1: Overfeeding
The most common reason for betta food spitting is simply overfeeding Bettas are greedy little eaters and prone to eyes bigger than their stomach!
A betta’s stomach is miniscule, approximately the size of its eyeball. But a hungry betta will eagerly snap up as much food as possible when feeding time comes around.
While bettas don’t have a true stomach, their gastrointestinal tract can only hold so much food safely. If a betta manages to swallow too large a meal, once the food starts expanding in their GI tract, it has to come back out!
How to Avoid Overfeeding Your Betta
Luckily, preventing overfeeding is easy. Follow these tips at mealtimes:
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Offer tiny portions, roughly the size of the betta’s eye.
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Feed just 2-3 pellets per meal, 3-5 times daily.
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Soak dry foods before feeding to reduce expansion.
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Remove uneaten food within 5 minutes to discourage gorging.
Following these guidelines, you’ll see your betta eject excess food less while still getting proper nutrition.
Reason 2: Indigestible Foods
Another possible culprit for food spitting is offering foods that are difficult for your betta to digest.
Betta fish lack the enzymes needed to break down and absorb certain foods properly. When indigestible foods are swallowed, the betta’s body tries to eject it.
Some bettas also have sensitive digestive systems and struggle with foods tolerated by others.
Difficult to Digest Foods
Here are some diet items that frequently cause digestion issues:
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Dry flakes – Too high in plant fiber to digest fully. Go for floating pellets instead.
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Peas – Complex plant cell walls make peas hard to break down.
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Large meals – Even digestible foods cause problems in big servings.
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Expired foods – Spoiled items can disrupt digestion.
Stick with small portions of fresh, high-quality pellets as your betta’s diet staple. Offer treats like bloodworms and daphnia in moderation.
Reason 3: Constipation
If your betta is having trouble passing stool, constipation could make it vomit up food.
Symptoms of a constipated betta include:
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
- Stringy white or brown feces
- Swollen abdomen
Relieving Constipation
Follow these tips to alleviate constipation:
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Fast for 1-2 days to clear the GI tract.
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Offer blanched, skinned pea pieces to increase fiber.
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Add aquarium salt to encourage bowel movements.
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Raise tank temperature slightly, to 80°F.
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Consider medication if fasting doesn’t improve the issue.
Proper nutrition and tank maintenance are key for preventing constipation long-term.
Reason 4: Parasites
While less common, some bettas spit out food due to gastrointestinal parasites. The parasites irritate the lining of the digestive tract, making it hard for the betta to swallow and keep down food.
Signs of an internal parasite problem include:
- Loss of appetite
- White stringy feces
- Emaciation
- Lethargy
- Clamped fins
Treating Parasites
If an internal parasite infection is suspected, treatment steps
#4 It’s Not Used To Commerical Food
Bettas that are young and some breeders only eat “real food,” or live food, like brine shrimp or mosquito larvae.
If they don’t eat your pellets or fish flake foods when you get them, they might not know this is real food.
Given time, they’ll adjust to their pellets, but you’ll want to ensure it’s an appropriate and protein-rich diet.
These fish are carnivores, after all.
Offer some real food like Brine Shrimp, Daphnia, or Bloodworms and see if they eat them. Insect larvae are also good options.
Any protein-rich live food or insect natural to the betta is good.
If so, it’s a food-type issue rather than a digestive one.
#5 It Has A Parasite
One major concern with spitting out food is your betta fish has a parasite.
This is pretty far down the list as far as likelihood goes.
By the time you notice the spitting of food, you’ll probably notice other symptoms first.
But parasites may cause your fish to spit out its food due to stress or bloating.
Here are the signs to watch out for:
- Lethargy (lack of movement)
- Lack of appetite
- Spitting out food
- Weight loss
- Diarrhea
- Stress Stripes*
*Read more about betta stress stripes, causes, and solutions in our article at the link.
If your betta has a parasite or you suspect it does, move it to a quarantine tank first. Use some of the water from the original tank to balance the bacteria in the separate tank.
Then, call a veterinarian.
There are medications to help, but you don’t want to use them unless the vet tells you to.
Why Do Betta Fish Spit Out His Food?
Why is my betta fish spitting out food?
If you notice your betta fish spitting out food or just not eating then he may be having digestive troubles. This is extremely common in bettas and normally isn’t something to worry about. In most cases, it’s going to be constipation that your betta is suffering from.
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.
Why does my betta fish spit out pellets?
When it comes to food, Betta fish have a reputation for being greedy. However, other reasons may include large portion size, parasite infection, or a constipated Betta fish. If your Betta fish also spits out pellets, and you want to know the solution, you have come to the right place.
What happens if a Betta spits out food and refuses to eat?
The most common concern when a betta spits out food and refuses to eat is constipation. They want the food, but when they put it in their body, there’s no room. Up it comes in spitting form. Constipation often passes on its own, so don’t panic right away. Just make sure to remove the uneaten food so it doesn’t rot.