How to Stop My Betta From Eating Algae Wafers

Bettas, also called Siamese Fighting Fish, are very popular pets because of their striking colors and the fact that they are easy to care for. Many new betta fish owners are drawn in by the beauty of their bettas and do not take the time to learn how to properly care for them. Bettas are carnivores, so they thrive best on a diet of live and frozen foods. If your betta is eating plants or algae wafers set out for other fish in your tank, it may be because their dietary needs are not being met elsewhere.

Things You'll Need

  • Brine shrimp
  • Bloodworms
  • Daphnia
  • Tubifex worms
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Instructions

    • 1

      Examine your betta's current diet to determine whether it is varied enough to provide all the nutrients your fish needs. If your betta's diet is limited to commercial fish food or betta pellets, you will need to make some changes.

    • 2

      Begin adding live and frozen foods to your betta's diet. If you feed your betta two or three times a day, replace one or two of the regular feedings with the new food. Offer your betta live or frozen brine shrimp, bloodworms, daphnia and tubifex worms. Only offer a small amount of food at one time and make sure your betta eats all of it before you offer more.

    • 3

      Attract your betta's attention before feeding. If you are housing your betta in a community tank you will need to lure it to the surface for feeding so the other fish do not get to its food first. Wait for your betta to be paying attention, then sprinkle the food directly over it.

    • 4

      Drop your algae wafers into the tank so that they sink quickly. If you have algae eaters or other bottom feeders that need algae wafers to supplement their diets, it is best to sink the wafers to the bottom. Because betta fish tend to swim in the upper levels of the tank, sinking the algae wafers may keep your betta from eating them.

    • 5

      Remove uneaten portions of algae wafers after an hour. If your fish cannot consume an entire algae wafer in an hour or less then try breaking it in half or in quarters. Uneaten algae wafers will break down and add to the waste and debris build-up in your tank.