In this post, we will answer the question “How long can betta fish survive without food?”. We will also discuss the subject and how to prepare your tank before leaving for a few days.
How long can betta fish survive without food?
Betta fish may survive for 10-14 days without food if they are not fed. You should take into consideration several important variables before letting your betta fish unsupervised for an extended length of time.
It is important to leave your betta fish in a well-established aquarium to which it is already acclimated if you want to return to a pet fish that is not agitated.
If hiring a fish sitter is out of the question and you’re planning a trip that will last longer than 3 to 4 days, there are several important actions you should do before you leave your aquarium.
Not feeding your betta fish for a day or two can be healthy
The occasional fasting period for your betta fish isn’t all that harmful to your fish, as long as you don’t overdo it. The fact that they are engineered to survive for relatively long periods without food will not affect them in any way, and it will aid in ensuring that you are not overfeeding them. It is possible to overfeed your fish, which can cause stress levels to rise, metabolism to slow, and general health to be compromised in your fish.
However, you should avoid doing this too frequently since you must still ensure that your fish is getting enough food to be alive and healthy. It is acceptable to go away for the weekends, so long as you do not develop a practice of not feeding your fish on the weekends. Try to limit yourself to doing this once per month or two.
How long can betta fish fry go without food?
You might be wondering: if betta fish can survive for 10 to 14 days without being fed, how long can their fry survive without being fed? After all, the food requirements and tank conditions of betta fish are slightly different from those of their betta offspring, thus it’s possible that they can be left unattended for a little different amount of time as well.
You’d be correct. When it comes to fish, betta fry is a high-maintenance creature that must be well-cared for and continuously monitored until they reach maturity. Because their metabolisms are far quicker than those of their adult counterparts, they should be fed at a greater frequency to help them burn energy and develop more quickly.
How to prepare the betta fish tank before leaving it for a few days
Even if you are inside the time frame in which your betta fish or betta fry can live while you are away, it is not a good idea to just pack up and leave your tank in its current state.
There are a lot of preparations and preventive procedures that you should take to ensure that your tank is ready for your departure. Continue reading to find out what you need to do to prepare your tank and betta fish before you depart for your trip.
Optimize tank conditions
The first thing you’ll want to do before leaving is to make sure the water and tank conditions are as good as possible. You may be certain that your Bettas will be in a safe and healthy environment while you are away.
If you leave without correctly setting up the tank settings, things will only grow worse from there, forcing your bettas to spend more time in a tank where the conditions have deteriorated to an unsafe level.
Test your tank’s filter, remove the trash and food scraps out of the gravel and decorations, check the pH (6.5-7.5) and hardness (3-4 dGH), check the gear/equipment, trim the plants, and clean any algae that have accumulated in the tank.
This will ensure that the habitat in which your bettas are living is as clean as possible so that when you return, the environment is only somewhat unclean rather than entirely filthy.
Check your heater
Check your heater to ensure that the bettas aren’t spending an excessive amount of time in water that isn’t the appropriate temperature. It is important to note that the betta fish is a tropical freshwater fish, which means that they prefer to be in freshwater that is between 75 and 81 degrees Fahrenheit.
Check to see that your heater is operational and that the temperature is between these ranges. Also, make sure there is no air conditioning to make the room unduly chilly or heat to make the room too warm, and that the tank (particularly if it is a smaller tank) is not immediately exposed to direct sunlight. Place the tank as far away from any vents that may be releasing hot or cold air as possible.
Cooldown the water
Even though we just discussed how betta fish prefer a somewhat higher temperature, you may utilise a slightly lower temperature if you’re intending on leaving your tank unattended for a longer amount of time, such as 10-14 days. Keeping your bettas at a temperature between 73 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit may be beneficial to them.
This is because this temperature range will still keep them healthy while also slowing their metabolism down a little, resulting in their requiring less food. Your bettas will feel less of a desire to move around, and while they may be a little slow and lethargic, it’s preferable to them being hungry in the first place.
Put a lid on the tank
When you’re going to be gone for an extended period, make sure to fill the tank to the brim. Betta fish eat at the surface of the water, and, believe it or not, they frequently get oxygen from the upper layers of the water column through the use of an organ known as the labyrinth organ.
Check the health of your fish
If you plan to leave your fish unattended for an extended period, the overall health of your fish is a crucial element to consider. Not all bettas are created equal, and as a result, they all have varying periods they may be left alone, even though there is a basic rule.
When attempting to establish how long you may safely keep your betta fish unfed, consider the age, metabolism, overall health, stress levels, and tank conditions of your betta fish. Younger bettas may be better able to cope with the stress of not being able to feed as well as the progressively terrible tank conditions than older fish.
An elderly fish, on the other hand, may have accumulated enough fat to be able to go longer periods without eating, as their metabolism is often slower than that of younger, developing fish.
Conclusion
In this post, we answered the question “How long can betta fish survive without food?”. We also discussed the subject and how to prepare your tank before leaving for a few days.
If you have any thoughts or doubts, feel free to drop us a comment below!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): How long can betta fish survive without food?
Is it okay if I leave my betta fish alone for a week?
Yes, you can leave your betta fish alone for up to a week without harming it. Providing that the tank conditions are excellent when you leave them alone, they are well-equipped to survive for 10-14 days without nourishment.
Is it possible for a betta fish to go two days without eating?
Betta fish can’t eat for two days at a time, and this fasting is frequently regarded as healthy if it occurs just once or twice a year.
Is it possible for a betta fish to go three days without eating?
Yes, you may leave your betta fish alone for up to three days without causing any concern; it will be OK after that.
Do betta fish become depressed or lonely?
Betta fish are territorial by nature and should not be kept in the same tank like any other betta fish since they will fight and hurt each other, which will frequently result in death. They are unlikely to become lonely in their tank; but, if they are housed in a tiny tank, they may become bored with their surroundings.
What is the maximum amount of time a betta fish may spend without water change?
Betta fish that reside in big tanks may survive for two to three weeks without needing to be changed, but only if the tank is equipped with an effective filtration system. What exactly is it? It is necessary to replace 30 per cent to 50 per cent of the water in your betta fish’s tank every week if it is kept in an unfiltered tank.
References
How Long Can A Betta Fish Go Without Food? https://www.bettacarefishguide.com/how-long-can-a-betta-fish-go-without-food-in-depth/
How Long Can a Betta Fish Live Without Food? – https://aquariumsphere.com/how-long-can-betta-fish-live-without-food/
