We will talk about How many days can a betta fish go without food? In our article. We will talk about the functioning of the betta fish body and its feed requirements to find out the best way to manage your betta fish.
How many days can a betta fish go without food?
Betta fish can go up to 2 weeks max without food. But in about 6 to 7 days it goes into starvation mode which can be dangerous for the betta fish. We know that it is a very common question for the pet owners how their pets will survive when they won’t be at home taking care of them.
It should be kept in mind that it is against special animal welfare rights to not feed the fish for more than one day. Fish are sensitive animals and they require continuous energy to survive in the water. The continuous movements in the water require continuous energy that comes from the feed that is why betta fish need regular feeding for their normal body functioning.
Before talking in detail about How many days can a betta fish go without food? We should know about the basic physiology of the betta fish.
Physiology of betta fish
Betta fish are carnivore fish and require an animal protein-rich diet. They are predators of the small aquatic animals and survive on the high protein-rich diet and animal source energy.
The GIT of betta fish secretes enzymes that help in the digestion of the food and absorption of nutrients from the food. The protein obtained by the animal source helps the betta fish to maintain normal body functions.
If betta fish is feeding on low protein diets or less energy feed they shift towards the starvation mode and consume their reserves, these reserves are essential for the normal functioning of the body.
The physiology of the digestive system of the betta fish is very delicate, imbalanced diet or improper feeding can cause complications like bloating or constipation. These conditions can lead to swim bladder diseases and any diseases related to the swim bladder of the fish make swimming difficult.
If the betta fish is not fed over 2 weeks or more, this reserve starts to deplete, and dangerous chemical reactions start taking place in the betta fish body. How many days can a betta fish go without food? A very common question asked by betta fish owners.
Regular feeding and taking care of the fish can be tiresome and in case of emergency or vacation one should know certain things about one’s beloved pet. So in that case you should know that a betta fish can go for almost 2 weeks without food.
Feeding requirement of betta fish
Betta fish are carnivores and mainly eat the flesh of small aquatic animals for fulfilling their high energy and high protein requirements. Even if a betta fish can go for almost 2 weeks without food it is against the animal welfare rights to make a fish reach the starvation stage.
Betta fish usually eat the shrimps, mosquito eggs or larvae, or flies on the surface of the water. The mouth of the betta fish is in an upward direction and that is why they are surface feeders.
Betta fish can eat human or tropical fish food but it is not healthy for their normal body functioning.
The change in the regular diet can lead to digestive system problems such as bloating and constipation. Starvation or discontinuous feeding in the betta fish can lead up to some unwanted consequences. These consequences can even lead to the death of the beta fish.
So we have learned that betta fish can go for almost 2 weeks without food. We also discussed the feeding requirements of the betta fish. Let’s discuss some basic animal welfare rights to take good care of the betta fish and don’t starve them to death.
Five Freedoms for the animal such as betta fish
The five freedoms are the basic animal rights that should be provided to every animal you keep. Always keep in your mind that fish are delicate and sensitive creatures and therefore you should provide them proper care and protection.
Following are the Five freedoms that every pet owner should follow, we will talk about these points concerning the betta fish:
Freedom from Hunger
Even though betta fish can go for almost 2 weeks without food you should not keep it hungry. Betta fish are carnivores and require a high protein diet. Therefore the feeding and dietary requirements of the betta fish should be properly met.
You should not keep the betta fish hungry as it can cause serious body damage to their normal functioning. Freedom from hunger is one of the basic rights of all animals, especially those who are kept by different owners.
Freedom from Discomfort
It allows the animal such as betta fish free from any sort of freedom. Even though the betta fish can go for almost 2 weeks without food don’t put it into discomfort by deliberately not giving it the proper diet at regular intervals.
Overfeeding the betta fish can also be the reason for its discomfort. Overfeeding can lead to painful conditions like bloating and constipation. As we have discussed before, these conditions can lead to swim bladder diseases which make swimming a difficult task for the fish.
Freedom from Fear Distress
Fear from fear distress helps the animal such as betta fish live a healthy life. Stress or fear can induce emergency hormones in the fish and can lead to conditions like shock or trauma. Most of the fish we are given stress or made frightened by touching them, go into shock and eventually death.
The betta fish can go for almost 2 weeks without food but the hunger can cause distress to the fish and even lead to death.
Freedom from pain, injury, or disease
Keep the betta fish free from any kind of pain, injury, or disease. The imbalanced diet and irregular feeding can cause some serious diseases in the betta fish. Therefore you should properly feed the betta fish and take care of its feeding requirements.
Yes, the betta fish can go for almost 2 weeks without food but it can make the betta fish lose its proper immune function. The loss of proper immune function can make the betta fish susceptible to several dangerous microbial diseases such as mouth fungus, fin rot, or tuberculosis.
Freedom to express normal behavior
The animals should be allowed to express normal behavior. It should be kept in mind that betta fish are carnivores and should only be fed the animal rich protein diet. It is against the animal welfare rights to compel them to exhibit an opposite behavior than what they are.
Therefore the betta fish should be provided with ideal water and food conditions. The hygiene and cleanliness of the water tank should also be maintained. Unhygienic conditions and improper cleaning of the water tank of the betta fish can lead to unwanted consequences such as the death of the betta fish.
We talked about five basic points of freedom. Let’s talk about how to keep a betta fish healthy and alive.
How to keep betta fish healthy and alive?
It is very important to keep your betta fish healthy and alive. Following are some tips that can help you keep your betta fish healthy and alive:
Provide proper hygienic measures
It is crucial to keep the environment of the betta fish clean and hygienic. Unsanitary conditions can lead to unwanted consequences. Clean the water regularly and change it at regular intervals. Unhygienic conditions in the fish tank can lead to dangerous diseases like mouth fungus, viral or bacterial diseases like tuberculosis or fin rot, etc.
Feed your betta fish properly
You need to feed your betta fish properly to keep it healthy and alive. Management of betta fish is important. Feed it regularly and also keep in your mind that overfeeding can also lead to serious complications. Even though betta fish can go for almost 2 weeks without food, it is not healthy for betta fish.
Similarly overfeeding, more than twice a day, can lead to bloating or constipation and compromise the health of betta fish. Therefore take good care of proper feeding of betta fish.
Betta fish are voracious just like other carnivore fish but it depends upon youtube to manage the feeding schedule of betta fish and keep it healthy and free from any kind of pain, disease, discomfort, or hunger.
Conclusion
We talked about How many days can a betta fish go without food? In our article. We talked about the functioning of the betta fish body and its feed requirements to find out the best way to manage your betta fish.
We came to know that betta fish can go for almost 2 weeks without food but after a few days, the fish goes into starvation mode.
Feel free to ask anything about How many days can a betta fish go without food? In the comment section below.
FAQs How many days can a betta fish go without food?
Frequently asked questions about How many days can a betta fish go without food? Are:
Can betta fish go a few days without food?
Yes, a betta fish can go a few days without food. Betta fish can go up to 2 weeks max without food. But in about 6 to 7 days it goes into starvation mode which can be dangerous for the betta fish.
How long can a betta fish go without water change?
Betta fish can go up to 2 to 3 days without the water change. But it is mandatory to regularly change the water. Unhygienic conditions in the fish tank can lead to dangerous diseases like mouth fungus, viral or bacterial diseases like tuberculosis or fin rot, etc
How often should I feed my betta fish?
Feed your betta fish twice a day only. Overfeeding can lead to painful conditions like bloating and constipation. These conditions can lead to swim bladder diseases which make swimming a difficult task for the fish.
How long does it take for a betta fish to starve to death?
It takes 2 weeks for a betta fish to starve to death. It should be kept in mind that it is against special animal welfare rights to not feed the fish for more than one day. Fish are sensitive animals and they require continuous energy to survive in the water.
Can I feed my betta once a day?
Yes, you can feed your betta once a day. But keep in mind that you are feeding your betta fish with a whole complete diet rich in animal protein and fiber. A whole one meal or two half meal twice a day works just fine for your betta fish.
