How Long Can Betta Fish Go Without Food? Embark on a Journey with Absolutely Easy Tips

Betta fish are one of the most beautiful fish in the world. Due to their bright-colored fins and skin, and interesting behavior, people love to keep them. As they can thrive in different conditions, they are easy to handle at home. Betta fish can live for 2 to 4 years normally. But this life span varies with changing water conditions. 

Like every other living organism, Betta fish also need regular food to survive. However, Betta fish can live a little longer than other organisms without food. 

Understanding Betta Fish Survival Times

Betta fish are actually carnivorous fish. In the wild environment, Betta fish fed on insects, crustaceans, and larvae. However, there are days when they can’t find food. These days they live without food. Therefore you can say it is a natural practice for Betta fish to survive without food.

Even in aquariums, Betta keepers practice this fasting activity of Betta for two or three days a week. This will actually keep your Betta fish healthy and control overfeeding. 

How long can betta fish go without food in a tank?

Leaving a Betta without food is not a good idea. If you want the direct answer, then Betta fish can live for 10 to 14 days without food. The Betta fish is a picky species. They have a very small stomach which is equal in size to their eyes.

So, there are several factors which are contributing to their survival without food. 

• The size of the tank matters a lot. The smaller the tank, the earlier it will be contaminated with waste and uneaten food. Polluted tanks are more harmful for this species of fish. 
• Age, health, and daily routine also contribute to the time span without food. The young ones and old ones are able to survive more days without food than middle-aged Bettas. Healthy fish will definitely perform better than unhealthy bettas. 
• Filtration of the tank will add some time in the days without food. These filters remove dirt particles, contaminated food, and wastes from the water. The fresh and clean water is good for Betta fish health.

Thus, bettas can live up to 14 days without food if you maintain healthy tank conditions. 

How long can betta fish go without food in a bowl?

Betta fish can survive without food for about 10 to 14 days. But with changing external conditions, the time period without food changes. There are many other factors that will affect it. The size of the bowl is small. The wastes accumulate earlier in it. This will affect the health of your Betta fish. And your Betta fish will die sooner. 

How long can betta fish live without a filter?

Betta fish can survive for an extended period without food if you filter regularly. When you don’t filter for some days, the water in the tank will be polluted. This is actually more dangerous for Betta fish health. So, Bettas will die earlier than average in water without a filter.

Can my betta go 5 days without food?

Fasting for two to five days is quite natural for a wild betta fish. So, yes, your betta can go 5 days without food. But after 5 days, betta fish start starving. 

In the case of a pet Betta fish, this period of fasting will contract. But feed your Betta for optimal health, not to make it fatty. As in aquariums, wastes and uneaten food accumulate, and the health of Betta fish will be damaged sooner. So without food, your betta will not go 5 days. 

What will happen when your betta fish lives without food?

Yes, fasting for one or two days will prove beneficial for the health of male or female Betta fish. But if you continue with your Betta fish for an extended period, it will start starving. This will weaken your Bettas which will reduce their immune strength. So they will be more vulnerable to diseases. 

Essential Betta Fish Care Tips

When it comes to having a pet Betta fish, there will be some responsibilities. A betta keeper must feed and take care of the health of his Betta fish. So, here are some tips for keeping your Betta healthy.

• Use a high-quality and varied diet for Betta fish. After some days use, brine shrimp in feed. It is good for Betta’s health

• Always maintain partial change of water from the tank. It will keep water fresh and remove the contaminations from the water regularly. 
• Make sure the timetable of the light is the same as a standard day and night cycle. This will give them a proper time for rest and sleep. You can do so by using the automatic timers.
• Yes, these are hardy species of fish but always double-check their environment. This will minimize any sort of risk of harm to your fish.

Here are some extra tips you have to follow when you are leaving your Betta fish. 

• If it is affordable for you, buy an automatic fish feeder and install it in the water tank. This device will drop some fish food particles regularly with some gaps. Now you will be assured that your betta is fed even in your absence. 
• Before you leave you must test the automatic feeder. Check carefully the quantity of food particles that it is dropping in the water. Here are some cheap automatic feeders that can break and pollute the water with food. So try to check and test this feeder before you leave. 
• When you are leaving you can ask someone to check and take care of your betta. Yes, it is not necessary when you have an automatic feeder installed in the tank. But it is a more careful act to have someone check at least once a week.
• Set the optimal temperature (70-80 degrees Fahrenheit) of your tank before you leave.
• Clean the tank properly and remove any debris or leftover food from the gravel. 
• At the time of departure, a responsible Betta keeper feeds Betta fish properly. 

Conclusion

It’s not a good idea to leave your betta behind without food for several days. But if it is necessary, then follow the above-mentioned guidelines. This will help you to know how to maintain conditions and how you will feed your fish when you are not there. So read it attentively. 

Hope this blog post will prove helpful for you!