[AquaAurora]

SO I got a betta this past week, along with 6 otos. First day he didn't care about them (exploring new home), next 2-3 days he would flare chase otos occasionally, after that he didn't mind them anymore.. Well today I've caught him nibbling on a piece of very waterlogged zucchini with the otos.. several times! I thought these guys were carnivors, not omnivores.. so wtf is this betta boy doing sharing veggies with the tiny suckermouths? Anyone else seen behavior like this?
He takes betta food fine and I feed him 5 pellets 2x a day, he has an acceptable belly(not huge, not sunken). Going to give him first frozen treat this weekend (bloodworms).
Sorry no photo evidence, when the camera came out he started swimming near the mid-upper tank instead of bottom by the veggie, will try to ninja a shot of it later if I can.

 

[Charlest]

Freedom of choice. He can grow up to be whatever he wants to be. In this case a African sucker fish. Ha

Sent from my LG-D500 using Tapatalk

 

[Art by Stef*]

Once a week or so is "Pea Night". Microwave some frozen peas in water about 18 seconds (til the first one pops), add cold water, remove skins (shell) and chop up fine as you can.

The bettas, female guppies, mystery snails, shrimp, and bottom dwellers love them!
Keeps them "regular", and very good for them.

The gups sometimes look like they are playing basketball, and a grumpy looking betta mug staring at you with a pea in it's mouth is too cute.

My one betta that likes snails doesn't touch the zuc I put it for them, but likes peas.
He will inspect it to see what the fuss is about, and then fall asleep on it.
He likes his comfort. His motto: If you can't eat it, sleep on it.

-Stef*

Oh, mosquito wrigglers are a nice, FREE treat for your betta, too, because they are basically carnivores.
And...get some pics!

 

[Duck5003]

LOL - born by bettas, raised by ottos.

 

[JMN16150]

Rise of the cuckoo betta

 

[Varmint]

They can surprise you

Before I knew better, I tried to add an Otto to the Fluval Spec V that houses my Betta Sammie. Sammie abused the poor guy for hours shadowing him, flaring at him, dancing around him. I noticed the Otto hadn't eaten the whole time so I dropped an algae tab in front of him. Sammie swooped in and took a giant bite of the algae tab. He liked that mouthful so he scarfed it down in two big bites and then looked at the Otto with an expression like "take that!". That was the last straw for me. I moved the Otto to my other fully stocked tank temporarily before sending it back to the lfs and sat around worried about the blue monster's (Sammie's) bloated belly. He was fine.

Waldo is a Juvenal Betta I impulse bought a couple of months ago. I had to keep him in a heated bowl while I purchased and cycled his new tank and accessories. I dropped an anubias nana in the bowl as furniture. It was his favorite thing to bite. He is now housed in a Fuval Spec III. I just planted some crypts in it a couple of weeks ago. One of them has leaves with holes on the edges that are Waldo mouth size.

I think maybe they enjoy veggies occasionally whether we mean to feed veggies to them or not.

 

[AquaAurora]

I noticed several small holes forming in my unidenified stem plant leaves after the beta moved in, had hoped it was just the old growth (emerged) dying... He better not nibble on my anubias collection, or I'll have to move him.

 

[AquaAurora]

Just tried bloodworms.. he was "meh" about them, ate 2-3 tiny pieces only when they just barely touched the surface, no interest if let it float on surface or below surface (sinking). Madagascar rainbowfish went nuts for it though (first time feeding bugs to 'em). Sadly the otos went to town and finished the zucchini while I was out today so no photos this week of betta veggie munching, maybe next time though ^^

 

[Betta132]

I have a female betta who eats the nori that I give to everything else. In fact, I've seen everybody but the goby eat on it... Including tetras, cories, and even a darter (teensy bottom-dwelling hunter) who gave it a try. The glowlight tetras and pencilfish love it.

 

[Kitsune_Gem]

Every time I add in NLS Algae wafers for the snails and other algae eaters, my bettas pick and munch at them. It's been like that for as long as I can remember.

 

[AquaAurora]

GAH I got photo evidence finally (used phone camera instead of big camera) and dang nab it I managed to delete it by accident!! *head thunk* Betta must have used mind control to make me get rid of the evidence.. yeh thats it..

 

[AquaAurora]

I got it i got it!!

wow right after posting that he went to town on it and i did manage to get the shots this time *spams photo taking button until phone maxed.. no space left*... *uploads to comp*... *rummages through shots*
AHHA *slaps photo on table*

Here's a slideshow (hopefully works)
http://s814.photobucket.com/user/Purr_Machines/slideshow/betta the oto

Pardon the low quality shots.. table cloth is not photo friendly (reflection of fugly!)

 

[Duck5003]

LOL you werent kidding! He is really stuffing his face in there. Vegitarian betta

 

[Italionstallion888]

mine loves blanched green bean

 

[AquaAurora]

LOL you werent kidding! He is really stuffing his face in there. Vegitarian betta

Yeh pretty much, he probably only eats pellets because he doesn't know they have protein ^_~

mine loves blanched green bean

Haha really? do you prep them like peas for feeding?
Never thought about trying green beans on any of my fish.. might have to test that and a few other greens on the betta and otos (and my monster pleco in the other tank).

 

[Italionstallion888]

We usually have green beans every other night with dinner. After we are finished I take what's left over and blanch them for a bit. I use bamboo skewers when I put them in the tank.

 

[H2Ogal]

Bettas are funny fish. They seem to think that *everything* in the tank is put there for their own nourishment, amusement or comfort. So, it's eat, play with, eat or sleep on. That's the betta way.

 

[AquaAurora]

Bettas are funny fish. They seem to think that *everything* in the tank is put there for their own nourishment, amusement or comfort. So, it's eat, play with, eat or sleep on. That's the betta way.

Haha goodie, this is my first betta. He also seems to like to crash through plants and uproot them (always wants to go under them instead of through/between/around/above). Half tempted to call him "wreckin'ball" or "bulldozer" for his destructiveness.. but would rather give him a classier name.. if only he would act classy.. ^^''

 

[H2Ogal]

Hahahha! I know bettas love plants but I've never seen one uprooting them. Or, well, stuffing their face with them. That is one fun fish. Alternate names you might consider are Boomer, Buster, The Great Deconstructor, Digger, Muscles, Thunderbolt, Thor, Zeus ...

 

[AquaAurora]

Yeh pretty much, he probably only eats pellets because he doesn't know they have protein ^_~



Haha really? do you prep them like peas for feeding?
Never thought about trying green beans on any of my fish.. might have to test that and a few other greens on the betta and otos (and my monster pleco in the other tank).

Hahahha! I know bettas love plants but I've never seen one uprooting them. Or, well, stuffing their face with them. That is one fun fish. Alternate names you might consider are Boomer, Buster, The Great Deconstructor, Digger, Muscles, Thunderbolt, Thor, Zeus ...

Haha thank you for the alt name suggestions. I'll keep those in mind. If he'd a t a tiny but more...civil I'd call him Aristotol (Aristotle spelled wrong to stick "oto" in there since he likes hanging around them) as suggested by my hubby. They don't flee when he flares and he does not chase them but he's amusing to watch interact with the little suckermouths.