I had to leave my betta and shrimps for 16 days unattended and when I came back my betta has a full belly, even a tiny bulge and shrimplets in every size, plants growing well, even out of the tank. Considering how well it went, I'm thinking not to feed my betta unless I notice something else.
My betta does not attack or eat shrimps or even decent sized shrimplets. But when shrimplets are too tiny, he thinks they are copepods or whatever, he tries to get a snack out of them. It's not wiping out the shrimp population in anyway and he always have a full belly out of Shrimplets, Copepods, and all other thousand things he is making a food out of and his hunting mode. Is it okay if I don't feed him? Or would there be any nutrient issues?
https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1qakpgr
Posted by wish-Amoeba
2 Comments
Bettas naturally eat small crustaceans, he knows they are shrimp. I’m sure he’s snacked on a couple larger ones without you noticing. I wouldn’t feed him if he looks full or looks like he’s getting bloated, he obviously has plenty to sustain himself. Betta stomachs are roughly the same size as their eye so keep that in mind. If he continues to eat the shrimp to the point he’s causing himself to bloat then you should probably put him (or the shrimp) in a separate tank.
In my experience, I’ve made sure I had a strong colony of shrimp going before I added a betta and they ate less shramp