According to available data, the survival time of betta fish without food is affected by multiple factors. Here is a comprehensive analysis:
Basic Survival Time Range
Betta fish can typically go 10-30 days without eating. Individuals with strong constitutions can even survive for a month if they have been regularly fed beforehand. However, if their diet is long-term irregular or they suffer from malnutrition, their survival time will be significantly shortened.
Key Influencing Factors
Water Quality and Environment
Clean water quality can extend their survival by 1 week. If there are aquatic plants or small fish as natural food sources in the tank, they can sustain themselves for about a month.
Water Temperature
At 22°C, their maximum survival time is about 72 hours. If the water quality deteriorates (such as excessive ammonia-nitrogen levels), this can drop to 24 hours.
Individual Differences
Cold-water fish with slower metabolisms (such as Chinese bettas) are more resistant to hunger than tropical bettas.
Precautions
When hungry, bettas may exhibit behaviors like attacking tank mates or eating snail eggs.
Prolonged fasting can lead to a weakened immune system. It is recommended to adjust feeding frequency in advance and add aquatic plants as emergency food before going out.
For longer absences, refer to fish hunger-coping strategies (link not within search results).