betta not eating - ate floating fuzz?

Question
QUESTION: My betta is still doing ok, but I haven't seem him eat in a week or more. He is hungry, but can't quite grasp his food. He may have gotten a small bit of pea today. I really think that he ingested fuzz, or pet hair off the surface and is bunged up with that. I have finally loosely covered his bowl with saran - open at edges, to keep his surface clean.  I wonder if this may often be the problem, when they act like this. If so, will that lead to a slow demise? I use aquarium salt always. Should I use epsom salts instead now, or do they serve the same purpose? I think that his bowl is one gallon - the biggest round fish bowl that is sold here. Normally he happily ate Hikari Biogold, but has always loved peas, too. I do partial water changes daily, and almost full changes bi-weekly. I also monitor his water temperature. He gets a lot of attention. He is very sweet! Thanks!

ANSWER: Hi Phebe,
When a betta stops eating it is not a good sign.  Something is wrong.  Use aquarium salts, epsom salts is used to give betta's a bath if he is constipated, but the pea treatment is best in that case.  
You must make sure the the water temperature is not fluctuating, as this is very bad for bettas.  A betta really needs 2 gallons of water, and five gallons is best with a heater that keeps the temperature at 78 degrees.  They need heat, they are tropical fish.  The myth that they can be kept in small bowls is a sad one.  The water may be shallow in their habitat, but they have lots of room to swim.  It's a sin to see them in small containers at the pet stores, and I wish that someday this will change.  The betta along with the Oscar are the most mistreated fish on the market.  
Changing his water twice a week is too much, once a week would be enough for a one gallon bowl with a good conditioner.
Peas should be fed only once a week seeing as they clean out the betta's system, feeding too many peas is not good for him.  He should have a varied diet such as pellets, betta flakes, daphnia, and bloodworms once a week as a treat.  He should be fed 2-3 small meals a day, and not one big meal.  His tummy is the size of his eye, and we should always remember this.  Small meals such as two (2) pellets would be enough for one meal.
I doubt that he swallowed fuzz.  Watch him carefully for any sign of disease, and write back to me if you see any other changes in his behavior.  I cannot guess at what is wrong with him, it could be too many peas, it could be too many water changes, and it could be something else.
Hope he starts eating soon, and have a nice holiday season.
Lynda


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Lynda,
I have had this betta for about a year. He has always been a good eater and very responsive. The only difference now, is that he can not seem to grasp his food, even though he is obviously hungry. He is swimming well and is still very responsive. Why do you think that it is unlikely, that he ingested some fuzz or whatever, from the surface? As we have a cat and 2 dogs and kids, stuff is continually landing on the surface. (I have now lightly covered the top with saran). As he is under a light, it may also have been attracting the many particles from the air. I had been constantly skimming stuff off the surface, and replacing the water taken during skimming when needed, with his same treated water, kept right beside him, at the same temperature. It is because the fuzz makes so much sense to me, that I want to treat him for constipation, as the fuzz could bung up his system, and he could easily have gotten some when eating a pellet, or just taking a gulp of air. Peas won't work, as he is not eating. Would you tell me how to use the epsom salts please? Thanks!

Answer
Hi Phebe,
The reason I think your betta didn't swallow fuzz is that a betta would normally spit it out if he got this in his mouth.  A betta stops eating when he is constipated, or sick.  You could try the Epsom salts bath which is 1 tablespoon to one gallon of water.  Make sure the temperature of his bath is the same as his tank, and add a conditioner to the water.  Leave the betta in this for 15-20 minutes.  You may give him two baths, one in the morning, and one at night.  I must tell you, this is very stressful to a betta.  I have never had success with these baths, but some experts have.  I take no responsibility if you choose to give him these baths.  After 2 baths if you do not see any change discontinue them.  You could also try feeding him daphnia as it is also a laxative.  Look closely at his tummy, is it a little swollen?  His tummy is located just under his chin.
You mentioned that your betta is under a light.  I do not know what kind of light that you have, but I do know that bettas do not like light all the time.  2-3 hours a day is plenty of light for the betta.  I thought I would mention this.
Hope we will find what is wrong with your little friend, so watch him carefully.
Lynda