Beta cant chew food pellets

Question
I've had 2 beta fish for about 6 weeks. I use the large, clear vases as their bowl. I change the water in each vase every week and replace with a gallon of water. I use the beta pellets for their food. They both have eaten well until about a week ago. Then one of the fish seems to be unable to chew the pellets enough to digest them. He goes for the food and puts it in his mouth and I can see that he is moving mouth but then he opens mouth and the pellet comes back out, he does not try to eat it again. I have picked out the smallest bits of food and use them and he does eat them, but most of the pellets are same size, not very many very small pellets to give to him. However, this has only been happening for about a week and he has never done this before now. He was always able to chew the pellets before, so the size of the pellets should not really be the problem.

This may sound crazy but I was wondering if he may have a sore throat or sore mouth that makes him unable to chew the pellets except for the tiny ones that I pick out and put in his bowl and is able to eat? What could be causing him to put food in mouth and be chewing on it then opens mouth and the pellet comes back out whole?

Thank you for any information that may help resolve this problem.

Have a Blessed Day,
Susan


Answer
Hi Susan,
Its very possible the pellets are just too much for him or he may have a sore throat/mouth that causes him to not even want to try to chew the pellets all the way. Some bettas also decide sometimes that they just don't want to eat pellets anyway. Some bettas are picky.

I'd get him some good quality betta flakes instead and try those on him. Another thing you could try is to pre-soak his pellets so they are soft before he eats them. Presoak a few small ones in a cup of his own water and try that too.

I hope this helps and best wishes!
Karen~