What keeps bettas and other fish from over eating in the wild?

That is a great question!

They probably have a limited amount of food a lot of the time, and that is probably why they do not really over eat in the wild. I am sure that if they come across a lot at once, they will gobble it up, but for the most part, I think they have to search for their food.

I do not know for certain about this though. I may do some researching now because I am interested.

i think that theres quite a bit more for them to worry about in the wild. predators, territorial disputes, diseases, parasites and a whole slew of other variables such as environmental and seasonal changes (just to name a few).

not to mention availability of prey items. as we all know, bettas are carnivores. they eat smaller fish, bug larvae and other inverts. even though they originate in warmer locales, there are still seasons that cause bugs to breed at certain time of the year and not others, thus fewer larvae to choose from or hunt.

throw all this and more into the mix and they dont get all that much time to just lounge around and pig out all day.

all in all, just like many other animals in the wild, theres a season to fatten up and a season to become dormant or something similar.

anyway, thats my personal hypothesis on the matter. maybe theres some other points to ponder too.

paul

Yeah, perhaps commercial food is concentrated nutrients, a bit like sci-fi astronaught food.

So there are not just lots of flakes and pellets floating around in the water just kidding - really.

That all makes sense - thanks for all the input on it. Not sure why that question came to mind. I just fed Indi and thought hum, you want more but you're not getting it so stop looking at me pigging out on my candy!

Didn't you know that candy was a natural occuring food source for bettas in the wild?