Learning about what Betta fish can eat or not eat is one of the first right steps to caring for your awesome fish pet. Of course, you can only feed your Betta right if you know the range of their food from regular to occasional diets. Moreover, the health of Betta fish depends largely on what they are being fed.
What then makeup the Betta fish food? Betta fish feeds on insects including bloodworms, white worms, mosquito larva, daphnia, and brine shrimps. Since these fish are carnivorous, they would require high protein foods, thus, the need for live foods. Apart from choosing the proper diet, it is also important that you feed them in the right proportions and at the right time because overfeeding can cause problems.
Feeding comes top of the list when it comes to keeping bettas, therefore, this process requires extra attention. And, knowing what Betta fish eat is not enough in feeding them. Hence, keeping in mind several tips provided on this page will help you feed your Betta fish right.
What are the Consequences of Overfeeding Betta Fish?
Overfeeding Bettas can make them produce too much waste and toxins inside the tank. It can cause aquarium water to turn dirty and unsafe. Moreover, it can make them ill as well. Check for a bulge around their belly from time to time. It indicates if they are overeating.
Bettas need to be fed twice a day, preferably once in the morning and once in the evening. Take a pinch of food and drop it into the aquarium.
Betta Fish Diet
Live Frozen Food
Your top priority should be to feed frozen food to your betta as it contains no parasites or bacteria. Hence, it is safe for the pet.
Here are some good options:
Frozen Mosquito Larvae
Mosquito larvae can be a good option for betta as it offers many benefits. Firstly, it is rich in nutrients and easily digestible. Other than that, it will keep their energy levels high and stimulate healthy growth. Plus, some reports suggest that it can also improve their appearance by enhancing their color.
You can check up at the local store or purchase it online as well.
Frozen Brine Shrimp
These aquatic creatures grow up to be 1cm in length and provide many essential nutrients to betta fish including amino acids, protein and vitamins as well.
It is also said to improve the immune system of a fish. This is important as fish are prone to diseases. The right diet can make them strong enough to fight illnesses.
Frozen Bloodworms
They are sharp red in color due to containing an excessive amount of iron. However, never give freeze-dried bloodworms should regularly because they contain little amount of protein and amino acids and can cause constipation.
You can keep it to one or two feeds per week. While they are beneficial, they can be quite hard to keep so make sure to read the directions with care.
Mysis Shrimp
The exoskeleton of a mysis shrimp is healthy for betta because it is loaded with fiber. Consuming fiber-rich foods makes it easy for the animal to digest food. However, this is not the only benefit of mysis shrimp. They are also rich in amino acids.
Vinegar Fly
These are a common swamp of fruit flies that we see in our daily lives. They are often seen hovering over fruits and rotten foods.
Pellets For Betta
Pellets are loaded with protein and can be a good option for betta as they are rich in nutrients.
Buy pellets that contain grape seed extract as they help minimize astaxanthin and spirulina. These elements are said to be very beneficial as they do not only make the fish healthy but also enhances its appearance by improving color and reducing the signs of aging.
Apart from that, high-quality pellets contain omega 3 fatty acids and vitamins as well. They work to improve the animal’s lifespan.
It might be a good idea to feed pellets three to four times a week.
Flakes
These are plant-foods that contain little to no nutrients in them but can still be a good option for your fish as they are different in taste and some betta even like ‘em. They sink to the bottom easily and are easy to spot due to their sharp color.
Do not feed flakes to your betta on a regular basis because it can cause bloating and can make the fish seriously ill. Once a week can be a good option.
Freeze Dried Food
This is not the same as frozen food. This should be fed only once or twice a week because it lacks the necessary nutrients and might lead to constipation.
Since this food undergoes a drying process, it loses the moisture content. When your betta intakes dried food, it runs the risk of falling ill. This is because dried food may expand inside their stomach leading to problems.
The best option is to soak the food in aquarium water and mix it with a multivitamin solution for the fish. It will fulfill nutrient deficiency and make it easier for the fish to digest the food.
This food can be mixed with garlic and fed to the fish. Betta fish appear to like the taste of garlic. Plus, it can also make food more nutritious. It might be a good idea to use this technique when your fish does not eat regular food.
Feeding Schedule
| Monday | Betta fish pellets (Amount: 2 pellets), (once or twice daily) |
| Tuesday | Live, freeze-dried or frozen food (Amount: 2 pieces), (once or twice daily) |
| Wednesday | Betta fish pellets (Amount: 2 pellets), (once or twice daily) |
| Thursday | Betta fish pellets (2 pellets, 1-2 times daily) |
| Friday | Betta fish pellets (Amount: 2 pellets), (once or twice daily) |
| Saturday | Live, frozen, or freeze-dried (2 pieces, 1-2 times daily) |
| Sunday | Flakes (twice, a pinch) |
Feeding Instructions On Cans
Frozen betta fish food cans come with feeding instructions at the back. Most cans suggest feeding the fish at least 3-4 pellets, 3-4 pieces of frozen food per day.
While it may appear like an easy schedule to follow, it might not be the best option for your fish. Here’s why:
- Pellets have the ability to expand when they’re soaked in water. Hence, they will increase in size when they come into contact with water. Hence, 2 pellets would be equal to 4. Feeding 4 pellets to your animal can lead to serious issues as overfeeding is known to have dire consequences.
Another important thing to note is the size of the fish, especially the stomach. Their stomach is as big as their eyeball. They cannot handle a lot of food. It is your responsibility to keep an eye on how much you feed them as they may overeat without realizing it.
Always keep an eye on their belly. A bulge around the area indicates that they’re overfed. Consider changing the routine if you see such signs or get in touch with a specialist.
What’s the Right Amount of Frozen Food to Give to a Betta?
Frozen food from fish stores typically comes in one of the following forms:
- Liquid
- Solid
- Cube
While they all work, you should always make it a point to keep a tab on how much you feed to the pet. It should never be above 1.8 grams. It is said to be the right amount for an ideal betta fish.
What’s The Ideal Feeding Time?
It is recommended that you feed your betta twice a day. Experts also suggest to make a schedule and stick to it.
- The first feed should be in the morning, followed by the second (last) feed at night.
- A 12-hour gap in between makes it easier for them to digest food.
It is important to keep an eye on timing as your fish will get used to eating at specific hours and may even get aggressive if you are late on a given day. Similarly, feeding early can be bad as well.
The Bottomline
This is how you can keep your betta fish in good health. Food is one of the most important factors as betta can be choosy and aggressive if not fed the right food in the right proportion at the right time.
