Bloodworms are fine to feed your betta fish occasionally, but they shouldn’t make up the bulk of your fish’s diet. Consider them a tasty treat your fish can enjoy every once in a while–once or twice per week at most.
Feeding your betta the right diet is critical to keeping them healthy, and it’s common for first-time owners to have questions about what is safe or recommended.
A wild betta is a carnivorous fish whose diet consists mainly of fallen insects and aquatic worms. In an aquarium, they need a high-protein diet and lots of different vitamins and minerals. Additionally, many fish owners choose to give their bettas bloodworms as a snack, which bettas love and are readily available.
If you’re thinking about adding bloodworms to your betta’s rotation, you might be considering the freeze-dried variety. But is there a difference between freeze-dried bloodworms and live ones? Are freeze-dried bloodworms good for a betta? We’re going to discuss all this and more, so keep reading to find out.
Are Freeze Dried Bloodworms Good for Betta?
Bloodworms are considered healthy for betta fish as long as they are only an occasional treat, They shouldn’t make up the bulk of your fish’s diet as they are too high in protein.
Different Types of Bloodworms
Before we take a closer look at freeze-dried bloodworms, it’s vital to understand a little bit about the different types of bloodworms–and that they’re not actually worms. Instead, bloodworms are sold in larvae form, either live, frozen, or freeze-dried.
Live
If you want the most nutritional value, live bloodworms in their natural state are the best. They’re also helpful if your betta is lazy or overweight, as introducing live prey to the tank drives the fish’s predator instinct.
Unfortunately, live bloodworms are rather expensive, and they’re also likely to go bad before you can use them all. Most shops sell more than betta owners can use before they turn into midge flies. You’ll likely only have them two or three days before having to throw the rest away.
Frozen
Some betta owners prefer to buy frozen bloodworms, which eliminates some of the storage issues that you have with live bloodworms. They are sold in ice cubes, which allows you to portion them more easily.
Freeze-dried
Of the three, freeze-dried bloodworms are the best for storage. However, the freeze-drying process removes most of the nutritional value that bloodworms offer, so it’s a bit of a tradeoff. It’s also vital to keep in mind that buying from a trusted brand is essential. Some less trustworthy brands mix bloodworms with other fish, so it’s important to pay attention to ingredient lists.
Can I Feed My Betta Freeze-dried Bloodworms Every Day?
Many betta owners feed their fish freeze-dried bloodworms as a snack, but the bloodworms shouldn’t form the bulk of the fish’s diet. The reason is simply that their nutritional profile doesn’t match the betta fish’s needs. It would be impossible to maintain your betta’s color and vigor on a diet of bloodworms alone.
Instead, betta owners should prioritize feeding their fish a high-quality, protein-laden fish flake or pellet. On a practical level, this means that you should avoid feeding your betta freeze-dried bloodworms every day. It’s fine to give it to them once or twice per week (or less), but no more.
Keep in mind that if bettas have food in front of them, they will keep eating–regardless of whether they’re full. Giving them extra food can lead to weight issues.
Pros and Cons of Freeze-dried Bloodworms
If you decide to feed your betta freeze-dried bloodworms, here are the pros and cons to keep in mind.
Pros
- Freeze-dried bloodworms are easy to portion and easy to remove from the tank if your fish doesn’t eat them
- They float at the top of the tank for quite a while, which eliminates worries about them sinking somewhere your fish can’t find them
- Storage is easy, and they keep for a long time.
Cons
- Freeze-dried bloodworms may cause issues with constipation. If the food isn’t treated before you give it to your fish, it will expand in the gut, which can lead to blockages or constipation.
- Leaving bloodworms in the tank for too long puts your fish at an increased risk of disease. They begin to break down, which increases toxicity levels in the tank. You must take care to remove any uneaten bloodworms.
How to Feed Your Fish Freeze-dried Bloodworms
When it comes time to feed your fish, properly preparing the freeze-dried bloodworms is essential. Here are some things to keep in mind.
- You have to dip the bloodworms in water before you give them to your betta, which will let them expand to their original size.
- Aim to give your betta just one or two bloodworms with their meal.
- You may want to cut the bloodworms into pieces to help your fish eat them.
- Always read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Are Frozen Bloodworms Better Than Freeze-dried?
When it comes to frozen versus freeze-dried, the frozen kind has more nutritional value. Otherwise, the two are very similar, and the one you choose will depend on your needs.
Preparation is similar for both, though frozen bloodworms require slightly more prep. They are sold in ice cubes that you have to thaw before feeding your betta. Be careful not to drop a whole cube into the tank (which has been known to happen), or you’ll give your fish way too many bloodworms.
Another thing to keep in mind about frozen bloodworms is that you must take care not to mix the water you defrost the bloodworms in with your tank water. Otherwise, you risk contamination.
Whether you buy frozen or freeze-dried, it’s critical to only buy from reputable brands.
Final Thoughts
Bloodworms of all kinds make an excellent and tasty snack that most betta fish go crazy for. You may even find them useful in getting a picky or sick fish to eat more.
Remember that bloodworms should only be a supplement, as they do not provide all the nutritional value that bettas need. You also risk digestive and other issues if you provide this snack too often.
Otherwise, supplementing your betta fish with bloodworms in moderation offers them a tasty treat they’re sure to appreciate!