There is a lot to consider with betta fish food and fish food in general. Bettas are carnivorous and must be fed high protein diet. While they can and typically will eat flakes, flakes should not be their main source of food.
The Importance of Variety
In the wild, there is a large variety of food for fish to eat. But in an aquarium, they are limited to what you feed them and any algae that may grow on the glass, decorations and gravel. So it’s important to provide a variety of food for your betta fish (and most fish). Variety will not only keep your fish interested in their food, but will help to provide a wide range of nutrients to keep your fish healthy.
How Much Should You Feed Your Betta
Bettas should be fed twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. They should be fed as much as they can eat in 2 minutes. If they are fed more than this, they risk overeating which can adversely affect their health.
Excessive feeding also leads to poor water parameters. Any uneaten food will sink to the bottom of the tank and decay into ammonia which will then go through the nitrogen cycle. Also, even if your fish are able to eat extra food, they will excrete more than normal – which also will go through the nitrogen cycle. It might take a few feedings to figure out exactly what is the best amount of food to feed your fish.
If you miss a feeding or two, it’s not a big deal. Fish are naturally scavengers and will find something (usually algae) to snack on.
Best Betta Fish Food
Bloodworms
Bloodworms are a small worm that fish absolutely love. They are very high in protein – perfect for the carnivorous betta fish. They can be bought live, frozen, or freeze dried. We prefer buying freeze dried as they are much easier to keep as they don’t need to be frozen or kept in the freezer.
Brine shrimp
Brine shrimp are another high protein food that most betta fish enjoy. They be be found live, frozen, or freeze dried.
While live brine shrimp can be a little on the expensive side for fish food, frozen brine shrimp and freeze dried shrimp are typically very reasonably priced. But if you are into an unending supply of food, you can breed brine shrimp with relatively minimal investment. Your betta will appreciate the “thrill of the hunt” along with the delicious taste of a live food.
Tubifex worms
Like bloodworms and brine shrimp, tubifex worms are available live, frozen, or freeze dried. DO NOT BUY LIVE TUBIFEX WORMS. They are very often riddled with parasites that will infect your fish.
However, both frozen and freeze dried tubifex worms are safe and good for your betta.
