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Betta Food

No matter what you choose to feed: variety is best! Mix up the brands and types of food for a varied, balanced diet.
I have included some quality, brand name products and their top 4 ingredients.


How much do I feed?

A bettas stomach can stretch, which can be dangerous if feeding foods
that expand in the stomach, such as dry foods. You want to feed enough so that the belly of the fish becomes slightly rounded. This varies with the size, age, and even sex of the fish. Mature females often have rounded bellies because they carry eggs. A rounded belly does not always mean the fish is bloated or constipated.

How do I know my fish is bloated?

If the belly does not return to normal size when the next feeding is scheduled, skip that feeding and wait until the next one. If the belly is still rounded, the fish may be bloated or constipated.

How often do I feed?

Young fry should be fed up to three times a day. Mature fish
can be fed once or twice daily; splitting the meal up if twice.

My fish is not eating!

Bettas can be picky eaters. Some don't like flakes or freeze dried foods. Try changing the type of food, and switching to foods that sink or float. If the fish is still disinterested, try live foods; as that usually gets the fish excited to eat.

Dry (processed) Food

Dry foods come in pellets that sink or float, flakes, and sticks. This is the most commonly found fish food on the market. Unfortunately, it's also the least nutritious. Common brands like "Aqueon" and "Tetra" usually have fillers such as dried yeast, ground rice, wheat gluten, and oat meal as top ingredients. Bettas are insectivores; they really need a diet high in protein. Look for foods that have real proteins (whole fish, worms, insects, crustaceans, etc) as the first ingredients.
Pros:
  • long shelf life (if kept in airtight container)
  • convenient
  • cheap
Cons:
  • causes constipation if fed large amounts or not soaked (particularly pellets)
  • not the most nutritious
  • contains preservatives and fillers
Picture
Whole Antarctic Krill, Whole Fish, Whole Wheat Flour, Ulva Seaweed...
New Life Spectrum: All Purpose Formula
Picture
Fish meal, wheat flour, milt meal, Antarctic krill meal...
Hikari Betta Bio-Gold
Picture
Krill, fish meal, fish protein concentrate, wheat flour...
NutraFin Max Betta Flakes

Freeze-dried Food

Freeze-dried food is usually live insects that have been dehydrated. Commonly found in pet stores are bloodworms and daphnia. There's also tubifex, shrimp, krill, and plankton. Typically they have vitamins added, since some can be lost during the dehydration process. These also have a long shelf life, as long as it's stored in an airtight container away from moisture. These foods should be soaked in water before feeding, to prevent them from expanding inside the fishes stomach.
Pros:
  • long shelf life (if kept in airtight container)
  • limited ingredients
Cons:
  • can cause constipation and bloating if not soaked
  • should not be fed as a primary food source
  • can be expensive
Picture
Bloodworms
SFBB Freeze Dried Bloodworms
Picture
Daphnia, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Vitamin B1...
Hikari Bio-Pure Freeze Dried Daphnia
Picture
Tubifex Worms
Omega One Freeze Dried Tubifex Worms

Frozen Food

Similar to freeze-dried, frozen food is simply frozen instead of dehydrated. Most petstores have a freezer section and bloodworms, daphnia, brine shrimp, and mysis shrimp can all commonly be found there. These must be stored in a freezer and only taken out as needed. It's best to defrost a small amount in water before feeding. I highly recommend frozen foods for bettas, especially bloodworms.
Pros:
  • long shelf life (if kept in freezer)
  • very nutritious
  • limited ingredients
Cons:
  • more expensive then processed food
  • must be thawed before feeding
I do not recommend buying frozen foods online, as there is always a chance they may melt and spoil. Hikari, San Fransisco Bay Brand, and Omega One are a few examples of brands you could purchase in chain pet stores.

Live Food

Nothing beats all-natural live foods. You can purchase live brine shrimp, bloodworms, blackworms, grindal worms, white worms, and daphnia. You can also cultivate your own worms for an endless supply of food; such is the case with grindal worms and white worms.
Pros:
  • most nutritious of all foods
  • can be an endless food supply with some species
  • promotes hunting instincts, provides enrichment
Cons:
  • limited lifespan
  • can be hard to find in stores
  • there is a chance of transmitting disease/parasites via live foods
I generally do not recommend purchasing live food online. However, the chance of them dying and spoiling is far less then frozen foods. You can buy a culture of grindal worms on eBay, as well as white worms and a few other varieties. Other live foods such as daphnia and blackworms would be found in local pet stores, usually ones that are privately owned.
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  • Koi Bettas
    • Bettas >
      • Line 🍒
      • Line 🍓 >
        • Line 🍓 F1
      • Line 🌑
    • Other Fish & Inverts
    • Buying Locally
    • ────────
    • References & Disclaimers
    • About Me
    • Contact Me
  • Betta Care
    • Ultimate Shopping List >
      • Budget Shopping List
    • Tank Setup & Cycle
    • Choosing a Betta
    • ────────
    • Food & Feeding
    • Diseases
  • Breeds
    • Tail Types
    • Body Mutations
    • Colors
    • Patterns
  • Learn More
    • Behavior & Misconceptions
    • Tank-mates & Sororities
    • ────────
    • ○ What is a koi betta?
    • ○ Is my betta male or female?
    • ○ Can my betta live in a bowl?
    • ○ Do bettas need a filter?
  • Shop Live Fish