The Siamese fighting fish, or Betta fish, is a small-breed carnivorous fish. They eat living insects, bugs, and larvae and need high protein and proper nutrients in their diet. Betta fish consume several food items like living or frozen blood worms, brine shrimp, pellets, and flakes. The foods have high protein and nutrients that help the fish to stay healthy and keep their color bright.
But choosing the right food for the Betta fish is a daunting task. You might get confused in picking the correct one for them, as protein and fiber alone cannot keep the fish healthy. They also need food having moisture as it will assist their digestive system. Besides, vitamins, carbohydrates, phosphorus, fats, and calcium are also necessary for cell growth, energy, and bone strength.
Hence, you can see that the entire process is quite intricate and needs knowledge on betta fish. You might get puzzled, and in the end, your coveted Betta fish will not obtain its required food. So, to help you with this, we have listed down the different types of foods to offer to your Betta fish for healthy living.
BEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE FOOD for BETTA FISH
Let us look at some of the best commercially available food for betta fish which are as follows.
- Live food
Live foods are the most beneficial fish food that provides all the essential nourishment to the betta fish. Live foods allow the betta fish to eat in their natural habitats and grow better. These are appetizing for them as live food includes bloodworms, shrimp, insects, and invertebrates. So, if you want to offer your betta fish a balanced and healthy diet, give them live foods.
- Frozen food
Frozen foods are the same as live foods. The only difference is that they are available in frozen form, and you can store them longer without having the risk of water contamination. But if you think that these foods provide more protein and nutrients like live foods, then you are wrong. The amount of nutrition these foods give is lower than live foods. But frozen food is more affordable and easier to get.
- Frozen-dried food
Frozen-dried foods are the same as live foods, but they are available without moisture. The betta fish will not obtain the same amount of protein and other essentials from these foods. But unlike flakes and pallets, these foods have higher nutritional value. Though they provide balanced dieting options, the betta fish will not digest the foods easily as they are frozen. But the frozen-dried food contains roughage that helps their digestive system also.
- Flakes
Flakes are the most popular and preferred Betta food globally. They are affordable, easy to store, and have nutritional value as well. They contain plant fillers and vegetables to offer nutrients. But if you think that your Betta fish will grow excellently with only flakes, then you are wrong. Flakes are not the only food source as they are less nutritious than shrimp, bloodworms, or other live foods. Besides, while purchasing them, select them by reading the suitability as many Betta fish do not eat every type of flakes.
- Pellets
One of the most famous Betta fish foods is pellets. You can find it in many qualities, colors, and sizes, and you can use it daily. They are of higher quality than flakes as they contain dried meat and plant fillers. Hence, your Betta fish can get both non-veg and veg-based foods like us. It will give the fish a balanced diet by providing protein, fiber, carbohydrates, and other essential elements to remain healthy.
HOMEMADE FOOD for BETTA FISH
Below we have made a list of the famous homemade food for Betta fish. They are:
- Powdered Spirulina
It is one of the healthiest foods for Betta fish. To prepare this, you have to:
- First, take 3-ounces of tank water and 1-teaspoon powdered spirulina into a cup.
- Then, mix them and fill the water evenly.
- Next, you need to add 1/2-teaspoon of ground flakes and blood worm and 3/4-tablespoon of fry fish bites.
- Finally, stir the entire mixture thoroughly, and the food is ready.
- Powdered Egg
It provides essential nutrients to your dish. To make this:
- Take 4-ounce distilled water into a cup.
- Then, add 1-tablespoon ground legume or chickpea flour, 2-tablespoon powdered yeast, and 3-tablespoon powdered egg.
- Next, stir the mixture until dissolved completely.
- At last, add 3-drops of fish oil to finish the recipe.
- Infusoria
Infusoria is an effortless liquid Betta fish food and offers several benefits to the fish. The making process is simpler than the above two recipes. You need to take a jar and fill it with water and a leaf of lettuce and leave it in direct sunlight for several days. You will notice algae growing up in the water, which you can feed to your Betta fish.
- Brine Shrimp
Preparing Brine shrimp needs time and effort, but it offers a renewable food option. As this is a living thing, you will require taking salt water in a jar. Replace 1/4-water weekly to make the shrimp healthy. Besides, you have to feed them by using powdered yeast. After 8-10 days, your Betta fish can eat brine shrimps.
FOOD for BABY BETTA FISH
It is now time to check out the various foods for baby Betta fish, which are as follows.
- Egg yolk
It takes 24 to 48 hours to hatch baby Betta fish after spawning. After birth, they will absorb the yolk sac for the next 3 to 4 days. At this time, the fish will not need any supplementary food as they will obtain all the essential nutrients and multi-vitamins from the yolk sac. But if you think they did not have enough food in that period, you might take a hard boiled egg and place a small amount of the cooked yolk in a jar filled with water. Then, shake the container and pour the water into the Betta tank.
- Infusoria
Infusoria are small and move in the water. You can purchase them from the market online or prepare them in your abode. To feed your baby Bettas, take an eyedropper, collect some infusoria from the bowl, and pour them into the Betta tank. You will notice that your fish will eat them hungrily.
- Brine Shrimp
Brine Shrimp are a bit larger than infusoria, and the Bettas need to grow slightly bigger to eat them. The feeding process is the same as infusoria. Need to take the brine shrimp using an eyedropper, and then you have to squeeze it directly into the tank.
- Larger foods
When the Bettas are 21 to 28 weeks older, they can easily accept living, frozen, or frozen-dried foods. You might feed those brine shrimp and living foods like bloodworms, Daphnia simultaneously. Besides, you can also provide them with crushed pellets and granules. But, verify whether they can eat them or not by sprinkling a tiny amount.
FAQs on BETTA FISH’S FOOD
When and how often to feed a Betta fish?
It is the most obvious question a Betta fish owner might ask. Feeding your Betta fish requires only 5 to 10 minutes. So, pick a time depending on your daily schedule. You must give the stipulated time to ensure the fish’s health. Besides, pay close attention to its eating, and if anything is left over, remove it from the water. It is advisable to select a fasting day as it will enable them to free their digestive system and assist with constipation and bloating.
Apart from the above, the owner inquires about how often to feed their fish? Well, there is no rule behind this. But it is advisable to fodder them twice a day. But you can offer food once per day also. When feeding for once, you must ensure that you do not give much to them, considering that they are left hungry throughout the day. Choose a flexible time in the early morning or late at night depending on your routine, and feed your coveted Betta fish to offer a healthy life.
How many micro pellets to feed a betta fish a day?
Many people give excess pellets to fodder their Betta fish. As a result, the Betta tank gets dirty, and the fish also gets ill. According to the experts, to feed the Betta fish, you only require to offer them 2 to 4 pellets for eating. You must give the amount whether you fodder them once or twice per day. But you might wonder if only 2 to 4 pellets are sufficient for the entire day? Well, yes, because the pellets expand in water, and the Betta gets a balanced diet from it. But remember, while feeding the pellets you should remove the excess food to protect the water from contamination and keep the Betta tank clean.
How often should you feed a Betta fish bloodworm?
Bloodworms are a great source of fat, protein, vitamins, and other essential nutrients for the Betta fish. But too much of them is terrible for their diet. Many people feed Betta fish regularly and eventually notice illnesses. Excessive protein and fat affect their digestive system, and after a few days, they die. So, give them bloodworms once or twice a week, which will provide them with a balanced diet and help them to stay healthy.
What do Betta fish eat in the wild?
As Betta fish are carnivores, they can eat natural habitats like insects, bugs, and larvae full of protein and help the Bettas stay fit. But there is a myth that Betta fish can survive in a tiny container by eating the plant roots. But this is not true and might hurt their dietary system. If you provide them with living, frozen, or frozen-dried foods, they will grow. Give them Betta flakes and pellets to offer various nutrients. Along with these foods, feed them bloodworms, infusoria, and brine shrimps to enable steady growth and a balanced dieting option.
What can betta fish eat of human food?
It is the most intriguing question of all, as there is a contradictory opinion on whether a betta fish can eat human food or not. Well, a betta fish can eat specific types of human meals. If you think you can give them chicken or delicious pizza, then you have a misconception. So, the question is which food you can offer them? Well, to assist you with this, we have jotted down some of them below.
- Sweet corn
You can feed them sweet corn. But remove the skin or the outer portion and prepare it like peas.
- Peas
Peas are one of the favorite foods among betas, as it has a lot of fiber and helps the betta fish in their illnesses like constipation and bloating. But before feeding them peas, you must eliminate the skin and cut it into several small pieces. It will assist them in chewing and digesting.
- Mango
Mango is a delicious fruit for us, and it contains several nutrients. It is also favorable for the betta fish. You can offer them a tiny piece of mango once in a while. But while feeding them, pay attention, and if you notice that after 30 minutes, your betta does not like them, immediately remove it from the water.
- Tuna and shrimp
As you might know, shrimp is an excellent food for bettas. Besides, tuna also has several qualities to offer a healthy diet of your betta fish. But make sure that you can give raw tuna to them. Additionally, if you purchase canned tuna, make sure that it is not dipped in oil before feeding them.
- Vegetables
You can offer them sliced vegetables like spinach and lettuce. Besides, you can also feed them boiled and soft cucumbers to provide a balanced diet.
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