What to Feed Bettas [ May 9th, 2011 ] Posted in » Bettas
Trying to figure out what to feed your bettas? Today I came across this article by Mischa which talks about the best types of foods to feed betta fish. She discusses both how much to feed betas as well as what to feed betta fish.
She very much stresses the importance of feeding your bettas a variety of different types of foods. Right now in my tank I don’t have any bettas as the female ones I had died a while ago and right now I’ve got an oscar in my tank which would have bettas for breakfast, but when I did have bettas I mostly just fed them flakes. Mischa’s advice is to offer bettas a bigger variety of food.
Here’s the article she wrote:
Feeding Betta Fish
By Mischa Hill
If you are new to Betta fish keeping, feeding them might present a challenge at first. There are so many choices out there and so much conflicting information!
People present all kinds of theories on how often to feed Betta fish, what to feed them, etc. But once you start listening to those with many years of experience, some common themes begin to emerge.
Here are some basic tips for you:
First of all, you need to know that feeding Betta fish the best and most varied diet possible will have a profound effect on its health and longevity. In fact, next to the quality of tank water, it’s the second most important factor in caring for your Betta fish. And the two are very much connected. You will see in a minute, why.
The first question is: How much should I be feeding Betta fish?
Be careful not to overfeed it! That’s the most important thing. We can be very eager to make our Betta happy and full and we often go overboard. Remember, they are tiny creatures, with tiny stomachs (about the size of their eyes) and huge appetites. And they don’t have much will power when it comes to food. Yes, they can be finicky, but they will also eat until their stomachs are bulging, if left to their own devices.
So learn these quick rules:
- Feed it only what your Betta will consume right away (in 2 minutes)
- Do not leave any uneaten food in the tank (it can be a challenge to pick it all out…)
There are many theories out there, but it’s enough to feed your Betta fish once a day. Pick a time that is convenient for you and stick to it. Bettas like consistency when it comes to feeding time. It’s also perfectly fine to skip a day. In fact, regular “fasts” can do your Betta much good.
Here is a not-so-well-known feeding tip: the best time for feeding your Betta fish is an hour after sunrise or an hour before sunset. In the wild, this is the time when the insects swarm and land in the water for the Bettas to scoop them up.
The second question is: What should I be feeding my Betta fish?
We already mentioned the fact that Bettas are carnivores. A vegetarian diet will not sustain them. The healthiest food for them is called Hikari Bio-Gold. It’s imported from Japan and used by many breeders. Another very good choice for every day is BettaMin.
Since your Bettas need a varied diet, here are some other elements of their weekly menu:
- Blood worms – give infrequently
- Daphnia (water fleas) – twice per week at the most
- White chicken meat
- A tiny piece of steak
- Vegetables – a cooked and peeled pea, for example
Variety will contribute to a strong immune system in your Betta.
And once again – whatever is not eaten right away, needs to be removed from the tank. Leftover food will rot and produce bacteria and ammonia, making the environment dangerous if not deadly for your Betta.
Bettas make wonderful pets because of the way they tend to bond and interact with their owners. Use your feeding routine to spend time with your Betta and cultivate that bond. You will soon find it most enjoyable!
Mischa Hill is a Betta fish enthusiast. He likes to contribute to the well-being and health of all Bettas by providing information and resources on Betta fish care and breeding Betta fish to Betta fish owners at http://www.betta-fish-care.net/
Find good Betta fish food prices on his site as well.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mischa_Hill
http://EzineArticles.com/?Feeding-Betta-Fish&id=2755954
As you can see she stresses feeding betas a variety of food, not just one type of food. The female bettas I had died from being attacked by other fish, not from a lack of food variety so I can’t really comment on how valid Mischa’s recommendations are.
What do you think?
Do you have bettas? Are you thinking of just sticking with one type of daily food, or are you going to feed them a variety? Leave your comments below and let me know what you think.
jrwap