Last Updated on January 1, 2023
If you are new to the aquarium hobby, you probably want to know that bettas are notorious for being picky eaters. But once they enjoy their meal, waiting for them to fill up won’t prevent them from excitedly telling you how much they enjoy their food! Finding the best betta pellets for your buddy will take some trial and error but don’t let that discourage you.
In this article, get ready to expand your horizons and see which would be the best betta fish food pellets for your very picky eater pets!
| Image | Title | Price | Prime | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Top | Tetra Betta Small Pellets 1.02 Ounce, Complete Nutrition Plus Color Boost | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
 Top | Aqueon Pro Foods Betta Fish Food Formula 1.4 oz | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
 Top | GloFish Betta Mini Pellets, 1.02 Ounce, Tropical Fish Food | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
 Top | Hikari Betta Bio-Gold Baby Pellets -- 0.088 oz | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
 Top | Ocean Nutrition Betta Pellets 2.65-Ounces (75 Grams) Jar | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
 Top | Hikari Tropical Semi-Floating Micro Pellets Fish Food, 0.77 Oz (22g) | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
 Top | [Betta Fish Food] Ultra Fresh - Betta Pro Shrimp Patties, 50% Sword Prawns + Akiami Paste Shrimps, All Natural Protein, Rich in Calcium, for Betta's Healthy Development and Cleaner Water, Betta Food | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
 Top | Wardley Premium Betta Fish Food Pellets - 1.2oz | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
 Top | SunGrow Betta Food, Color Enhancer Floating Feed, Balanced Diet for Healthy Fish, Easily Digestible Food, Slow-Dissolving Pellets, 1-oz. | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
 Top | Aqueon Color Enhancing Betta Food, .95 Ounces | PrimeEligible | Buy Now |
Table of Contents
1. Tetra Betta Small Pellets
The first on our list is the Tetra Betta pellet food. These small floating pellet food are perfect for your top-feeder bettas since they enjoy eating more when their food’s on the surface.
Highly palatable and high in proteins, this betta food contains a nutritionally balanced diet to keep your betta healthy and live a longer life. It also has color-enhancer nutrients to bring out the natural vibrant colors of your fish.
Pros
- Color-enhancing
- Floats on the surface
- Doesn’t cloud the water
Cons
- Pellets may be too large for younger bettas
2. Aqueon Pro Foods
The next fish food you may want to check out is the Aqueon Pro floating pellet fish food. Aqueon betta pellets are a staple and healthy meal for your pet that contains both plants and proteins for long-term wellness.
Packed with high-quality ingredients, some components in this nutritionally-balanced betta food are wheat flour, insect larvae, dried algae, and numerous essential vitamins to strengthen their immune system.
Pros
- Created by professional fish nutritionists
- High-quality ingredients
- Small pellets
Cons
- Sinks easily
3. GloFish Betta Mini Pellets
GloFish fluorescent bettas are a nice and exquisite addition to every tank. To optimize their vibrant colors, you may want to try the specialized pellet formula from GloFish Betta Mini Pellets.
Containing 44% crude protein, these mini pellets will surely provide your betta’s diet with enough energy to keep them going through the day. Remember to not overfeed them, as uneaten food can contaminate your tank water and compromise your pet’s health.
Pros
- Color-enhancing
- Floats at the surface
Cons
- Quite messy
4. Hikari Betta Bio-Gold Baby Pellets
A healthy diet specifically developed for bettas, the Hikari Beta Bio-Gold Pellets is a nice choice even with your extremely finicky pet. Its premium fish meal and other ingredients offer a good source of protein that will surely support your betta’s immune system.
Another cool feature of Hikari betta pellets is having a grape seed extract that is believed to reduce the impact of aging on your adult bettas.
Pros
- Reduces aging impact
- Ingredients are specifically chosen for betta species
- Small and easy-to-eat pellets
- Fish meal is the main ingredient
Cons
- Subpar packaging
5. Ocean Nutrition Betta Pellets
The next food for your betta is the Ocean Nutrition Betta Pellets. These floating pellets are best fed to bettas six months and older and packed with nutrients that your betta needs for optimal growth.
Usually, betta fish eat twice daily, so time your feed according to the size of your pet and the water temperature. You can feed them at least 7 of these pellets but give them enough to fill your betta’s stomach.
Pros
- Floats on the surface
- Generous amount of pellets
Cons
- Discolors water easily
6. Hikari Tropical Semi-Floating Micro Pellets
Another pellet from the same brand, the Hikari Tropical Semi-Floating Micro Pellets is a tropical fish food that contains marine and vegetable proteins that your betta can enjoy!
These micro semi-floating pellets slowly sink in the water, giving your bettas ample time to feed and get the necessary nutrients. You don’t have to worry about cleaning leftovers since these colored granules are easy to see at the bottom of the tank.
Pros
- Doesn’t cloud water
- Tiny pellets
- Colored granules
Cons
- Tiny package
7. Ultra Fresh Betta Pro Shrimp Patties
Combining wild sword prawns and Akiami paste shrimps (50 percent of total content), Ultra Fresh Betta Pro Shrimp Patties is rich with calcium and carefully balances selected ingredients like organic spinach, squid, garlic, spirulina, and seaweed. These ingredients are sure to help improve your fish’s picky palette!
Not only are these betta fish food tasty, but they will surely keep your betta healthy with jam-packed vitamins to help them thrive and reach optimal health.
Pros
- Premium-quality ingredients
- Has a shaker top
- Color-enhancing
- Lowers risk of digestive problems
Cons
- Sinks easily
8. Wardley Premium Betta Fish Food Pellets
Formulated with fish meal and other high-protein ingredients, Wardley Premium Betta Pellets are perfect for small fishes, including your betta!
Wardley fish food contains no artificial color, lessening the chance of clouding your water. It also promotes a healthier immune system for your pet with vitamin C and other essential nutrients.
Pros
- No artificial color
- Huge packaging
- Good value for money
Cons
- Pellets are pretty big
- Softens and breaks easily
9. SunGrow Color Enhancer Floating Feed
Feeding your betta fish with the correct balance of nutrients is a significant part of their well-being. SunGrow Color Enhancer Floating Feed includes ingredients such as shrimp, krill meal, and beetroot powder, which greatly benefit your pet and give them extra vitality.
With the little granules, you can easily drop them in the aquarium a few at a time, making it easy to control the amount of food you give your betta and avoid overfeeding them.
Pros
- Small pellets
- Floats on the surface
Cons
- Subpar quality
- Plastic packaging
10. Aqueon Color Enhancing Betta Food
Aqueon Color Enhancing is another Aqueon product that made it on the list! As the name suggests, this pellet food for betta helps bring out the natural vibrant color of your fish.
With natural ingredients such as shrimp that bettas truly love, these food pellets are just the perfect size to avoid overfeeding and give your fish the nutrients they need to grow fully and abundantly!
Pros
- Color-enhancing
- Good quality
- Doesn’t cloud water
Cons
- Sinks easily
Frequently Asked Questions
Are pellets good for betta fish?
Betta fish are beautiful and fascinating creatures, but they also require a lot of time, attention, and care. Known for their playful and inquisitive nature, one of their favorite activities is chasing tiny pellets around in the aquarium.
Pellets are a great way to provide your betta with a healthy and nutritious diet, but are they good for them? The answer is it really depends on the ingredients used to make the pellets.
Check first the nutritional values and the ingredients used before buying the fish pellets to ensure you are giving your betta the balanced diet they need.
What are the dietary requirements for bettas?
Your betta needs nutrients with significant health benefits that include:
- protein
- fat
- fiber
- phosphorus
- carbohydrates
- calcium
- vitamins (A, D3, E, K, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, C, H, M)
As much as possible, try to avoid fillers like wheat-based pellets because these don’t have many nutritional benefits and can lead to digestive issues. Instead, ensure that the main ingredient used is high in protein to satisfy your betta’s carnivore nature.
How many pellets and when to feed your betta?
Again, how much and when to feed your betta pellets depends on your pet’s eating pattern and the product itself. However, some hobbyists recommend at least 2-3 pellets per meal twice a day during day and night.
If you think your betta is still famished after giving them the usual amount, you can feed them more. Remember to give them small amounts at a time to avoid overfeeding them and having too many leftovers in the tank.
What to do if betta spits out food?
A betta spitting out its food can be alarming at first glance. This could happen because of many factors such as illness, they’re stressed out, or they’re just simply not hungry.
However, one simple reason you may want to rule out first is that the pellet is too big for them. If this is the case, you would have to break the pellets into smaller pieces to make it easier for your pets to eat them.
If this method won’t work and your betta is still disinterested, you may have to try a different brand your pet would love.
How long can betta survive without food?
Betta fish can go without food for at least two weeks. However, don’t wait this long if you notice your betta’s not eating!
They should be fed regularly with the nutrients they need. Bettas can live up to 6 years when properly taken care of but will likely live shorter if not fed regularly.
Monitor your betta and check if there is something different with their behavior. If they still refuse to eat after changing their food, it would be best to get them checked and treated for any illness or disease.
Other Food for Betta Fish
Aside from pellets, you can give your betta other types of food.
Live food
Betta fish eats meat in their natural habitat, so feeding them live foods is one of the common options among hobbyists. Not only are they a good source of protein, but they can also stimulate your betta’s natural feeding behavior and boost their well-being.
There are concerns from the community that food can sometimes be harmful to your betta as some may carry parasites. Don’t be discouraged, though, since you can raise and culture your live insects at home without worrying too much about risking your betta’s health.
As much as bettas enjoy live food, remember to feed them this moderately. This shouldn’t be a staple food due to its high-fat content.
Frozen food
You can store live foods in the freezer for a longer lifespan. When you’re ready, feed it to your betta, don’t forget to thaw it first. Some live and frozen foods you can give your betta are:
- brine shrimp
- mosquito larvae
- bloodworms
- fruit flies
- mysis shrimp
Take only as much as you need because you can risk exposing your betta’s food to bacteria when you don’t use everything you thawed. Put the rest back in the freezer and serve again when needed.
Freeze-dried food
Freeze-dried foods are a nice treat for your betta but should not be fed regularly due to their low nutritional content. You can feed them pet freeze-dried bloodworms, brine shrimp, krill, or daphnia once or twice a week to replace their meals.
Since this type of food has been stripped off of its moisture, it is best to soak them first in water before feeding it to your betta. Failure to rehydrate freeze-dried foods can lead to bloating and other digestive issues.
Betta fish flakes
Flake foods are another go-to food for betta fish. Ensure the flakes are best suited and loaded with the proteins they need to maintain good health.
Although betta flakes are very easy to use, they can sometimes be messy because they tend to sink quickly due to their featherlike weight. You must immediately remove excess flakes after feeding to prevent polluting your betta’s tank water.
To see some of the best products in the market, check our blog post about the best betta flakes.
Verdict
Based on the quality of the ingredients that will help your bettas thrive, our top pick for the best betta pellets is the:
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Pellets are a staple food for your betta. When choosing what works best for your buddy, it’s important to make them high-quality ingredients so that your betta will get all the vitamins and nutrients they need for optimal growth.
Do not be afraid to try out different brands to see which ones your betta likes. Experimenting is necessary to determine which food your betta likes best while also considering their nutritional requirements.
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