How Often Should I Feed My Betta

Last Updated on September 12, 2021

Buying a new pet comes with what seems to be an endless learning experience. The question, “How often should I feed my betta” is surely up there too.

Give your betta fish high-quality food designed to provide the nutrients it needs. The amount and type of food given every feeding time and the frequency of feeding are important to maintaining your betta fish’s health.

In its natural habitat of streams and borders of rice paddies with plenty of plants, adult betta fish eat insects that go on the surface of the water such as mosquitos and its larvae that are swimming in the water. They also feed on worms, brine shrimp, daphnia, and tiny fish. Baby betta fish also called betta fry feed on infusoria which are the microorganisms present in the water. The diet of betta fish from birth until adulthood is very protein-rich. Giving your betta fish a varied diet will allow you to provide it the nutrients it needs to be healthy.

How often should I feed my betta fish flakes?

The generic fish flakes sold at your local pet store may not provide enough nutrients for your betta fish. These are made of fillers such as wheat flour which will digestive problems for you betta fish such as indigestion and bloating. Long-term digestive problems may lead to organ failure which is very difficult to cure. 

It’s good to feed your betta fish once or twice a day. Feed your betta the amount it can consume in two minutes. Remember that your betta has a small stomach around the same size as its eye. Flakes expand when it gets wet so this will make your betta full. Remove any excess because this will contaminate the water in your betta fish’s tank.

There are brands that sell fish flakes made for the nutritional needs of betta fish. It is important to keep in mind that many fish keepers have noticed that betta fish dislike fish flakes when they are already accustomed to living food. If you have a friend who has some, then maybe you can ask for a few pieces so you can try feeding it to your betta. Some pet stores might give out samples too. 

How many mini pellets to feed a betta?

Your betta fish’s stomach is the same size as its eye. This is a wonderful guide to determine how much a betta should eat. If your betta eats too much, you may notice that its belly will become bigger. If this happens all the time, this can lead to long-term bloating which isn’t good for a betta. Feeding your betta once or twice a day with 2 to 3 mini pellets is enough. Always avoid overfeeding.

Keep in mind too that pellets will expand when wet. This will also cause your betta to become too full if it eats so much in one go. You can pre-soak pellets in water to really know how big they will become when wet. Just like fish flakes, these may have fillers that can cause constipation for your betta fish.

What do I feed my betta fish if I run out of betta fish food?

Giving your betta fish a day to fast is recommended by a lot of hobbyists. This will allow your betta to expel most of the food it has digested in its system. It is also good to note that your betta fish can survive for a week without food.

If you find yourself in a situation when you have run out of food for your betta fish, rest assured that your betta fish will not die if it skips a day or two of not eating until you have replenished your stocks. However, if you really are keen on giving your betta something else to eat, then here are a few questions we have answered to guide you.

Related: How Long Can Betta Fish Go Without Food?

Can betta fish eat goldfish food?

As an emergency source of food for your betta for just a day or two, yes. As a staple food in your betta fish’s diet, unfortunately, no. A goldfish is an omnivore and a betta fish is a carnivore. Goldfish food is high in carbohydrates while betta fish food is high in protein. Give your betta fish food made specifically for bettas.

Can betta fish eat mealworms?

Mealworms are a superb source of protein! If you are planning to feed your betta some mealworms, then it is best to give them the smallest ones which can fit its mouth. You can opt for the bigger mealworms but chop it up into little pieces. 

Make sure it is at a size that your betta fish can fit into its mouth and the amount should be enough not to cause too much belly bloat. Consider this a treat for your betta fish to enjoy only once or twice a week.

Can betta fish eat bloodworms?

Bloodworms are the larvae of midge flies. Their red color is a sign of high iron content which can also be beneficial to your betta fish. Many betta fish owners say that their fish loves bloodworms. However, you should only give this as a treat because too much will cause your betta digestion problems.

A problem with giving your betta fish live bloodworms is the possibility of it having bacteria or parasites that can harm your betta. Freeze-dried bloodworms have less nutritional value due to the processing. Frozen bloodworms are better but you have to thaw and rinse it out. 

Can betta fish eat ants?

It would make sense that a betta fish would eat ants since they are insectivores. The scenario of an ant falling into the water in the natural habitat of a betta fish is highly possible.

However, it’s possible that the ants we see at home are laced with chemicals from insecticides and these can harm our betta fish.

Stay safe by feeding your betta with food tailored for a betta fish!