Determining the right amount of food to feed a betta fish is an important part of caring for these beautiful, active pets. Bettas are carnivores that thrive on a diet rich in protein. Feeding betta fish a proper diet helps them stay healthy, active, and vibrant.
How often should you feed betta fish?
Most experts recommend feeding betta fish twice per day. Bettas have small stomachs and cannot process large meals. Feed them smaller portions twice per day rather than one large meal. This helps prevent digestive issues and helps keep water quality high.
When setting up a feeding schedule, try to feed bettas at the same times every day. Bettas can start to anticipate regular meal times. If you need to feed them later than usual one day, give a tiny amount in the morning to help avoid overeating later.
How much should you feed a betta fish at each feeding?
At each feeding session, only feed bettas as much food as they can consume within 2-3 minutes. Watch your betta as it eats. It may take a few feeding sessions to gauge the right amount.
Bettas have tiny stomachs, so overfeeding is easy to do. Give them only enough to satisfy their appetite. Uneaten food will sink and dirty the tank water. Overfeeding can lead to swim bladder disorder, constipation, and other digestion issues.
Flake food
If feeding betta flakes, give them only as much as they can eat within 2-3 minutes. Many fishkeepers recommend starting with 4-5 medium flakes per feeding. Monitor to see if your betta consumes all the flakes in that time. Adjust amounts accordingly.
Pellets
For pellet food, start with 2-4 small pellets at each feeding. Monitor consumption and adjust as needed. Take care not to overfeed, even with tiny pellets.
Frozen or freeze-dried foods
Frozen and freeze-dried foods like bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia make great occasional treats. They provide variety and enhance nutrition. Only feed tiny portions of these. A few individual shrimp or worms are plenty.
Fasting
Bettas benefit from one fasting day per week to allow their digestive systems to rest. Skip one day’s morning or evening feeding. Monitoring waste output can help determine if fasting helps your individual fish.
What are the best foods for betta fish?
Choose a high quality pellet or flake betta food as the dietary staple. Here are top food types for bettas:
- Betta pellets – Select a brand designed for bettas. Top choices include Omega One Betta Buffet Pellets, Fluval Bug Bites, and New Life Spectrum Betta Formula.
- Betta flakes – Top flakes include Omega One Betta Flakes, Fluval Bug Bites, and Tetra Betta Flakes.
- Frozen or freeze-dried foods – Great as treats a few times per week. Try bloodworms, mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and daphnia.
Avoidgeneric fish flakes or pellets, as bettas have different nutritional needs. Betta diets should be high in protein and fiber but lower in fats.
What to avoid feeding betta fish
Some foods are difficult for bettas to digest or low in nutrition. Avoid feeding:
- Freeze-dried tubifex worms
- Large flaky foods like tetramin flakes
- Fish flakes high in fillers like wheat and corn
- Feeder guppies or goldfish
- Meal worms or other hard shelled insects
- Dry foods past expiration dates
How to feed betta fish
Feeding techniques help ensure bettas eat the right foods and amounts.
Flake foods
Betta fish don’t always see flakes on the water’s surface. Gently sprinkle flakes across the top of the tank. Let them soak for 1-2 minutes before more are added. Bettas will eat soaked flakes as they sink.
Pellets
Drop pellets into the tank one at a time. Spread them out to prevent the fish from gorging itself on one spot. Let the betta consume each pellet before adding more.
Frozen and freeze-dried
For frozen varieties, attach a small amount to the inside of the tank using a popsicle stick or dropper. Cut any large pieces into bite-sized bits. For freeze-dried foods, soak before feeding to rehydrate them and prevent bloating.
Tips for healthy betta feeding
- Feed only amounts the betta will consume within 2-3 minutes.
- Offer a variety of foods for balanced nutrition.
- Soak dry foods before feeding when possible.
- Break up frozen foods into tiny pieces.
- Drop foods into the tank one piece at a time.
- Avoid overfeeding even with small foods like pellets.
- Fast bettas one day per week.
- Remove uneaten food after each feeding.
Signs of overfeeding bettas
Watch for these signs that indicate your betta is being fed too much:
- Leftover food after feeding sessions
- Food collecting at the tank bottom
- Swollen belly or body
- Constipation
- Swim bladder disorder
- Lethargy
- Lack of appetite
If you notice these, fast the betta for 1-2 days while monitoring for improvement. When feeding resumes, drastically reduce amounts to prevent recurrence.
Underfeeding betta fish
Underfeeding can lead to health issues as well. Signs of underfeeding include:
- Loss of color or faded colors
- Weight loss
- Increased aggression during feeding
- Rapid swimming along glass
- Emaciated appearance
Increase food amounts slightly if these signs appear. Monitor the betta closely during feeding times to ensure it is getting adequate nutrition.
Conclusion
When fed a proper diet, betta fish can thrive in home aquariums. Feed adult bettas 4-5 flakes or 2-4 pellets twice per day. Fast them one day per week. Vary their diet by including frozen and freeze-dried treats. With the right feeding regimen, bettas will display beautiful colors and remain healthy and active.