One of the most important aspects of owning a betta is feeding them right. Bettas don’t eat lettuce or cucumber and they’ll likely turn up their noses if you feed them these items. You can also try brine shrimp or fried dried blood worms. These are all excellent options, but they’re not the most nutritional. For the best results, try a mixture of both.
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Meat
There are many benefits to raising your betta fish at home. The fact that you can control what the fish eats is one of those benefits. You can also watch the health of your colony by carefully monitoring how much food your betta fish is consuming. Live foods are healthier and more nutritious than pellets, so make sure to choose these. Read on to learn more about feeding your betta fish from home.
Fruit flies
If you’re looking for a natural food source for your betta, consider feeding it fruit flies. These creatures are safe and nutritious and are easy to culture in captivity. To get started with a fruit fly culture, you can purchase fly media, jars, and starter cultures from your local pet store. There are also plenty of online resources for starter cultures. For optimum results, get wingless fruit flies. Using larger fruit flies may cause blockages.
Mosquito larvae
Adding mosquito larvae to your betta’s diet is an excellent way to provide it with a natural source of protein. If you can’t find live mosquitoes, you can also buy brine shrimp, which are a popular choice. Bloodworms are also excellent options, as they are a good source of protein and will keep your fish happy. Feeding your fish mosquito larvae once a day will help prevent constipation and obesity.
Meat flakes
Flake foods are the most popular food for betta fish. They contain just enough nutrients to keep your fish healthy. You can find flakes in just about any pet store for around $5-6 per 3.5 oz. Unlike pellets, flakes tend to sink quickly and can be mistaken for debris, so bettas are unlikely to eat them. Pellets, on the other hand, resemble insects and larvae. As such, they are far more likely to be eaten by your fish.
Cooked chicken
If you’re looking for a delicious treat for your betta fish, boiled chicken shreddeds are an excellent choice. Despite their preference for aquatic animals, betta fish can be sensitive to meat, even farm-grown chicken. Boiled chicken is free of added sugar, fat, and salt, but it may contain traces of toxins and other chemicals. A few bettas also enjoy the sweetness of boiled chicken.
Peas
Peas are a great food for betta fish. Unlike most aquarium pets, bettas do not require a large amount of pectin to digest them. The peas are packed with complex carbohydrates, plant fiber, and sugars. Besides preventing betta bloat, peas are also great for the health of your fish. To give your fish peas, blanch them in boiling water for 30 seconds or one minute. Once cooked, drop the peas into ice-cold water and let them cool. Then, cut them into half and offer them to your betta.
Black worms
If you’re looking for something different for your betta fish, live foods are a great option. These live foods are similar to those found in nature, and bettas can easily survive in tank water. Blackworms, a true freshwater species, can live in your aquarium for a long time. They burrow into the substrate and provide hours of enrichment.
