How to Select Food for Betta Fish

Adding some beautiful Betta fish to your aquarium is a great way to liven up that fish tank. However, Bettas can often be high-maintenance pets. Also known as Siamese fighting fish, these pretty swimmers can be very aggressive. They can also be very picky eaters. Learning how to feed them what they want will ensure that you have happy and healthy Bettas.

Things You'll Need

  • Fish food
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Instructions

    • 1

      Give your fish things like insects and insect larvae instead of plants and roots. Betta fish are carnivorous eaters, so they will only feed on animal protein-based foods.

    • 2

      Keep your fish healthy by selecting only food specially made for Bettas. The food packaging should make it clear whether it is right for Betta fish or not.

    • 3

      Look at the nutritional content when shopping for fish food. A good one will include plenty of vitamins and minerals to keep your Betta healthy.

    • 4

      Try out pellet food for your Betta fish. These are easily digestable and contain proteins like fish and shrimp meal as well as lots of other healthy nutrition. Be sure to select a type of pellet that will float easily in the water, as Betta fish are top feeders and will not usually go after sinking food.

    • 5

      Select a type of frozen food to offer your Bettas. Frozen and live foods most closely resemble the diet of a Betta in its natural habitat and will typically be the most pleasing to them. One of the most common and popular frozen choices is bloodworms.

    • 6

      Feed your fish some freeze-dried selections to test their palettes. Freeze-dried red grubs are often a big hit with Bettas.

    • 7

      Select some live and fresh foods to keep your Betta's diet balanced. Some recommended options include Betta fry, brine shrimp, black worms and even hardboiled egg yolks.

    • 8

      Stay by the tank and watch your fish as they try out each new dish. Pay attention to the things they particularly gobble up and the things that do not tickle their fancy as much. Make your future dietary selections based on those preferences.