Betta feeding

laurabb

laurabb

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Jan 7, 2007
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How much do you feed bettas? I learned the hard way with our first one that (a) you don't follow the package instructions when it tells you to feed them 7-8 pellets twice a day and (b) you don't feed them as much as they'll eat in 1-2 mins, because our first one just wouldn't stop.

So - we have a new crowntail (Bubbles) that's about 2-2.5" in length (not including his tail) that gobbles his food immediately, and then hangs around his tank beneath the feeding door in hopes of some more. We've had him for 5 days thus far. The plan is to feed him 2 Hikari biogold pellets in the AM, and 1 pellet in the PM 5 days a week, give him a treat of freeze-dried brine shrimp on the 6th day, and fast him on the 7th day. Then repeat the cycle. Is this too much/not enough food? I know each fish is individual, but can someone give me a general guideline? Thanks!
 
I feed my bettas (I have 4) Hikari gold-roughly 4 pellets daily. On some days, I feed frozen bloodworms, frozen brine shrimp with spirulina, or frozen daphnia. On occasion I will feed a thawed frozen pea, whether they are constipated or not. I do not feed them freeze dried food.

I do fast them about every 3 days or so, just for one day.

Michele
 
Mine get 3-4 pellets per day per fish (I also have 4), though I think they would eat alot more if I let them. I feed about twice a week frozen bloodworms, freezedried bloodworms (soake dto make them soft), and betta flakes. I think variety is good when you're a betta :)
 
Yep...two, three or four pellets a day is all that a betta requires to live a very happy life.

Naturally you should also concern yourself with the quality of the food. Look at the ingredients. You'd be surprised how many "premium" brands are no different than the cheap ones. And one of them even has ridiculously pointless flavor enhancers.

(Sorry Hikari...my bettas don't require MSG in their diets.)

Also give them bloodworms once in a while. It's one of their native foods.
 
Siren said:
Mine get 3-4 pellets per day per fish (I also have 4), though I think they would eat alot more if I let them. I feed about twice a week frozen bloodworms, freezedried bloodworms (soake dto make them soft), and betta flakes. I think variety is good when you're a betta :)
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I have some freeze-dried brine shrimp that comes in these big chunks. Do you just crush some and toss in the water? How much?

I've been reluctant to try any frozen or live foods, because I read on bettatalk that you can introduce parasites this way. Or is this not true?
 
I don't deal with live foods because the parasite problem can be significant if you don't raise them yourself. Frozen foods are almost never an issue, and when there is a recall is usually issued in good order on the defective foodstuffs.

Thaw a small amount of the frozen cubes in a bit of tank water, then you should be able to feed an amount analogous to the amount of food he usually gets. With bloodworms it's pretty much a 1-1 ratio (if you feed 4 pellets, feed 4 bw's etc.) but I'm not sure on the relative size of the BS, as I don't use them personally.
 
I have some freeze-dried brine shrimp that comes in these big chunks. Do you just crush some and toss in the water? How much?
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I thaw the frozen cubes in a few spoonfuls of tank water, then use a small measuring spoon to dribble just a few at a time in the tank, keeping the rest in the 'fridge.
I've been reluctant to try any frozen or live foods, because I read on bettatalk that you can introduce parasites this way. Or is this not true?
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Perhaps possible with fresh food, almost certainly not with frozen.
 
I feed my betta once a day in the morning freeze dried blood worms I also alternate with frozen brine shrimp it is supposed to be good for them. I fast my betta once a week usually every Sunday. It is supposed to be good for them to fast lets them clean themselves out. My betta is a very happy little fish. Hope this helps.
 
Hereford said:
I thaw the frozen cubes in a few spoonfuls of tank water, then use a small measuring spoon to dribble just a few at a time in the tank, keeping the rest in the 'fridge.

Perhaps possible with fresh food, almost certainly not with frozen.
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How long will a thawed cube stay fresh in the fridge?
 
I always just fed enough to give them a little roundness to their belly, then skip a day and feed the following day. And I had 4 different foods that I gave out to them at-random.
 
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