Feeding bettas bloodworms

LeahK

AC Members
Jul 5, 2007
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So, I've got a new betta in my 20 gallon tall, and he's a very picky eater. All he'll eat is dried bloodworms. I try feeding betta pellets, and he either ignores them or spits them out.

Now, I've read that bloodworms should only be occasional treats, so know that I need to get him eating pellets eventually. But for the time being, I need to know how many bloodworms are ok on a daily basis.

I feed my other betta 4 pellets once per day, sometimes twice per day. What would be the right number of bloodworms to feed? So far, I've been doing one bloodworm in the morning and one at night. Is that about right?
 
How ever many he is capable of eating in about 2 minutes with no leftovers.

you need to get something else in his diet though
 
i fed mine as much as he could eat in a few minutes. you don't need to feed bettas those pellets though. try different types of flake food too. my bettas have always loved those.
 
Thanks! I've tried two kinds of pellets, some flakes, and dried shrimp, but bloodworms are all he'll take.
My plan is to keep him happy with bloodworms for about a week, and then fast him for a day or so, and then see if he won't try something new.
 
That won't work! I tried starving my betta for two weeks and he still won't eat pellets. But apparently the bloodworms satisfy the betta's nutritional requirements. I only feed mine bloodworms and flightless fruit flies.
 
It is not uncommon for a Betta to not accept a food at first. Bloodworms do not satisfy a Bettas nutritional requirements in the long run. I would recommend a pellet food called Hikari Betta Bio-gold baby pellet size.

What you should do is stop feeding him bloodworms and keep trying the pellets, he may not eat them for a while but he will eat them eventually. He will not starve himself to death so you don't have to worry about that. There will come a day when he will start eating the pellets.
 
I actually feed mine large cichlid pellets that I crush, and frozen blood worms on occasion. I never had a problem with him being picky though.
 
It's funny, because my other betta loves pellets and won't go near bloodworms, and this new guy is the complete opposite.
I did notice today that he's hunting and eating scuds in the tank, so I don't guess I'm too worried about him starving. :)
 
try putting a smidgen of garlic juice on the pellets. fish loooove garlic. and it's s'posed to be good for them.
 
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