There are many interesting facts to learn about the betta fish. For example, the health of your fish, as with all saltwater and tropical fish, depends largely on its diet. A varied diet of fresh, frozen, and pellet/flake foods will keep your new pet satisfied and ensure that it lives a long and healthy life. Keeping your fish well-fed will also enhance the bright colors that betta fish are known for.
Feeding Frequency
The general rule of thumb in feeding a betta fish is to feed it once per day, though young fish should be fed at least twice a day. Adults of this species can survive without eating for several days at a time, however, and it may even benefit your fish to skip the feeding once a week. This will give your fish time to digest properly. Like most fishes, the adult fish is prone to overfeeding, so aquarists should make sure not to feed their fish too often or give them too much food at one time. Ammonia levels may rise in the tank or bowl where the fish is in when unconsumed food is not removed from the waters. Feed your betta as much as it can consume in roughly 2 to 5 minutes and remove any uneaten food ten minutes after feeding.
Proper Food for Bettas
Since betta fishes are carnivorous, a high-protein diet is a great way to keep your fish happy. These fish prefer to eat live food when it is available but freeze-dried foods are a more convenient and cheaper alternative. Live foods like mosquito larvae are considered the natural food of these fish as are bloodworms but these live foods can potentially transfer bacteria and diseases.
If you choose to give your betta live food be sure to wash the worms thoroughly -- worms that are brought directly from the garden and into the tank may bring in unwanted bacteria that can bring diseases to your betta. These fish also enjoy brine shrimp but moderation is recommended when utilizing this type of food. Some pet stores offer live blood worms but frozen varieties and dried brine shrimp are readily available at most pet stores.
Helpful Tips
If you plan to be away from the house for a long period of time, it is ideal to use an automatic feeder. For absences only a few days long your betta can survive without food but it may be a good idea to have a friend or neighbor come by once to feed it.
Cleaning the water is also imperative in keeping your fish healthy. A 5-gallon tank will require once-a-week cleaning and partial water changes are recommended to keep ammonia levels down.
Betta fishes will eat anything inside the aquarium, so food scraps should be removed ten minutes after feeding. Symptoms of overfeeding in betta fish include the appearance of an over-pronounced belly. If your fish appears to be too thin, on the other hand, it may be sick or might require more frequent feeding until it regains a healthy size.
Sources:
- "Betta Food," Accessed June 2011. BettaTalk.com.
- "How to Care for Your Betta Fish," Accessed June 2011. AquariumGuys.com.
- "Betta Care Basics," Accessed June 2011. FirstTankGuide.net.
Katherine Barrington - Katherine has loved reading and writing for as long as she can remember. When it comes to reading one of her favorite authors is Tamora ...
