Abdul Hakeem Ibrahim

How Often To Feed Betta Fish in 2024: Feeding Guide. Fishes add a great source of protein to our diets and other important nutrients like iodine, vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, and Mercury, amongst others. But, away from all of this, do you know that fish are kept as pets? Fishes are also kept as pets. Fishes kept as pets are stored in a glass container called an aquarium. One of the popular fish pets is the betta fish. It is popular for its brilliant colours and stylishly shaped fins. Betta fish need special care, especially as regards feeding. Unfortunately, many betta fish owners are unaware of the dos and don’ts of feeding Betta fish. If you handle feeding your Betta fish poorly, they become malnourished, sometimes leading to death. This article will educate you on the fundamentals of feeding and how often to feed your betta fish. What Do Betta Fish Eat? Betta fishes are carnivores in the wild; they munch on insects and insect larvae. Therefore, in a fish tank, it is important to ensure that the food contains high animal protein. You can get animal protein from bloodworms, brine shrimps, betta pellets, daphnia, betta flakes, mysis shrimps, tubifex worms, fruit flies, and mosquito larvae. Some are live, frozen, semi-frozen, or in freeze-dried form. ● ● ● ● ● ● Brine shrimps Betta pellets Mosquito larvae Fruit flies Mysis shrimps Blood worms Brine Shrimps Brine shrimps are the food of choice for betta fish. They might cost a little more than other feeds, but they are packed with the required nutrients to keep betta fish strong and healthy. Brine shrimp are usually given as supplements or treats. Betta Pellets Betta pellets are specially formulated feed to cater to betta fish's nutritional requirements. They are the most common betta fish feed and can be easily acquired. Betta pellets come in different forms and sizes, depending on your choice. Mosquito Larvae Mosquito larvae are readily available to betta fish in the natural habitat. Therefore, feeding them some mosquito larvae is encouraged. Fruit Flies They are also known as vinegar flies. Fruit flies are insects found around fruits. Betta fish are insectivores, and they love fruit flies. There are a variety of fruit flies, and the best for feeding betta fish are the flightless and wingless flies. Mysis Shrimps Mysis shrimps, also known as opposum shrimps, are rich in fiber and protein. In addition, they are high in moisture and amino acids and contain more nutrients than brine shrimps. Blood worms Betta fish usually munch on blood worms in the wild. As their name denotes, they have a blood-like red colour and are packed with proteins and vitamins needed by betta fish. Blood worms are high in iron content but lack amino acids and are not to be used as a main staple for betta fish. How To Feed Your Betta Fish Knowing how to feed a betta fish is equally as important as knowing what to feed it. Betta fishes require top-notch care and optimum feeding practices. To a great extent, the type of feeding practice you adopt determines the quality of life of your betta fish. Feeding your betta fish is easy. Once you drop your feed in their tank, they quickly gather around to snatch up the feed as it falls through the water tank. Your betta fish will also search for settled feed in the gravel and every other corner of their tank. So, you can rest assured that your fish will pick up almost all the feed you drop into their tank. It is important to understand the food you’re giving. Generally, dried food pellets will expand once in the water. Therefore, it is advisable to soak dried food in water before feeding your fish. Try varieties; avoid sticking to a particular food for long; as the saying goes, “variety is the spice of life.” How Often To Feed Betta Fish Betta fish have a small stomach, often compared to an eyeball's size. As such, they require a small portion of food to become full. The feeding frequency also matters; a baby betta should be fed twice daily, while an adult betta fish requires food daily. Some owners of betta fish resort to overfeeding to rapidly increase the size. This is a myth; overfeeding can lead to bloating, constipation, and death. Feeding your fish too frequently ( more than twice a day) will lead to wastage and remnants at the bottom of the tank. In addition, uneaten food at the bottom of the tank will decay and cause bacteria infection; clean up your tank periodically to prevent this. Cost of Feeding a Betta Fish Generally, Betta fish do not eat much and would not cost you as much as feeding a dog or a cat. However, feeding cost depends on factors like food brand, quality, quantity, location, and feed form. Live feed like bloodworm and mosquito larvae costs more than other forms of fish feed. They are considered the best feed for Betta fish, thus their high price. Other feeds, such as pellets and flakes, are relatively cheaper. Flakes and pellets should be given as basic food, while bloodworm and mosquito larvae should be given as treats - This will help reduce the overall cost of feeding. How Can I Make My Betta Fish Grow? It becomes a concern for you when your betta fish doesn’t increase in size after many months of purchase due to different factors. Generally, feeding and the living environment are the two most common factors you should consider when you face this problem. ● Living Condition ● feeding Living condition Your aim as a betta fish owner is to mirror the natural habitat of the fish as much as possible. Achieving a condition close to natural habitat starts from the size of the tank you put them in. The size of their water tank should be spacious enough to allow your betta fish to move around. Betta fish need at least 3 gallons of water in their tank for optimum living. Feeding Feeding is the most important part of your duty as a betta fish owner. Any mistake in how you feed your betta fish has an immediate impact on your fish's size and overall well-being. Betta fish require a diet rich in protein to boost their growth. Bloodworms and brine shrimps are great sources of protein. However, be careful not to overfeed your fish; underfeeding and overfeeding affect your fish's life negatively. What To Do if Your Betta Fish Does Not Eat A fish that doesn’t eat is a source of great concern for betta fish owners. We will touch on a few reasons that might affect the appetite of your better fish. It might be that they are just not interested in eating, or it might indicate a certain type of discomfort, such as bacterial infection. Just like humans, a sick fish will have a reduced appetite. When you notice this, observe your fish for some days before calling in a vet. A betta fish can last up to 14 days without food. Your Betta fish might also be uninterested in a particular type of food. Try other varieties of food to find out if this is the reason preventing your fish from eating. Betta fish also become less active as they grow, leading to reduced food intake. At times, the temperature of the water in their tank can lead to a loss of appetite. The recommended water temperature for your betta fish is between 76 to 81 degrees Fahrenheit. Any temperature outside this will affect your fish and can lead to disinterest in eating. After eliminating the reasons above and the problem persists, you should invite a vet to look. What Are the Signs of Overfeeding Betta Fish? We established above that betta fish are light eaters and don't need much feeding. However, an overfed betta fish swims less, becomes bloated, constipated, and might spit out its food. Extreme cases of overfeeding can lead to death. Conclusion Pets are lovely and can give that emotional connection humans long for; this is the same for betta fish. Betta fish are the top choice for fish pets and are popular. The popularity of betta fish can be linked to their beautifully coloured fins and scales. Betta fish are also easy to care for and require little spending for their maintenance. The most important part of maintenance for a betta fish is feeding: what to feed them, how much to feed them, and how often. We have discussed all of this above, and if you follow them correctly, your betta fish will live healthily.