Guest Author - Jilly Florio

Bettas have tiny stomachs and well-meaning betta parents can be a fish's worst enemy. It's important to feed just enough for your betta, to keep him happy and healthy.

Overfeeding bettas can lead to GI blockage, constipation, swim bladder disease (this link is about goldfish, but the information is the same) and even death. This is very common among pet bettas and is incredibly difficult to treat. And then, even when treated, swim bladder disease becomes a recurring problem, diminishing both length and quality of life.

Remember, a wild fish is adapted to eating lots of food when it's available, and then having long periods of hunger in between. This would be difficult to simulate properly in the aquarium - and besides, we all know we enjoy feeding times. It allows us to interact with our beloved bettas!

Resist the urge to overfeed. Your betta has a stomach the size of his eyeball, and you need to feed accordingly. I like to feed 3-4 pellets a day, usually at once. You could also spread out those pellets across the day, if you want more play time with your little pet. Your betta will snap these up and look for more. It's up to YOU to be strong and NOT keep feeding! :)

I also plan for a fast day each week, a day when my bettas are not fed at all. This gives their GI tracts a day to clear out the residual food and is very cleansing.

To ease my conscience I try to incorporate yummy treats in my betta diets, providing bloodworms, brine shrimp, fruit flies and other interesting live foods.

Again, be very careful not to overdo the treats. Betta pellets and flakes are made specifically to meet the needs of a betta's body and should be his staple food. Treats in excess will also disrupt that intestinal balance and make your betta ill. I provide a treat twice a week.

If you really want to be good to your betta, don't try to reach his heart through food. There are healthier options: you can make sure his water is crystal clean. You can buy him a new silk plant, cave or interactive play toy as often as you like. Give him the temperature range he craves - in the mid-to-high 70s. And best of all, place his tank or bowl in a location where he will see what's going on around the house. Curious bettas like being a part of the family, and especially enjoy watching YOU. Don't delegate him to a corner of the house and overfeed to try and make up for it. :)

Basic Fish Food and Treats
Fish Care - How Often to Feed Aquarium Fish
Betta Basics



Hikari Betta Bio Gold Pellets