How many pellets should I be feeding my Betta fish a day?

Question

I usually feed it four pellets twice a day. Is this enough?

he eats them all and then keeps looking for more...I don't want to hurt him though

Answer 1

It depends on the pellet size. Generally a betta only needs what it can eat in a minute or so in one feeding. Bettas like most fish will eat and eat. Betta are pigs than most, and will over eat and suffer betta bloat, and swim bladder issues. This is why feeding twice a is a bad idea for beginners.

Try feeding once a day until you get a handle on how much to feed. Also try skipping a day. The real question is what do their bellies look like? Check out the betatalk section on feeding. (Note the author's bettas are spoiled rotten from birth and don't eat flakes, or pellets like store bought betta.) There are pictures of healthy, and overfed bettas.

I feed mine twice a day most days, but not very much. (I like the interaction, and I feel it keeps them more active.) I skip a day, and feed them a shelled cooked pea after their no food day. (This helps clean out their system, and my snails love it.) In general I try to vary their feeding schedule, and food to keep them from getting to bored.

Answer 2

I've kept Bettas for many years. They're all different. My main concern is to not over feed my fish. I usually feed 1to 2 pellets a day or every other day. His belly is about the same size as his eyeball so I'm very careful. I also pay attention to his coloring and activity level. When I clean his tank, I usually don't feed him until the next day just to give him a chance to de-stress and get used to the water change. These tips work best for me. I hope they work for you all too!

Answer 3

comming from some one who raises betta's, 4 pellets twice a day is just fine. As long as your betta eats all the pellets with in a few minutes it's not too much. Don't worry about what other's say or the package, because in most cases it's just what they have been told by someone else.

Answer 4

I just got a betta, and I feed him like 4 in the morning and four at night. Any more than that clouds the water. But watch what he eats, if he leaves some pellets in the water, then you are over feeding, but if he gobbles everything and seems to be looking for more, then give a few more. Like every creature, they are individual to their tastes.

Karen

Answer 5

I only feed mine 4 or 5 pellets once a day. They will continue to eat as long as they see the food, even if they are not still hungry. If they eat too much they can become constipated so you have to watch out for that. Also if you feed him without soaking the food it will expand in his belly which is unsafe so you really don't wanna be feeding him too much.

Answer 6

it is TOO much. you should feed it either two pellets twice a day or four once. bettas are also known to beg for food. (weird i know) so if it asking for food and it got food that day or the day before it is not really hungry. bettas can go about four days w/o food. (though they wont appreciate it and they could die) over feeding it could make it fat and/or kill it so stop feeding it so much! iv'e had my betta, fred, for 1 and a half years and he's still goin strong! hope this helps

Answer 7

You should feed it three pellets every two days. If you feed it how much you have been, the tank will get a lot dirtier because the Betta will poop more.

Answer 8

WAY TOO MUCH. your gonna kill it! You should feed it four pellets one day, skip the next, four pellets, skip, four pellets, etc. Yours is hardly gonna last a year if you keep feeding it so much.

Answer 9

feed it until it eats all the pellets and leaves no wast

Answer 10

too much! 2 pellets once a day!