Can you feed bettas regular tropical fish food?

Question

I'm just wondering because I'm allergic to bloodworms, and I think brine shrimp, and I REALLY, REALLY want a betta. So I'm wondering if I can just use my tropical fish food that I use for my guppies, platies and mollies? If not, is there any type of food that DOES NOT contain bloodworms or brine shrimp? Looking for best answer

Answer 1

You can feed them flake food, but they make a floating pellet expecially for Betta's like this... http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+7927+4264&pcatid=4264 Just shake a few pellets in the water and you never have to even touch the food.

Answer 2

You can feed bettas regular tropical fish food, they may or may not eat it. My bettas will eat it once in a while but it's definitely not their favourite. Your bettas most likely won't get all the nutrition they need if that is all you feed them. The food made especially for bettas would be much better.

I too am allergic to bloodworms (which are actually red mosquito larva) and to brine shrimp although not as much. I buy both frozen, use a sharp knife to break up the pieces and use a pair of tweezers to pick it up and put it in the tank. I then rinse the knife and tweezers thoroughly and wash my hands carefully just in case. If I get any of the bloodworms on my hands I know it right away, I learnt to be very careful.

Answer 3

Several fish food makers make betta specific foods. Hikari has betta pellets that are designed specifically for bettas and it's a good food--they're tiny round little balls that float on the water. I've always found these better than the other brands. You can also get frozen mosquito larvae (same frig you get bloodworms in) and use an eyedropper to distribute in the water (you shouldn't have to touch these things..unless you're like me and fumble popping the cube in the cup and the worm cube goes flying around the kitchen). You should feed your betta both pellets and "real" food just so it doesn't become constipated.

Answer 4

Bettas ARE tropical fish, and should be treated as such in all respects (filter, heater, adequate tank, and tropical food). Most Bettas are more successfully fed with pellets (they are easier for the Betta to eat before they reach the bottom), but flakes are fine as well. Bettas are carnivores and will NOT eat fruits or vegetables (except for the occasional pea to cure constipation), and should be fed flakes, with bloodworms, brineshrimp, and small, nontoxic insects (avoid ants, they contain strong acids that are very hard on the fish's body) as weekly treats. Email me if you have any questions.

Soop Nazi

Answer 5

They can eat tropical flakes, but they won't really enjoy it! Bettas are much better off with betta pellet food, it causes a lot less waste and is higher in protein than the flake food. Vary their diet with brine shrimp and bloodworms (the freeze dried ones or frozen are OK).

Answer 6

it should be fine. after all bettas can live with tropical fish so why not eat tropical fish food. you could also give it some citrus like lemons, oranges, or kiwi. bettas tend to like granuels better than flake food though, maybe you can find some tropical fish food that is pellets.