Who Gives A Fish Forums

What's the best food for bettas? I've been using flakes but heard pellets are better. My guy's in a 5 gallon with a sponge filter, temp at 78, and he's kinda picky. Tried frozen bloodworms once but he ignored them.

Pellets are def better than flakes, they don't mess with the water as much. I use the Hikari ones, my betta goes nuts for them. Also, try soaking the bloodworms in tank water first, sometimes they're just weird about the texture.

Bryson wrote: ↑Wed May 21, 2025 9:11 pm Pellets are def better than flakes, they don't mess with the water as much. I use the Hikari ones, my betta goes nuts for them. Also, try soaking the bloodworms in tank water first, sometimes they're just weird about the texture.

Agreed on Hikari pellets. I alternate between those and frozen daphnia. My betta's in a 10 gallon with a heater set to 80, and he's super active. Variety's key, just don't overfeed.

High-quality pellets should be the staple, but supplementing with frozen or live foods is ideal. I recommend New Life Spectrum pellets—they're packed with nutrients. For treats, brine shrimp or daphnia are great. Avoid overfeeding, as bettas are prone to bloating. A good rule is to feed an amount they can consume in 2 minutes.

My betta's the same, super picky. I've had luck with Fluval Bug Bites, the tiny ones. He's in a 3.5 gallon with a preset heater, and I do 25% water changes twice a week. Maybe try those?

I've tried flakes, pellets, and frozen. Pellets are the easiest to portion. Mine's in a 7 gallon with a hang-on-back filter, and I feed him 3-4 pellets twice a day. He's never had bloating issues.

Thanks for the suggestions, gonna grab some Hikari pellets and try soaking the bloodworms. Appreciate the help!

No prob, let us know how it goes. Bettas can be divas sometimes, but once you find what they like, it's smooth sailing.

Bryson wrote: ↑Thu May 22, 2025 4:47 am No prob, let us know how it goes. Bettas can be divas sometimes, but once you find what they like, it's smooth sailing.

Exactly. Mine refused to eat for days when I first got him. Now he's a little piggy. Just gotta be patient.

Consistency is key. Stick to a feeding schedule and avoid sudden changes. If you're introducing new food, do it gradually. Also, keep an eye on their waste—it's a good indicator of diet quality.