What Can Betta Fish Eat Besides Fish Food

A very controversial topic amongst betta fish owners is whether their pets should be given human food. The answer is yes, but only occasionally. You can serve your betta fish human food on occasions where you have run out of fish food or if you want to give your fish a little treat.

However, giving human food to a betta fish all the time is not good. Your betta fish will not be able to survive entirely on human food. Human food is absolutely not a substitute for what a betta fish usually eats. Specific feeding instructions say that human food must be given to betta fish only rarely. When we talk about human foods suitable for betta fish, we must not include any sort of processed foods like salami. A betta fish cannot digest processed foods, and the preservatives can also make them sick. Betta fish are carnivores, which means that majority of their diet consists of meat-based meals.

Whatever human food you give to a betta fish, make sure it is only a supplement and not a replacement for an entire meal. Just like any other animal, betta fish also prefer a little variation in their diet. When giving human food, make sure that you follow the same guidelines as you do for commercially-bought food. The food must not contain any fillers, preservatives, chemicals, or additives. It must also fulfill the dietary requirements of your betta fish.

Some Human Foods and Fruits You Can Feed a Betta Fish

Following are some human foods that you can feed your betta fish occasionally:

Boiled Peas

Remove the outer skin of the peas and boil them until they are mushy or cut up into very tiny pieces. Your betta fish will enjoy it!

Peas are an excellent source of fiber and can prevent constipation and bloating. Make sure you remove the shell and the skin before you give peas to your betta fish.

Spinach

Lightly microwave or boil spinach leaves and cut them up into tiny pieces to feed your betta fish. However, not all betta fish will like spinach. Try giving it to your betta fish and see if it enjoys it.Sweet Corn

Sweet corn is an excellent treat for betta fish. Boil sweet corn kernels and cut or mash them up. Remember to remove the outer skin at all costs.

Even though delicious, a sweet corn kernel does not contain any nutrients, so make sure your betta fish gets its nutrients as well.

Cucumbers

The best way to give cucumbers to a betta fish is to boil it until it is soft and cut it up into tiny pieces. Nibbling on cucumbers gives your betta fish a yummy treat and enables faster digestion.

Mangoes

Mangoes can be absolute delights for betta fish. However, they must be given very rarely. Cut up a very small piece of mango and lower it into your betta fish’s tank.

See your fish nibble it down excitedly. However, if the mango piece does not disappear within 30 minutes, remove it from the tank, or it will contaminate the tank, causing your betta fish to die.

Lettuce

Just like spinach, lettuce leaves are also beneficial for your betta fish.

They contain a high amount of vitamins.

Just make sure that you do not give very large quantities of lettuce to your betta fish. Always cut and boil lettuce leaves before giving them to your fish.

Seafood

Since betta fish are carnivores that live in the sea, they rely on other small fish for their diet. Therefore, betta fish will deficiently enjoy some seafood!

You can give your betta fish fresh pieces of shrimp, scallops, and oysters. Raw chunks of tuna are also a great choice.

These protein-rich foods provide the most natural meal substitutes for betta fish.

Plants

As mentioned, betta fish are carnivores. If you add plants in their tank and expect them to live off them, you’re wrong! Betta fish will die due to a lack of protein and starvation if you rely on plants to feed them.

Fibrous vegetables and fruits

Avoid giving fruits and vegetables like beans, bananas, and carrots to your betta fish. Your fish might find these really hard to swallow and chew.

Fibrous fruits and vegetables can also cause digestive problems for your fish.

The Meat of Farm-Grown Animals

Giving your betta fish cow, chicken, or pork meat is harmful to its health. Your fish will not devour a piece of meat that its body is not made to eat.

Giving meat from farm-grown animals can cause severe digestive issues if your betta swallows it.

A Betta Fish’s Normal Diet

Betta fish need high amounts of protein in their diet in order to survive and live healthily.

Because they are carnivores, betta fish eat shrimp, fish, bloodworms, and other small creatures when they are in their wild habitat.

Since you are keeping your betta fish at home in an aquarium, you must ensure that you replicate their wildlife diet. You can purchase fresh or frozen food options from a local pet shop or aquarium store.

If you wish to feed pellets or fish flakes to your betta fish, please do so but only occasionally. Commercially-produced pellets and flakes can cause digestive problems for your betta fish.

Find high-quality fish flakes and pellets that support digestion and do not cause constipation or bloating. If you are giving pellets, soak them in water to ensure complete digestion

It is advisable not to buy large quantities of commercial fish food since most foods have a minimum expiration time. Please do not use any processed food (packed or tinned) for more than 6 months after opening it.

Your betta fish needs to be fed every day. You need to make sure it is getting enough protein. Proteins are an essential part of their diet.

Conclusion

Like all animals, bettas have certain nutritional requirements for the food that they eat. And the best way to give your betta these nutrients is through a natural carnivorous diet.

So just remember that when you’re choosing to feed your betta something different, that this isn’t a part of their regular diet. Make sure that if you give your betta human food that it’s only as a treat or as an occasional substitution for their regular food.

And remember, bettas have sensitive digestive systems just like all fish do. It’s best to keep their food as close to nature as possible.

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