Are you a first-time betta fish parent or looking for new food to feed your colorful fish? You've come to the right place. Betta fishes are carnivores and need a diet high in protein and fat. This article will tackle the best betta fish food in different types: pellets, flakes, and freeze-dried food.
We've gone ahead and researched the best betta fish food based on its nutrition and type. Right away, Tetra's BettaMin's pellets took the spot in first place for its nutritious ingredients and ideal size suitable for bettas of all ages. Take a look at the other nine excellent betta fish food we've handpicked, and read until the end to learn some helpful buying tips in our handy buying guide!
Take a look at the best betta fish foods we've picked for you! There is a wide variety of options here that have different ingredients and nutritional values.
77019
$2.12
Type | Pellet |
---|---|
Main ingredients | Wheat flour, wheat gluten, dried fish protein, potato protein |
Amount | 1.02 oz. |
Nutrition | 43% protein, 10% fat, 2% fiber |
$5.99
Type | Freeze-dried |
---|---|
Main ingredients | Bloodworms (insect larvae) |
Amount | 0.25 oz. |
Nutrition | 53% protein, 2% fat, 2% fiber |
$3.65
Type | Flake |
---|---|
Main ingredients | Salmon, whole herring, wheat flour |
Amount | 0.28 oz. |
Nutrition | 43% protein, 12% fat, 2% fiber |
$1.97
Type | Pellet |
---|---|
Main ingredients | Fish meal, dehulled soybean meal, wheat flour, shrimp meal |
Amount | 1.20 oz. |
Nutrition | 35% protein, 10% fat, 3% fiber |
$6.70
Type | Pellet |
---|---|
Main ingredients | Fish meal, wheat flour, soybean meal, rice bran |
Amount | 0.09 oz. |
Nutrition | 38% protein, 4% fat, 3% fiber |
$3.63
Type | Pellet, flake, freeze-dried |
---|---|
Main ingredients | Fish meal, wheat flour, brine shrimp |
Amount | 1.34 oz. |
Nutrition | 43-48% protein, 6-10% fat, 2-7% fiber |
$2.63
Type | Pellet |
---|---|
Main ingredients | Wheat, dehulled soybean meal, fish meal |
Amount | 1.40 oz. |
Nutrition | 37% protein, 8% fat, 3% fiber |
$4.99
Type | Flake |
---|---|
Main ingredients | Wheat flour, mealworm meal, wheat germ meal |
Amount | 0.63 oz. |
Nutrition | 46% protein, 7.5% fat, 1.2% fiber |
$6.99
Type | Freeze-dried |
---|---|
Main ingredients | Bloodworms, vitamin E, vitamin C |
Amount | 0.42 oz. |
Nutrition | 55% protein, 4% fat, 3.5% fiber |
$14.99
Type | Pellet |
---|---|
Main ingredients | Fish meal, California blackworms, krill |
Amount | 1.5 oz. each |
Nutrition | 40-45% protein, 4-5% fat, 4-6% fiber |
Image | 1 ![]() Tetra | 2 ![]() Tetra | 3 ![]() Omega One | 4 ![]() Wardley | 5 ![]() Hikari | 6 ![]() Tetra | 7 ![]() Aqueon | 8 ![]() Fluval | 9 ![]() Hikari | 10 ![]() Invert Aquatics |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | BettaMin | BloodWorms | Betta Buffet Flakes | Betta Food | Betta Bio-Gold | Betta 3-in-1 Select-A-Food | Betta Formula | Bug Bites | Blood Worms | Betta Bits |
Features | Nutritious Floating Pellets for Bettas of All Ages | Freeze-Dried Supplements Rich in Protein | Betta Flakes Made With Fresh Seafood | Floating Pellets Fortified With Vitamin C | Pack of Three Perfectly-Sized Pellets | Three-in-One Fish Food Medley | Pellet Formula That Enhances a Betta's Color | Easy-to-Digest Flakes Made from Fly Larvae | Treat Your Bettas to Vitamin-Rich Bloodworms | A Variety of Betta Pellets in Resealable Packets |
Price | $2.12 | $5.99 | $3.65 | $1.97 | $6.70 | $3.63 | $2.63 | $4.99 | $6.99 | $14.99 |
Type | Pellet | Freeze-dried | Flake | Pellet | Pellet | Pellet, flake, freeze-dried | Pellet | Flake | Freeze-dried | Pellet |
Main ingredients | Wheat flour, wheat gluten, dried fish protein, potato protein | Bloodworms (insect larvae) | Salmon, whole herring, wheat flour | Fish meal, dehulled soybean meal, wheat flour, shrimp meal | Fish meal, wheat flour, soybean meal, rice bran | Fish meal, wheat flour, brine shrimp | Wheat, dehulled soybean meal, fish meal | Wheat flour, mealworm meal, wheat germ meal | Bloodworms, vitamin E, vitamin C | Fish meal, California blackworms, krill |
Amount | 1.02 oz. | 0.25 oz. | 0.28 oz. | 1.20 oz. | 0.09 oz. | 1.34 oz. | 1.40 oz. | 0.63 oz. | 0.42 oz. | 1.5 oz. each |
Nutrition | 43% protein, 10% fat, 2% fiber | 53% protein, 2% fat, 2% fiber | 43% protein, 12% fat, 2% fiber | 35% protein, 10% fat, 3% fiber | 38% protein, 4% fat, 3% fiber | 43-48% protein, 6-10% fat, 2-7% fiber | 37% protein, 8% fat, 3% fiber | 46% protein, 7.5% fat, 1.2% fiber | 55% protein, 4% fat, 3.5% fiber | 40-45% protein, 4-5% fat, 4-6% fiber |
Link |
When purchasing food for your colorful fish, there are a few factors to consider. Take a look at the buying guide below to learn more about what makes the best betta fish food and the differences between the major types.
Out in the wild, betta fish primarily feed on insects and insect larvae, like brine shrimp, deer fly larvae, water fleas, and bloodworms. These insects are high in protein and fiber, two of the main components of a betta fish's diet.
Betta fish are dominantly carnivores but can also consume some plants. When purchasing food for your fish, make sure the first few ingredients are meat-based and that it has an overall protein percentage of 40 percent or higher.
You can add some plant-based foods to your betta’s diet, but do not solely rely on plants! Your fish will not get the nutrients it needs to survive and will end up emaciated and may even die.
Always go for a well-balanced diet high in protein, fat, and fiber. Other ingredients to look for are phosphorus, carbohydrates, calcium, and a range of vitamins and minerals. Check the ingredients of the pellets and flakes to make sure it is healthy for your fish.
The four main types of betta fish food are pellets, flakes, frozen, and freeze-dried food. No matter what you choose, make sure the pieces are small enough for your fish to eat safely! If the food is too large, they may choke.
Pellets are the most popular type of betta fish food. It's great for beginner betta fish owners since it’s easy to monitor each portion’s serving size.
The small spherical shape of a pellet can be mistaken as an insect by your betta fish. Because of this, bettas tend to find pellets a lot more appetizing compared to other fish food.
When buying pellets for your betta fish, check to see if the pellets float on the surface or sink right away to the bottom of the tank.
While some bettas prefer eating off the bottom of the tank, most prefer munching on their food on the water’s surface. For pellets that expand when wet, soak them first in tank water to hydrate them. This method is handy for bettas who like to attack their food right away.
For picky betta fish who don’t like to eat pellets because of their size and composition, flakes make a great alternative. If you plan to use fish flakes, make sure to purchase one made specifically for bettas. Don’t feed your bettas tropical fish flakes as these are plant-based and won’t provide your betta with the nutrients they need to be healthy.
Remember to remove excess and sunken flakes out of the tank after feeding your fish. Sometimes, betta fish don’t eat flakes because it looks like floating debris to them. Flakes are also messy to feed and hard to measure, but they are perfect for picky betta fishes who don’t like eating other types of food.
The most nutritious betta fish food, aside from live food, is frozen food. Most frozen foods come in cubes and vary in size depending on the manufacturer. This diet replicates a betta’s natural diet in the wild, making it healthier than pellets and flakes.
When feeding your betta fish frozen food, make sure to defrost the cube and cut it into much smaller pieces. Never plop the cube as-is into the fish tank since your betta fish will not be able to break it into smaller pieces, and they could choke if they eat a piece that's too large.
Although not as nutritious as frozen food, freeze-dried food make great additives to a betta's balanced diet. Like pellets and flakes, it also doesn't have any bacteria or parasites, unlike live food that occasionally has some. However, freeze-dried food lacks moisture and may contain filler ingredients similar to those found in pellets and flakes.
Freeze-dried food is easy to find at pet stores and is easy to store, making it a common go-to for betta pet owners. People also use freeze-dried food to add spice to a betta fish's diet because it is the second closest option to live food. The closest option, frozen food, requires a freezer, making it an inconvenient option for some.
Make sure to always soak freeze-dried food before giving it to your betta fish to avoid constipation and bloating. If you don't, the food may expand in their stomach and press on their swim bladder. You may also have to cut up larger types of food, like bloodworms, to prevent choking.
Try to avoid filler ingredients in your betta fish food as much as possible. A rule of thumb to remember is that fewer meat-based ingredients usually indicate more fillers. Plant-based ingredients are sometimes fillers as well.
Since a betta fish’s body is not designed to digest plants, so feeding them a plant-heavy diet will prove harmful in the long run. A small number of filler ingredients are ok, but make sure that they aren't the majority.
If you really want to give your betta fish the best life, feed them live food. As mentioned above, betta fishes are carnivores and love to hunt their prey. The most nutritious diet consists of live food like mosquito larvae, wingless fruit flies, bloodworms, and many more.
You can give live food as a treat from time to time to your betta fish as well. Not only will your fish adore you, but they will also get a nutritious snack!
When feeding live food to your fish, be careful where you source the food. Some live food might be contaminated by diseases and parasites that are harmful to betta fish. Also, never feed your fish any live food that you caught outdoors. You never know what diseases that insect could be carrying!
Maybe you also have other pets at home apart from your betta fish. Check out some of our favorite pet supplies below!
Household goods
Home electronics, PC, camera
Cosmetics and skincare
Food and drinks
Kitchen supplies
Clothing
Shoes
Accessories
Kids and baby
Interior and furniture
Hobbies
Outdoor
DIY and tools
Sports and fitness
Pets
Books, CDs, DVDs
Games
Cars and motorcycles
Gifts
Housing equipment and renovation
Smartphones and mobile phones
Mobile data
Investment and asset management
Credit cards and loans
Insurance
Music
Smartphone applications