Betta fish require a varied and balanced diet consisting of both live and frozen foods; flake food alone should never be fed exclusively. Bettas feed on aquatic worms and insects found in nature; therefore their bright colors and healthy bodies are due to this varied approach to diet.
Pet store living food can be easily portioned, and comes packaged in watertight packaging that makes for convenient portioning. Frozen foods also make great options and come in pre-portioned cubes of Bloodworms, Brine Shrimp, Daphnia or Tubifex Worms - make sure any dry pellets such as pellets are soaked before feeding for best results and to reduce bloat!
As a rule of thumb, it is advised that betta fish be fed an amount equal to one eyeball per feeding session. This serves as an adequate guideline regardless of food type; three soaked Bloodworms or pellets will typically fill your betta's belly completely. For optimal results, this amount should be fed twice per day with at least 12 hour gaps between feeding sessions.
Bettas have small digestive systems and can become easily overfed due to overfeeding. Overfeeding can lead to an accumulation of toxins within their bodies that may result in disease or death; for this reason it may be wise to postpone one feeding per week as a preventative measure; additionally it's vital that uneaten food be removed promptly as this will attract bacteria and pollute the water chemistry.
