Betta Report

[BettaBum873]

For my companion animal nutrition class I have to write a report and the nutrition needs of an animal of my choice, so naturally I chose bettas. I was hoping that you guys could help me by giving me some factual information, and also personal experience with feeding and care of bettas. I need to know:
-Type of digestive system
-nutrient requirements
-# meals a day
-Diet: what do they eat
- any uniqueness, special concerns and care as it may relate to their feeding

Thanks guys, this forum will make a great referance if I get a lot of info.

 

[wuvmybetta]

I personally prefer frozen food, and so do the bettas, fins down.
Mine get frozen food once a day- it differs from frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, and mysis. I feed them pellets one day a week. I've noticed that when I skip the pellets they sort of act a little funny, maybe a bit sluggish is the best way to describe it. I think it acts as a fiber. They perk up right after they get a meal of dry food.

This, of course, only pertains to the adults. The diet of young fry is completely different. From 0 to 1 month I feed them live food at least 6-8 times a day. They say though, that fry who are grown quickly with large abundant meals have half of the life expectancy though. I can't say whether or not this is true, but in all honesty I have heard of several folks with fish of mine that are 2 years old'ish and are dropping dead (the fish, not the people) I haven't experienced this myself as I still have bookoo's of older fish but just the other day my very first fry, who was approaching two, died suddenly and mysteriously So there may be some truth to it, I'm still experimenting and learning.

I do believe that fish who are raised on a meaty- protein rich diet should be kept on it. I don't think the switch to pellets 6 times a week- frozen once is an easy transition after being fed with a silver spoon their entire lives.

 

[Synirr]

Hmm, that's kinda interesting Wuv... Some of my fish from you (ok, maybe just one, not sure how old the CT x plakats are) are approaching 2 and still doing great. Mini is the only one who was ever ill, and the other who died was killed in the infamous spray cleaner incident. Agares, Sitri, and Valefor are healthy as horses.

All I'd say about diet is that variety is key, that way you can be sure they're getting the nutrition they need. I think feeding a good quality pellet on occasion, like Wuv said, is also very helpful. Pellets such as Hikari and Atison's add vitamins your fish otherwise be missing. I feed pellets 5-6 days a week, and frozen the rest of the time. They also get pea about once every two weeks. I will say that I haven't had a problem switching juvies who have never had anything but frozen and live to pellets using Atison's Pro; the pellets are small and the main ingredient is BBS, so they're all crazy about it

 

[fawnmodel]

I feed adult bettas 2-3x a day, small meals. Yes, they are spoiled
I usually feed a few meals of frozen/live feeds, and one meal of pellets.
- Live is usually bbs or grindals/whiteworms. Its more of a treat.
- Frozen is bloodworms, and BS (lately I have cut back on the BS to once or twice a week after three - seperate egg eating incidents - some say feeding BS and egg eating are proven link)
- Pellets are Hikari, I also use Betta Flakes occasionally.
I do think it is important that all bettas get some form of pelletized food for a full spectrum of nutritional components they need. I only feed peas rarely.

Juvies get fed about 3x a day...
I usually feed live foods supplemented with Hikari dry food or betta flakes(crushed if need be)
- Live is grindals and white worm
- Frozen is chopped or grated bloodworm and BS, and bbs
Every feed I feed live, and supplement a bit of the dry or other dry/frozen.
('they' say when fry are in grow out, it is important to intro new foods as later in life it can be harder. While they are in competition-mode they will eat most things)

Fry get *dependent on age* fed 4+ times per day:
Live Microworms, BBS, powdered fry food (this is a new thing I have been trying. only because my snail eats all the leftovers - but I feel that it will give them better full-spectrum nutrition )and live grindals at one month.

I have never experienced any digestion issues with my fish, I only ever had one fry have a swimbladder upset which went away after changing his foods.

 

[sukie]

Wuv - I'm glad you said mysis because the lfs gave me some to feed my dp & I feed leftovers to the bettas, but then thought is that okay??? Will kick up the variety more!!

I have kind of a different routine (not much)

I feed 2 pellets to the boys & girls in the morning. . .
At night when I feed my dp frozen foods - the bettas get leftovers mostly bloodworms.

I prefer frozen over live - as I'm lazy and don't want to clean their food. I just want to de-freeze and serve it up!