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The Betta fish is possibly the most handsome tropical
fish out there. We say handsome because the male of
the species is the bigger and more exotic one. Referred
to as the jewel of the Orient, Betta are most abundant
in the shallow rice paddies of Thailand.
Food is perhaps the most important element of caring
for bettas. Bettas are carnivorous and love live foods
like water daphnia, tubifex worms and blood worms. They
will even eat mosquito larva and small ants. If live
foods are not available, substitutes in the form of
frozen or freeze-dried should be used. It doesn't take
much food for one little betta. You can also buy food
for your bettas through mail order at a discount price.
The key to maintaining healthy bettas is to feed them
with a balance diet.
Another thing to note when feeding betta fish is not
to overfeed. Overfeeding it will let him produce more
waste, and pollute the water. This will affect its health
in return. Always drop a small portion at each time,
and make sure it finish all up before you drop the next
portion. Each subsequent portion should be smaller than
the previous one. If you see its stomach become bigger,
you should stop.
Putting
a betta in a vase as display is not a good for the well
being of Betta fish. Plant roots do not provide adequate
food for betta fish. Bettas are omnivorous; in nature,
they eat mostly insects and insect larvae. A diet consisting
of plant roots may keep them alive for awhile, but since
it lacks the proper nutrients, the fish eventually become
sick and die. A plant placed at the top of a vase may
also restrict access that the fish needs in order to
obtain oxygen, as bettas are known as "labyrinth
fishes" and take their oxygen from the surface
of the water.
I hope the tips on feeding betta fish is helpful. |