About feeding a betta (siamese fighting fish)
Bettas are small carnivorous labyrinth fish with tiny stomachs — about the size of their eye — so a few pellets is a full meal and overfeeding quickly causes bloat.
How much should a betta (siamese fighting fish) eat?
Aquatic feeding is measured as a share of body weight per day, adjusted to the two-minute rule. The chart below uses about 2% of body weight daily.
| Body weight | Food per day (~2% of body weight) |
|---|---|
| 1 g | 0.02 g/day |
| 1 g | 0.02 g/day |
| 2 g | 0.03 g/day |
| 2 g | 0.04 g/day |
| 2 g | 0.05 g/day |
| 3 g | 0.05 g/day |
| 3 g | 0.06 g/day |
What to feed
Bettas need a protein-rich carnivore diet: quality betta pellets plus frozen or live bloodworms and brine shrimp. Plant-based flakes are inappropriate.
How often to feed
Feed 2-4 small pellets once or twice a day, with a weekly fasting day to prevent bloat and constipation.
Frequently asked questions
How many pellets should I feed a betta?
About 2-4 appropriately-sized pellets once or twice a day — a betta's stomach is roughly the size of its eye. Overfeeding causes bloat and fouls the water.
Can bettas eat tropical flake food?
Bettas are carnivores and do poorly on plant-heavy tropical flakes. Feed betta-specific pellets plus frozen or live protein foods like bloodworms.
How much should I feed my fish?
Only what they finish in about two minutes, once or twice a day — usually a pinch. As a rule of thumb, most community fish eat around 1-1.5% of body weight daily; large slow fish like goldfish need less.
How often should I feed aquarium fish?
Once or twice a day for most species, with one fasting day per week. Fry and very active small fish need more frequent small feedings.