Feeding bloodworms is an effective way to supply your betta with abundant nutrients and enhance their growth. However, overfeeding bettas with bloodworms can lead to many serious side effects.
So, how many bloodworms to feed betta? Are bloodworms safe for your betta, anyway? In this post, I will discuss these questions in detail and give you helpful information.
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How Many Bloodworms To Feed Betta?
According to the rule, you should feed your betta with only one or two bloodworms in a week. Feeding betta more than three bloodworms per week will lead to unhealthy side effects.
Despite their high protein and fat content, bloodworms aren’t the ideal main food for bettas. Your betta needs a balanced and healthier diet with a decent supply of flakes and pellets.
Meanwhile, bloodworms are very rich in nutrients and have high-fat content. Therefore, consuming too many bloodworms can lead to constipation and increase the risk of parasites growing in your betta.
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Bloodworms As A Food Source For Fish Species
There are two types of aquatic bloodworms, which are the Glycera genus and the Chironomidae family. The bloodworms belonging to the Chironomidae family are commonly sold in aquarium stores.
Meanwhile, Glycera bloodworms are harder to find since they only grow in natural water like oceans. In addition, Glycera bloodworms can inflict poison through their bites.
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Despite their high nutrition content and density, bloodworms should not be the main food source for a betta. It still lacks some critical nutrients that betta needs to ensure healthy growth.
Can You Feed Your Betta Fish Bloodworms Safely?
Yes, bloodworms can be a safe food source for your betta, but you need to use bloodworms provided by reputable sources and stores. Untraceable bloodworms may contain parasites and unhealthy proportions for your betta.
In addition, you should not put live bloodworms into the aquarium tank to feed your betta. It’s best to rinse and clean the bloodworms thoroughly to eliminate their parasites and dangerous micro bacteria.
Without rinsing and proper feeding methods, the live bloodworms will transmit bacteria and disease to your pet. If you use frozen bloodworms, ensure to defrost and rinse them before feeding.
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Different Types Of Betta Fish Bloodworms
Besides their origin, bloodworms used for feeding betta fish are divided into three main categories. Each type possesses unique advantages and setbacks that you should know to select the best food for your fish.
Live Bloodworms
Live bloodworms are harder to find and capture, thus coming in much higher prices and quality. This type is not only abundant in nutrients but also stimulates your betta’s natural hunting instinct.
When bettas see live bloodworms in the tank, they will identify them as prey and start chasing their food. This practice keeps the fish active and develops their hunting skill.
However, if the bloodworms aren’t eaten, you should take them out of the tank after one day to avoid disease contamination. Also, live bloodworms cannot survive for long, so don’t buy a large quantity or you’ll waste them.
Freeze-Dried Bloodworms
Free-dried bloodworms have a much longer lifespan than live bloodworms, and they can last longer in the fridge. Therefore, this category is suitable for owners who don’t have much time to shop for bloodworms every week.
The compromises are their lower nutrient density and content. Free-dried bloodworms also come in grades A and B, and I recommend you choose grade A to avoid cross-contamination and reduce side effects.
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Frozen Bloodworms
Frozen bloodworms are the best choice for busy customers who want to maximize their betta’s nutrients. They can last for a long time in the fridge without losing many nutrients like the free-dried bloodworms.
Possible Side Effects of Feeding Your Betta Too Many Bloodworms
As mentioned above, feeding your betta with too many bloodworms in a period can lead to many unwanted side effects. Some threats are even dangerous to your betta’s life.
Parasites
Live bloodworms may contain parasites if you feed them straight to bettas without rinsing. Parasites are found on bloodworms captured from the wild.
Therefore, you should buy bloodworms from reputable sources that can prove the safety of their products. If you have a large number of bettas, it’s a good idea to grow your bloodworms at home.
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Constipation
Constipation is the most likely consequence if you feed bettas with too many bloodworms. It will slow down the fish and make it inconvenient, not to mention possible diseases like swim bladder.
Ammonia Spikes
The uneaten bloodworms will slowly rot in the tank and lead to ammonia spikes.
Therefore you must remove the leftover bloodworms after one day if the fish doesn’t consume them.
Why Isn’t Your Betta Fish Eating Bloodworms?
It’s not uncommon that your betta fish completely ignore the bloodworms you feed them. A simple reason is that your betta isn’t familiar with bloodworms, so it doesn’t feel comfortable to consume this new food type.
However, if your betta neglects almost every type of food like bloodworms, pellets, or flakes, it may be suffering from some serious diseases.
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FAQs
Can I Feed My Betta Only Bloodworms?
No, bloodworms are nutritious, but they don’t provide many essential nutrients for their growth. In addition, feeding betta with bloodworms solely can increase the risk of constipation and parasites.
How Many Bloodworms Should I Feed My Fish?
The ideal amount is one or two bloodworms per meal, and you should not feed your bettas more than two meals a week. Adjusting the amount to suit your betta’s age and body size is also essential.
How Much Should I Feed My Betta A Day?
You should fish your betta one or two meals per day; each meal contains four pellets. To diversify the fish diet, you can substitute pellets with dry or live food sources one or two times per week.
Final Thoughts
In summary, you should not feed betta with more than two bloodworms per meal and more than 2 meals per week. Too many bloodworms consumed will lead to constipation and serious side effects in your betta.
Also, choose high-quality and safe bloodworms to avoid inflicting diseases and parasites. I hope the provided answer and information can help you take care of your betta. Thank you for reading!
