Betta fish are voracious eaters. They eat pretty aggressively and will at anything that fits their tiny mouths. However, this does not mean that you may feed it anything you want. Like us, bettas too require a comprehensive nutritious, and balanced diet. Are mealworms a part of this diet, and can betta fish eat mealworms?
To answer the question, can betta fish eat mealworms? The answer is yes. Betta fish can certainly eat mealworms. Moreover, feeding mealworms to your betta fish will not only fulfill its nutritional requirements but also the mealworms can be gut loaded, thereby ensuring that your betta gets extra proteins as well. The only thing to keep in mind while feeding mealworms to your betta fish is that the mealworms should be the right size, as oversized mealworms will make it difficult for your betta fish to swallow them.
Answered Can Betta Fish Eat Mealworms?
Mealworms have risen in popularity as a dietary component for various birds, fish, and other reptiles. They are the larval form of the mealworm beetle and are high in proteins and other nutrients. Due to their high protein content, mealworms may be a good fit for your betta fish’s diet.
Additionally, mealworms are easily available in any nearby pet or fish store. They may be available in raw form or dried form. It is generally recommended to get the dried version of the mealworm for your betta fish as it is easy comparatively easy to store and feed.
Now the question arises, can betta fish eat mealworms? Yes. Betta fish would love to eat mealworms. Betta fish are born carnivores. Thus, bettas need a diet that is rich in protein. A meat-based diet is, therefore, recommended for betta fish.
Mealworms, being rich in proteins, will make a good fit in your betta’s diet. Moreover, you can also gut load the mealworms with anything which your betta did not previously eat. By doing this, you can also provide your betta fish with additional nutrients that it did not receive previously.
There are two things to remember while feeding mealworms to your betta fish. Firstly, you should not feed mealworms to your betta fish regularly as they are too high in protein. Feeding them regularly will lead them to become constipated and bloated.
Secondly, mealworms are available in different sizes as well. Betta fish can eat anything as big as one of its eyeballs. It is pretty evident that betta fish can only eat tiny portions of food. Thus, you should look for only small-sized mealworms for feeding purposes.
Feeding Mealworms To Your Betta Fish
So, can betta fish eat mealworms? We have already inferred that betta fish can happily eat mealworms. This begs the question of how to feed mealworms to your betta fish. The feeding process is not that complicated. The only thing to watch out for is how much you feed your betta fish.
Ideally, due to their high protein content, it is recommended that you feed not more than one mealworm to your betta fish at a time. Feeding them is not the problem. Just put one in the tank, and the betta fish does the rest.
Another thing to remember while feeding is the size of the mealworm you are feeding your betta fish. As betta fish’s mouth is tiny, they can only eat tiny food portions. Thus, it would be best to get the smallest mealworm you can find. The betta will refuse to eat anything that does not fit in its mouth.
Moreover, it should be noted that even though betta fish enjoy eating mealworms and it fulfills the nutritional requirements of the betta fish, mealworms cannot be a part of your betta’s regular balanced diet. This is because regular feeding may cause your betta fish to get fat and risk becoming constipated.
It is generally recommended to feed mealworms to your betta fish only as an occasional treat. Once or twice every month is a substantial amount—anything more than this and the chances of your betta fish getting constipated increases considerably.
Feeding mealworms to your betta fish also has additional benefits. We want our betta fish to eat many foods, but they, being picky eaters, refusing to eat it. Well, you need not worry as there is a solution to it. We have already inferred that bettas can eat mealworms by answering the can betta fish eat mealworms question.
Mealworms are capable of being gut-loaded with foods that your betta fish refuses to eat. After gut-loading the mealworms with the required food, you may feed the mealworms to your betta fish. Thus, by the transitive property, your betta fish gets not only the nutrients of the mealworm but also the nutrients present in the food.
Other Live Foods For Betta Fish
An ideal betta fish diet is generally composed of quality betta pellets and betta flakes. However, you may occasionally feed live foods to your betta fish to mix things up a little. We have already answered the can betta fish eat mealworms question.
Besides mealworms, betta fish can also eat other live foods. Some of the more recommended ones are as follows.
- Daphnia
- Ants
- Fruit Flies
- Mosquito Larvae
- Earthworms
Thus, we have answered the can betta fish eat mealworms question and listed some of the other live foods suitable for a betta fish.
FAQs On Can Betta Fish Eat Mealworms
Can betta fish eat mealworms?
YES. Mealworms can prove to be a good source of protein for your betta fish. However, it is advisable to feed only small-sized mealworms to your betta, owing to its mouth size.
How long can mealworms live?
Mealworms can live up to two weeks if kept in a refrigerated environment. They also require low maintenance. Dried mealworms can be fresh for months if kept in an airtight container.
What can mealworms eat?
Mealworms are not picky eaters and will eat almost anything. They can eat any fresh or decaying organic matter, including vegetables and grains.
Can betta fish eat freeze-dried mealworms?
YES. We have already answered the part of whether betta fish eat mealworms. Betta fish can eat freeze-dried mealworms. Just make sure to feed them in moderation.
Can betta fish eat super worms?
YES. Betta fish may eat super worms but not in their raw form. Super worms need to be processed before feeding them to betta fish.
Final Thoughts
If you wonder if betta fish eat mealworms, the answer is yes. Betta fish can eat mealworms, and they seem to enjoy it. However, mealworms should not be fed to your betta fish daily as it could lead to bloating and constipation. Thus, it should be fed in moderation.
