Bloodworms are very good for your Betta but only as a treat. Why? That is because they are too rich in protein and fat. Our advice is not to feed your Betta more than once or twice a week with bloodworms.
In this article:
What are bloodworms?
Bloodworms, better known as ultimate bait, are the food that any fish will eat whether they are carnivores or omnivores. It is of most importance not to overfeed them with bloodworms but use them only as a supplement to a diet that should be based on pellets and flakes.
They are very rich in proteins, iron and fat but they lack amino acids, vitamins and minerals which are necessary for your fish breeding so always use them as a supplement.
They are found in still waters and they are creamy and their name comes from a color usually pink or red that originates from a protein – red iron porphyrin. They can easily survive in polluted waters and in waters that have low oxygen levels.
They can grow up to fourteen inches, are transparent in appearance and have four antennae on the head. However the ones you can buy to feed your fish are generally small red larvae and not worms.
What are the best Bloodworms for Betta Fish?
Bloodworms can be found as live, frozen and freeze-dried. Each type has its good and bad sides. It depends on you what you want to achieve with a diet and the way you are going to store it.
Live Bloodworms
As you can guess, they come in natural shape. They are expensive but do have some benefits. Firstly, you provoke Bettas hunting instinct which helps Bettas not to be bored plus stimulates the brain. Still being in their natural shape they are better than frozen or freeze-dried bloodworms because they contain more nutrients. They are great if you plan to breed your Betta.
Like with all foods there are downsides too. Since the amount you buy in most cases is too much to offer to your Betta you can only store it in the fridge for a few days after that you have to throw them away. The other thing about live bloodworms is they can easily be contained and vary parasites and bacteria from their natural habitat- polluted water. They can easily infect your Betta and you would have bigger problems to deal with.
Freeze-Dried Bloodworms
With freeze–dried bloodworm it is much easier. You can easily store them and easily use them. They last much longer, too. And you needn’t do much with them, you just dip them into the water, they go back to their real size and that’s it. Served meal.
Another good thing about them is that they float at the surface for some time and do not sink right away so there is a good chance that your Betta will notice the meal before it sinks.
If you decide to purchase these, remember that there are two kinds of freeze-dried bloodworms: grade A that is better and that one you should choose for your Betta and grade B.
Frozen Bloodworms
We would classify frozen bloodworms in the middle between live and freeze-dried bloodworms. They have a good amount of nutrients and can be stored for a long time, up to six months. Kept in this condition they hardly can transfer bacteria and parasites like live bloodworms. Before you feed your Betta, cut the frozen cubes into small pieces and defrost them. When you defrost them and pour away the water, they are in to prevent contamination. Do not overfeed your Betta, any uneaten food should be taken out after two minutes if not eaten.
Taking all three kinds of bloodworms into account our recommendation goes for freeze dried bloodworms even though the other two kinds are quite OK.
Do Bettas like bloodworms?
Bettas love bloodworms and that is the best food you can offer so if you give them more, they will eat and eat until you overfeed them. Set a limit or you will cause trouble for your Betta.
There are conditions and diseases that arise from overfeeding with bloodworms. The first mentioned is constipation which can easily be treated but more serious diseases can happen. Such is swim bladder disease, ammonia spikes.
Ammonia spikes happen when good bacteria cannot consume ammonia as fast as it is being created. Then rotting food makes spikes in ammonia. If noticed at the beginning they can be treated but if the disease progresses then other steps need to be taken.
How and how often to feed your Betta with bloodworms?
We strongly advise you not to feed your Betta more than once or twice a week on bloodworms. They should be a part of a regular varied diet. If you overfeed your Betta it will suffer from constipation.
So, to recap we recommend you to give your Betta one or two bloodworms per meal the best once a week.
Summary – Are Bloodworms Good for Betta Fish?
After you have read everything let see what are the most important facts to remember:
- Bettas love bloodworms all three kinds
- Bloodworms should be a part of a varied diet not the only food for your Betta
- Never give them more than one to two per meal
- Serve bloodworms once, maximum twice a week
- Live bloodworm provokes hunting instinct
- Be careful with live bloodworms because they can transmit disease in the tank and to your Betta
- Always wash bloodworms in the water before introducing them to your tank
- Always buy grade A freeze dried bloodworms, they are better
- If you feed your Betta with frozen bloodworms cut the cubes into smaller pieces and defrost them before serving
- Too many bloodworms can cause constipation, swim bladder disease and ammonia spikes.
- They are expensive so do not waste money
Now it is your turn to go and serve this delicacy to your Betta pet.