how many pellets per feeding?

[Ally]

Hi all, new to the betta scene. I just got my guy Sunday and he seems to be doing well. I have a question about feeding tho, because I've been getting mixed answers from previous posts.
I have for food HBH Betta Bites. They are about the size of poppy seeds and do expand in the water about twice the size. The label says to feed twice per day, 6-8 pellets per serving. I've been doing 5, twice a day, because I've been reading other posts that say much much less.
Sometimes tho I've just been feeding him slowly since he does not always look interested in more food after eating one or two pellets. That is, I'll give him one or two, then an hour later another....

PLEASE reply with advice... I might give him only one for dinner tonight unless I get a reply saying what I'm doing is fine...

[marcusbacus]

It might vary depending on the pellet brand (size), but I'm doing what you're doing - no more than 10 a day, split in 2 meals, but lately I'm just giving 5 pellets for "lunch" then I'm feeding him something else for dinner. The other betta isn't being fed with pellets at the moment (was only on pellets for only a weekend the most).

What I do is to give him one pellet at a time, wait for him to fully eat it (stop munching), then another, and so on until I give him the 5, and I do this with every other kind of food, so if he refuses anything, the food is still floating and it's easier to remove it.

[amanichen]

The amount you feed really depends on how active your fish is. Watch its stomach before and after a meal and you'll get an idea. A stuffed betta will look like it swallowed a marble.

6 to 8 of the betta bites seems like too much for one feeding. As a general guideline, the volume of food in a fish's meal really shouldn't exceed the size of its eye I'd go maybe with no more than four pellets per meal, but given three times per day. Multiple small meals are better than infrequently given large ones.

[Ally]

Yeah, I thought that sporatic feedings were better. I have yet to see his stomach really full, but he's certainly been giving himself a workout the last couple of days, swimming in circles. Silly fish.
Two feedings per day are better for my schedule (I'm a student) but I think some days, such as weekends, three smaller feedings are doable. he eats when I eat, easy to remember that way

[abm]

Hi,

I feed a variety of foods (thanks to my buds here at HB who taught me how important it is for bettas) but their staple diet at my house is pellets. But I feed WAY less than what the label says, and way less than you guys are talking about - I feed 2-3 pellets in the morning and then usually something different for dinner, like a bloodworm in gel or some daphnia, but if I feed pellets again it's the same 2-3, for a total of 5-6 per day, per betta. My bettas are all very healthy (KNOCKS FURIOUSLY ON WOOD) and happy .

I used to feed more pellets (more food in general) but many here at HB cautioned me about overfeeding. The activity level is a consideration, but I have had no problems whatsoever since backing off the food a bit.

Just a thought

[athene121]

I am still experiencing how many pellets my fish need. I have seen some picture of overeating betta. The belly was HUGE! So I am very careful about that. I usually feed them 3-4 in the morning, and 3 in the afternoon. My PR and Chris M. are really active now. So I guess it is ok to feed them that amount.

Could anyone tell me which brand's freez-dried food is good? What about the...Bettamin?

[twoluvcats]

i have azoo freeze dried bloodworms, and my guys seem to like them. Any major brand will be fine.

Don't bother with the bettamin...mine ALL hated it. Its flakes with bits of shrimp in it. All it did for me was dirty my tanks.