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Chapter 11Fish foodBuying guide

Fish Food Guide: Flakes, Pellets, Frozen and Freeze-Dried, by Fish

Which fish food to buy for bettas, goldfish and tropical fish, how much and how often to feed per vets and the RSPCA, freeze-dried treats and vacation feeders.

By Fish Supplies editorial teamUpdated 4 min readHow we research

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A hand dropping food at the water surface of an aquarium as fish rise to eat

Feed a small amount once a day: RSPCA Australia says only what the fish eat in under two minutes. Bettas take betta pellets or flakes, goldfish a goldfish food, and tropical fish a flake or pellet sized for their mouths. Freeze-dried treats are fine in moderation, say University of Illinois vets. Overfeeding fouls the water.

Food types at a glance

Food What it is Best for Notes
Flakes Thin, floating flakes Small community fish Crumble for tiny mouths
Pellets Floating or sinking pellets Bettas, goldfish, larger fish Hikari’s betta pellets float
Wafers Sinking discs Bottom feeders Sink past the others
Freeze-dried Dried bloodworms, brine shrimp and similar Treats for bettas and others In moderation, say Illinois vets
Frozen Frozen worms, brine shrimp, daphnia Treats Kept frozen; we do not link them
Live foods Live worms and shrimp Not covered We never link live foods

RSPCA Australia suggests occasional frozen foods such as blackworms, brine shrimp and daphnia for bettas, alongside specialized pellets. We do not list frozen foods because they need to stay frozen in transit.

Betta pellets, goldfish food and tropical flakes

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How much and how often: the sources compared

The sources agree on small amounts and disagree on frequency:

Source How often How much
RSPCA Australia (bettas, goldfish) Once a day What is eaten in under 2 minutes
Marina kit manual Once a day What is eaten in 2 minutes
University of Illinois vets (bettas) Every day What is eaten in 3 to 5 minutes, none left over
Hikari Betta Bio-Gold label Up to 3 times a day 5 to 10 pellets, by the betta’s size

A single daily feeding fits the veterinary and welfare advice. If you follow a maker’s label with several feedings, keep each one small and remove what is left. The Marina manual also says not to feed new fish for their first 24 hours in the tank.

Food by fish

Bettas. University of Illinois vets call bettas carnivores and recommend a balanced pellet or flake every day, with bloodworms or freeze-dried brine shrimp as occasional treats. Hikari notes a betta may take up to five days to accept a new food. See the betta setup chapter.

Goldfish. The NC State vet quoted by Vetstreet recommends a high-quality food with variety, fed by the package directions, and warns that overfeeding contaminates the water. See the goldfish setup chapter.

Community tropicals. Choose a flake or small pellet sized for the smallest mouths in the tank, and a sinking wafer if you keep bottom feeders.

A hand dropping food at the water surface of an aquarium as fish rise to eat
Feeding time. Watch for two minutes, then remove what the fish leave.

Why overfeeding is the common mistake

Leftover food breaks down in the tank. Aqueon names uneaten fish food as a source of ammonia, and ammonia is what cycling works to remove; see how to cycle a fish tank. Feed less, and siphon up what sinks during your regular cleaning.

Check the date on a food container before you buy, keep it closed and dry, and follow the storage directions on the label.

Feeding a mixed tank

In a community tank, floating food is taken at the top and sinking food reaches the bottom, and quick fish can eat more than their share. Watch the whole two minutes that RSPCA Australia allows, not only the first few seconds. If a bottom feeder is going without, add a sinking wafer rather than more flakes.

Bettas live alone, as the betta chapter explains, so there is no competition; Hikari still warns against overfeeding its betta pellets.

Treats, and what we do not sell

Treats are extras, not the diet. University of Illinois vets say bloodworms and freeze-dried brine shrimp should be given in moderation, and RSPCA Australia describes frozen blackworms, brine shrimp and daphnia as occasional supplements for bettas.

We link dry and freeze-dried foods only. Frozen foods need an unbroken cold chain from seller to freezer, and live foods fall under our rule of never linking live animals. Aquarium shops sell both in store if your fish’s diet calls for them.

Automatic and vacation feeders

An automatic feeder clips to the rim and drops a set amount of dry food on a timer. It is the usual answer for a trip away. Set it to the same small daily amount you would feed by hand, and run it for a few days while you are still home to check it dispenses the right amount and does not jam. Vacation feeder blocks release food slowly as they dissolve; check the maker’s directions for tank size.

Automatic and vacation fish feeders

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A feeder makes a useful present too; see gifts for aquarium keepers. The setup checklist lists the rest of the gear.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I feed my fish?

RSPCA Australia says once a day for bettas and goldfish, only what they eat in under two minutes, and the Marina kit manual gives the same rule. Hikari's betta label allows up to three small feedings a day, so the sources differ on frequency but agree on small amounts.

What is the best food for a betta?

A betta pellet or flake as the daily staple, say University of Illinois vets, who call bettas carnivores. Treats such as freeze-dried bloodworms or brine shrimp are fine in moderation.

Can goldfish eat tropical fish flakes?

The sources we used do not compare the two. The NC State vet quoted by Vetstreet recommends a high-quality food, some variety and the package directions; a food labeled for goldfish is the simple choice.

How long can fish go without food on vacation?

Our sources do not give a safe number. An automatic feeder set to the normal daily amount, tested for a few days before you leave, avoids the question.

What happens if I overfeed my fish?

Uneaten food decays into ammonia: Aqueon names uneaten fish food as one of the sources of ammonia in a tank. The NC State vet warns that overfeeding contaminates the water.

Part of Fish foodStart here: Fish Tank Supplies Checklist: Everything a New Aquarium Needs

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