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8 Best Betta Fish Foods in 2024 (Freeze-Dried & Pellets) – Reviews & Top Picks

Brooke Billingsley

By Brooke Billingsley

young woman feeding red betta fish

Whether you’re new to keeping Betta fish or you’re an experienced keeper looking to improve the quality of their food, you’ve likely found yourself reading through reviews in an attempt to find the best food for your fish.

Bettas are obligate carnivores, so they require primarily animal proteins in their diet. Because of this, community and omnivore foods aren’t suitable for Bettas. To make things simpler, here are the best of the best freeze-dried and pellet-based foods available for Betta fish today.

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A Quick Look at Our 2024 Favorites

Image Product Details
Best Overall Hikari Betta Bio-Gold Hikari Betta Bio-Gold
  • First ingredient is fish meal
  • High in nutrients
  • Enhances the color of your fish
  • Best Value Cobalt Aquatics Betta Minis Cobalt Aquatics Betta Minis
  • Best value
  • Floating pellets that support appetite
  • Made in the USA
  • Premium Choice Omega One Freeze-Dried Blood Worms Omega One Freeze-Dried Blood Worms
  • Two package sizes available
  • Freeze-dried to maximize taste and nutrients
  • Ideal for conditioning breeding fish
  • Aqueon Pro Betta Formula Aqueon Pro Betta Formula
  • Contains high levels of nutrients
  • Budget-friendly fish food
  • Supports hunting instincts
  • Zoo Med Micro Floating Betta Pellets Zoo Med Micro Floating Betta Pellets
  • Nutrient-dense food supports health
  • Supports growth and bright colors
  • Small package size prevents waste
  • The 8 Best Betta Fish Foods

    1. Hikari Betta Bio-Gold – Best Overall

    Hikari Tropical Betta Bio-Gold Fish Food

    Package size 0.088 oz, 0.7 oz
    Main ingredient Fish meal
    Protein content 38%
    Food type Pellet

    The best overall Betta food is the Hikari Betta Bio-Gold floating pellets. Floating pellets provide the benefit of helping you keep track of your fish’s intake and making the cleanup of extra food easy. This food is available in two package sizes, and it contains 38% protein content. The first ingredient is fish meal, and this food also contains spirulina, which is high in protein and vitamins, and stabilized vitamin C to support the health of your Betta. Natural color enhancers support bright colors for your Betta, and the high palatability of this food ensures your fish will enjoy eating it.

    Hikari is a well-respected food company that spends time, money, and resources to study and produce the highest quality foods. The pouch design for this food packaging may make it difficult to get small quantities of food out at once.

    Pros
    • Floating pellets with a highly palatable flavor
    • Two package sizes available
    • First ingredient is fish meal
    • High in nutrients
    • Enhances the color of your fish
    • Produced by Hikari, which is a well-respected company in aquatics
    Cons
    • Pouch design makes it difficult to only get a few pieces of food

    2. Cobalt Aquatics Betta Minis – Best Value

    Cobalt Aquatics Betta Minis Fish Food

    Package size 1.2 oz
    Main ingredient Dehulled soybean meal
    Protein content 35%
    Food type Pellet

    The best Betta fish food for the money is the Cobalt Aquatics Betta Minis. These floating pellets are made in the USA, so you can feel good about where they come from. Color enhancers support the colors of your Betta, and the ingredients in this food provide excellent nutrition.

    This food has a 2-year shelf life, so you won’t have to waste it, and the formula itself supports your fish’s appetite, ensuring they always eat enough. The mini size of these pellets makes it easy for even small Betta fish to consume. The first few ingredients in this food are plant-based ingredients, which some people may find unattractive about this food.

    Pros
    • Best value
    • Floating pellets that support appetite
    • Made in the USA
    • Enhances the color of your fish
    • 2-year shelf life
    • Mini size is ideal for small Bettas
    Cons
    • First few ingredients are from plants

    3. Omega One Freeze-Dried Blood Worms – Premium Choice

    Omega One Freeze Dried Blood Worms

    Package size 0.46 oz, 0.96 oz
    Main ingredient Blood worms
    Protein content 55%
    Food type Freeze-dried

    The Omega One Freeze-Dried Blood Worms is a freeze-dried food that only contains two ingredients – blood worms and a vitamin E supplement. It’s available in two package sizes, and it’s extremely high in protein. The blood worms are freeze-dried to maximize taste and nutrition without risking exposure to parasites and infectious agents.

    Low ash and high protein content reduces the tank pollution caused by the food, and the fat content supports energy levels and improves appetite. This food is a great option for conditioning breeding fish, but it does retail for a premium price compared to other foods of the same package size.

    Pros
    • Two ingredients
    • Two package sizes available
    • Freeze-dried to maximize taste and nutrients
    • Reduces the risk of parasites from live and frozen foods
    • Reduces tank pollution from leftover food
    • Ideal for conditioning breeding fish
    Cons
    • Premium price

    4. Aqueon Pro Betta Formula

    Aqueon PRO Pellet Fish Food Betta Formula

    Package size 1.4 oz
    Main ingredient Wheat
    Protein content 37%
    Food type Pellet

    The Aqueon Pro Betta Formula is a floating pellet food that is made from a special blend of ingredients, including macro and micro algae, probiotics, and vitamins to support the immune health of your Betta. These floating pellets support hunting instincts, and the high nutritional content supports the overall health, longevity, and energy levels of Betta fish.

    Although this food’s first few ingredients are from plant sources, this food has been developed by expert fish nutritionists to ensure appropriate nutrition for your Betta fish. This food is a budget-friendly pick compared to other foods in the same package size.

    Pros
    • Made from a special blend of ingredients to support immune health
    • Supports hunting instincts
    • Contains high levels of nutrients
    • Developed by expert fish nutritionists
    • Budget-friendly fish food
    Cons
    • First few ingredients are from plants

    5. Zoo Med Micro Floating Betta Pellets

    Zoo Med Micro Floating Betta Fish Pellets

    Package size 0.15 oz
    Main ingredient Fish meal
    Protein content 40%
    Food type Pellet

    The Zoo Med Micro Floating Betta Pellets food is made from natural, nutrient-dense ingredients that will support the health of your fish. The small package size is a budget-friendly option that also reduces food waste. Color enhancement will help brighten the colors of your fish, while high protein content will support growth and health.

    This food comes with a feeding wand, allowing you to make your Betta’s feeding time more enriching for both of you, as well as preventing overfeeding. These pellets may be too large for small Bettas, so they may need to be crushed to feed to smaller fish.

    Pros
    • Nutrient-dense food supports health
    • Budget-friendly fish food
    • Small package size prevents waste
    • Supports growth and bright colors
    • Feeding wand helps prevent overfeeding
    Cons
    • Pellets may be too large for small Bettas

    6. NorthFin Betta Bits

    Northfin Betta Bits

    Package size 0.7 oz, 3.5 oz
    Main ingredient Whole Antarctic krill meal
    Protein content 45%
    Food type Pellet

    The NorthFin Betta Bits are available in two package sizes, and this food contains animal-based proteins as the first three ingredients. It is high in protein, amino acids, minerals, and vitamins to specifically support the needs of Betta fish. It also supports healthy digestion for your Betta fish. These pellets measure 1 mm, which is ideal for the size of most Bettas.

    This food is formulated without fillers or added hormones, ensuring health and adequate nutrition. This is a sinking food, which may require an adjustment for some Bettas that are used to floating foods, but the sinking design may also encourage hunting instincts.

    Pros
    • Animal proteins are the first three ingredients
    • Nutrient-dense food
    • Supports healthy digestion
    • 1 mm pellets are ideal for Bettas
    • Formulated without fillers or hormones
    Cons
    • Sinking food

    7. SunGrow Betta Nutri Pellets

    SunGrow Betta Food, Color Enhancer Floating Feed

    Package size 0.95 oz
    Main ingredient Brine shrimp
    Protein content 48%
    Food type Freeze-dried

    The SunGrow Betta Nutri Pellets are high-protein pellets that feature only five ingredients, with fish being the first ingredient. This food’s ingredients are a specialized blend made to support the health and growth of Bettas, and it will also help support healthy energy levels.

    It contains color enhancers to bring out your Betta’s brightest coloration, and it is a floating pellet made with ideal buoyancy to encourage hunting instincts in your Betta fish. It’s made with a “clear water formula,” which reduces clouding in the tank from uneaten food. The pellet sizes of this food may be somewhat nonuniform, which may make them too large for some Bettas to eat.

    Pros
    • High-protein, nutrient-dense food
    • Only made from five ingredients
    • Supports healthy energy levels
    • Color enhancers support bright colors
    • Clear water formula reduces tank clouding
    Cons
    • All pieces may not be uniform

    8. Omega One Freeze-Dried Brine Shrimp

    Omega One Freeze Dried Brine Shrimp

    Package size 0.67 oz, 1.28 oz
    Main ingredient Brine shrimp
    Protein content 48%
    Food type Freeze-dried

    The Omega One Freeze-Dried Brine Shrimp food only contains two ingredients – brine shrimp and a vitamin E supplement. This food is very high in protein to support growth and health in your Betta fish, and it’s also a good source of energy-supporting fat levels.

    The freeze-drying process locks in nutrition without exposing your Betta to parasites, and this food is highly palatable, which makes this food a great appetite enhancer for picky eaters and sick fish. The nutrients will help support the colors of your Betta fish as well. This food is packed into freeze-dried chunks, so they will likely need to be cut or broken into smaller pieces for your Betta.

    Pros
    • Only contains two ingredients
    • Very high in protein for growth and development
    • Supports healthy energy levels
    • Freeze-drying locks in nutrients without causing parasite exposure
    • Highly palatable and may support appetite for picky or sick fish
    Cons
    • Freeze-dried chunks likely need to be broken into smaller pieces

    Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Betta Fish Foods

    The Betta Fish Diet

    Bettas are obligate carnivores, so contrary to what many believe, they cannot survive on plant-based foods. This also means that they cannot survive on plant roots in enclosed plant-root fish vase ecosystems. They require foods that are high in animal proteins, which can come from a variety of sources.

    In the wild, Bettas consume small invertebrates like mosquito larvae and small crustaceans. In captivity, they can be fed a variety of foods, including Betta pellets, freeze-dried foods, frozen-thawed foods, and, if acquired from a trustworthy source, live foods.

    feeding betta fish
    Image Credit: best time photos, Shutterstock

    How Often and How Much Should My Betta Be Fed?

    Your Betta should be fed once or twice per day. The important part of feeding your Betta fish is ensuring that you aren’t overfeeding them. Overfeeding rapidly decreases water quality, leading to clouding and potentially causing illness in your fish. Only feed your Betta what they can eat in a few minutes. The amount of food and frequency of feeding can vary depending on multiple factors within your tank, though. Here’s a video explaining the factors impacting the frequency and amount of food your Betta should be offered, and the factors that can impact the final answer.

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    In Conclusion

    Reviews are a wonderful starting point in finding the perfect food for your Betta, but the number of reviews can get overwhelming. This list encompasses the best of the best Betta food options available today. The best overall pick is the Hikari Betta Bio-Gold floating pellets, which are formulated by the trusted professionals at Hikari who invest time and money in research and development. The budget-friendly pick for Betta foods is the Cobalt Aquatics Betta Minis, which are the ideal size for smaller Bettas. For a premium Betta food, the top pick is the Omega One Freeze-Dried Blood Worms, which only contain two ingredients and are very high in protein.


    Featured Image Credit: Alexander Geiger, Shutterstock

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