Betta Food

Question
Hi Jaymie,
I have two kinds of food available for my betta: Tetra Bettamin Tropical Medley and Tetra Freeze-Dried Bloodworms. I heard fish food can be kept in the refrigerator to make it stay fresh longer. Is that true?

I recently bought the bloodworms, and when he first tried it, he snatched it up really quick. Five minutes later, he spat out rest of the bloodworm; like spitting out a chicken bone. Is that normal? I know he spits out flakes to make them smaller, but it doesn't take him five minutes.

And lastly, would it be better to feed a bit of flakes in the morning and a few bloodworms at night daily, or alternate between flakes and bloodworms each day? Because he got his first taste of bloodworms, he now eats flakes reluctantly.

Answer
Mandy,

 Yes it is normal to spit out the food, especially a new food. Alternating his food is good but blood worms are very greasy if you will so you don't want to feed him those every day. He will try to get the blood worms from you every day and might stop eating the flakes. Just keep giving it to him and he will eat the flakes when he knows thats all he is getting that day. Your pet store should have Betta pellets as well. Those are also good to feed them. My 11 adults get frozen and freeze dried blood worms and brine shrimp, pellets, and flakes. Every now and then they get newly hatched brine shrimp because that is what I feed the fry. Keeping variety in his diet is better for him than just feeding the same thing. Also, one day a week, fast your fish. It helps with digestion and helps prevent swim bladder disease. I do not put any of the dried food in the refrigerator, but I do not know if it really keeps it fresh longer.