Feeding Insects/animals

[drain_bamaged]

Hi...would you recommend feeding live ants, fruit flies etc... to bettas? something small, and alive that would cause movement on the surface for them to eat?

Cheers

Dx

 

[kelly528]

Hi...would you recommend feeding live ants, fruit flies etc... to bettas? something small, and alive that would cause movement on the surface for them to eat?

Cheers

Dx

Hmmm... I know ants secrete acid when in distress, so probably not the best idea... bettas are insectivores, however, so fruit flies would probably work. I strongly recommend that you get the commercially available wingless fruitflies if you try this, though. Wild ones are too risky... parasites, pesticides and whatnot could sicken your tank.

It might be easier to find live foods like bloodworms, daphnia and brine shrimp, however. I have never personally seen fruitflies for sale.

 

[soph_betta]

Wouldnt have thought that would be healthy for the betta as you dont know what they could be carrying
Your best off getting live brine shrimp as they are good fun for your betta to chase round and a bit more natural for the fish
My bettas love them!!

 

[pippoodle]

my wild bettas enjoy flying ants , moths and mosquitoes

 

[ellena]

A couple of times, a fly has landed on the top of the water when I've been feeding/water changing and Rufus has snapped it up almost before I saw it!