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Buying different types of fish food for each specific fish can be costly and confusing. If you have neon tetras in your aquarium and extra betta food lying around, you’ve probably thought about whether it is okay or not to feed it to them.
So, can neon tetras eat betta food? Yes, neon tetras can eat betta food. However, since neon tetras are omnivorous, it’s a good idea to supplement their diet with plant-based nutrients.
Neon Tetra Diet
Neon tetras are omnivorous fish, meaning that they like to eat both plants and animals for their source of nutrition. Since neon tetras are very small fish, they prefer to eat food that is small as well.
In the Amazon where they originate from, they eat a varying diet of algae, insect larvae, and small invertebrates. They are not picky when it comes to eating and typically will feast on anything smaller than itself in size.
In an aquarium, their diet tends to be a little different. Neon tetras will eat most flake foods, tropical sinking pellets, and micropellets. They also love small frozen foods like brine shrimp and bloodworms.
Since they are algae eaters, you may additionally see them eating any algae that are growing in your tank. When provided, neon tetras will also nibble on some specific small cuts of vegetables as well.
Betta Food
A betta fish diet is fairly different than a neon tetra. Betta fish are carnivores, meaning that they only eat a diet consisting of animals. Betta fish kept in aquariums are most commonly fed betta food because it is simple and easy to do.
Betta fish food is made specifically for this type of carnivorous fish. These small pellets are usually made from a variety of different meats, consisting of a large amount of crude protein and a decent amount of fiber and fat.
While this diet is perfect for a betta fish, it may not always be the right diet for other carnivorous or omnivorous fish.
Feeding Neon Tetras Betta Food
Neon tetras will eat betta fish food if you provide it to them, but it shouldn’t be their only source of food. Since neon tetras aren’t very picky about what they eat, they will generally eat anything you give them as long as it is small enough for them to consume.
It’s also important to note that just because your neon tetras eat a specific food you provide doesn’t always mean it is good for their overall health. If an omnivorous fish only eats an animal-based diet, it will eventually lack the proper nutrients it needs to survive.
Betta fish food is perfectly fine to feed your neon tetras on an occasional basis. If you are going to feed them this type of food regularly, however, you’ll want to give them other sources of nutrition as well. As mentioned, neon tetras love a variety of foods so you will have plenty of other options to choose from.
Supplementing Their Diet
If algae are growing in your fish tank, your neon tetras will be able to naturally get their other plant-based nutrients. If you don’t have any algae present in your aquarium, you can also supplement this with algae wafers.
Other ways to fulfill your neon tetras’ need for plant-based nutrients is by feeding them specific vegetables. Some of their favorites are lettuce, spinach, peas, blanched cucumbers, and blanched zucchinis. It’s important to note that these specific foods should only be fed in very small quantities to prevent any rot from occurring in your tank.
While betta fish food does provide a lot of animal-based nutrients, it is still always beneficial to give them other types of protein as well. As mentioned, some of their favorite foods are tetra flakes, sinking pellets, brine shrimp, and blood worms.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, for the health and longevity of your neon tetras, it is highly important to give them a variety of foods. Betta fish food will be enjoyed by your neon tetras because they are the perfect size pellets and provide a favorable flavor, but these fish can not survive on just that type of food alone.
If you’re able to give your neon tetras a source of other nutrients, then you should be perfectly fine feeding them betta fish food.
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