The Siamese or Japanese “fighting fish” moniker, which is another term for bettas, refers to their history of aggression. A carnivore is a betta fish. The betta fish will consume any fish that is small enough for them. Its jaws can accommodate guppy fry, which is tiny. Additionally, the bettas will pick up the dead fish corpse in the tank, chew on it, and sometimes even carry it in their mouths.
A betta will unquestionably pick at a dead fish’s corpse and consume anything it can. Betta has occasionally been observed carrying dead fish bodies around.
A deceased fish’s corpse is the ideal supper for a hungry betta. Additionally, it undoubtedly tastes better than the standard aquarium food of flakes, pellets, and freeze-dried insects.
| Product name | Image | Link to Amazon |
  |
 |
|
  |
|
|
  |
|
|
  |
|
|
  |
|
|
  |
|
Do Betta Eat Other Fish?
Betta fish are fiercely possessive of their territory, so let’s start there. The Betta fish can and will choose to live alone and will do so very happily. This does not exclude you from keeping other fish alongside bettas, but you must use caution.
The betta fish won’t suddenly consume all the other fish in the aquarium if you keep them together, but they can do harm. Your Betta fish may devour any fish that perishes as a result of this harm or another factor.
As you keep betta fish alongside other fish, keep the following points in mind:
- Never pick a buddy fish that is likely to nip. Your betta won’t be happy about this.
- Always provide fish with a safe haven where they may flee in case of stress.
- Maintain shoals of at least six other fish, such as neon tetras.
- Ensure that your tank is enough. If you plan to maintain additional fish in addition to your betta, a tank size of 10 to 15 gallons is ideal.
- Fish that live on the bottom, like plecos, frequently make suitable tankmates for bettas.
If you keep in mind everything mentioned here, you ought to keep different fish besides your betta. You must keep in mind, nevertheless, that each betta has its own personality. Some fish are crueler than others.
Do Betta Kill Other Fish?
If they feel threatened by other fish, are vying for the same food source, or if the other fish prod and nip at the betta’s fins, they may attack and even kill them.
Not every fish is at risk of dying at the hands of a betta. A betta tank can benefit greatly from the addition of several different fish species. Guppies, for example, don’t really mix well with bettas.
Your betta will mistake the male guppies for male bettas and chase them because of the large, flowing fins on the male guppies. It may murder them if given the opportunity.
Can you keep two male bettas together? Find out here!
In general, these betta fish won’t eat these fish (while they’re still alive, at least). These aggressive fish could bite them when they’re assaulting them, though.
On the other hand, it’s a different situation when it comes to fish fries.
Baby fish are the ideal prey for the betta to consume because of their tiny size. The baby fish are the ideal prey for a hungry betta since they are small enough to fit in its mouth and have no resistance.
Do Betta Hunt Other Fish In The Wild?
As a means of obtaining food, betta does not chase or attack other fish in the wild. Instead, they consume primarily tiny insects, such as:
- Insect larvae
- Larval Daphnia midge
- Other Tiny Aquatic Insects
Territorial and protective motives are the major causes of a betta killing another fish in the wild.
The male betta must be aggressive to protect its young since it is its responsibility to build the nest and nurture the eggs.
Do Betta Eat Baby Fish?
Although there isn’t a straightforward way to respond to a question, the quick answer is yes.
The answer is that you should give your betta young fish on occasion. In the aquatics industry, “fry” is the name for baby fish, in case you’re not familiar with the terminology.
Any type of young fish (fry) appears to be the ideal feast for a ravenous betta. Betta fish consume tiny, high-protein meals like plankton, crustaceans, and insect larvae in the environment. Feeder fish, especially little ones like guppy fry, is frequently suggested as a food source for your carnivorous betta.
Betta is content to devour young fish of different kinds. In fact, adding a betta to the aquarium with livebearers so the betta may consume the fry is actually quite common if you want to slow down how quickly they spawn.
As a result, your aquarium doesn’t get overpopulated as soon, the betta has a supply of food, and fewer young fish are allowed to grow up in your tank.
Although they devour young fish, the betta isn’t the ideal fish to select if that’s what you’re searching for.
While it may be painful to consider, you should consider giving your pet this type of nutrition in the form of live meals to mimic the diet they would have in their natural environment.
Of fact, not all scientists concur; many believe that insects and larvae are sufficient sources of living food.
Sadly, it should be emphasized that there is a considerable probability that numerous hatchlings will be eaten if you keep betta fish.
Does Betta Eat Their Own Young?
As a whole, Bettas make excellent parents.
Bettas typically don’t eat their own kids; however, they will occasionally do so, especially if they are first-time parents and there is a food shortage.
Because bettas often take care of and protect their young, they have maternal instincts that keep them from wanting to consume them.
Will My Betta Eat His Tankmates?
You could be worried that there will be fatalities in your community tanks, where some of your other fish are eaten, given that we indicated that your betta may be prone to feast on the remains of his alleged “friends.”
Well, it typically depends on how thoroughly you studied your tank. The simplest way to prevent your betta from consuming your other pets is to research which breeds to be together in a household environment.
Small fish like tetras, danios, or gourami may make easy prey for your betta if you keep them in the same tank as them.
However, if you have a community aquarium that has been well-researched and houses your betta with acceptable species like Kuhli loaches and female guppies, then your animals should all be fairly safe!
Should I Feed Live Fish To My Betta?
Your betta shouldn’t necessarily eat anything just because he can (his own babies, perhaps?). In spite of this, occasionally eating feeder fish may be a delightful pleasure.
It’s advised that you avoid feeding your betta live fish on a regular basis. Their primary sources of food in the wild are insects and larvae, such as mosquito larvae and bloodworms.
The best course of action is to follow the suggested diet in order to provide your Betta with the healthiest and most nourishing food possible, as insects have a greater protein content than salmon.
Can Betta Fish Eat Other Betta Fish?
Betta fish, as I just explained, occasionally eat their young. – (Even typing it makes me feel like a monster!)
This demonstrates that betta fish may definitely devour other betta fish, even if that other fish is young, even if it is an unpleasant aspect of nature.
However, there is a significant distinction between bettas that consume betta fry and bettas that consume other bettas.
A betta will, in essence, hunt down and eat a newborn betta without giving it a second thought—not even a second thought of, “Hey, that’s my child.” That’s a part of me. I shouldn’t do it.
But it’s not as simple as just wanting a meal when it comes to eating a full-size betta.
Of course, a betta will eat a dead fish that has lost a battle.
Bettas frequently engage in fights to the death due to their particularly violent personalities. When this occurs, the dead fish’s body might become nice food for other passing bettas and carnivorous fish in addition to their victor.
Do Betta Fish Eat Guppies?
In a betta aquarium, not all fish are at risk. Guppies, on the other hand, are one species that frequently suffer from bullying and even eating.
The physical resemblance between male guppies and male betta competitors is unsettling. Several Betta fish will pursue them around until they give in to stress.
A minimum tank capacity of 20 gallons or more is required if you must raise bettas and guppies together. Your male guppy will have more room in a larger tank to get away from a betta that is enraged.
Guppies and other live-bearing fish produce fry that is ideal for betta feeding.
Do Betta Fish Eat Goldfish?
When they are small enough, betta fish consume other fish. However, even a tiny goldfish from a pet store is far too big to be betta fish food. Most bettas are not aggressive with goldfish since they are thick-bodied carp and don’t sufficiently resemble them.
Having said that, goldfish make bad fish tankmates. The level of attention they require is significantly different. Betta fish enjoy warm, tropical climates with softer, more acidic water conditions. Goldfish require neutral to alkaline water chemistry and cool-to-cold water temperatures.
Carnivorous betta fish consume several types of prey in addition to mosquito larvae as food. Because they are omnivorous, goldfish require a diet that includes algae and other plants. This implies that it is improper to combine their prepared meal mixtures.
Because Betta fish can live in a tank with goldfish at room temperature, some people maintain them together. The Betta fish are, nonetheless, genuine tropical fish. These carnivorous fish experience the negative effects of being constantly cold on their immune system, appetite, and pace of growth.
Do Betta Fish Eat Shrimp?
In their fish tanks, people frequently desire to retain shrimp-like ghost shrimp, cherry shrimp, or even brine shrimp. But if you own a betta fish, is this a wise decision? Are shrimp edible to betta fish?
Yes, they frequently will, to answer your question.
This is not to say that betta fish and shrimp cannot coexist in the same aquarium. It just implies you must use extreme caution. Here are a few things to reflect on:
- Understand the level of aggression in your betta. The betta is more likely to seek shrimp for dinner the more aggressive it is!
- Shrimp that are smaller have a higher likelihood of getting eaten.
- It could be advantageous to have a hiding spot in the tank that is only accessible to the shrimp.
- In case your betta consumes them, always start by introducing only a few shrimp.
Betta fish like to live alone, but you might want to have other fish in your tank along with your betta to liven it up. As long as you retain the proper fish, you may accomplish this effectively. Your betta may hurt or kill them if you don’t. A Betta fish may consume a fish that is already dead.
Be prepared for losses if you decide to keep shrimp with your betta. Bettas do consume shrimp, but that does not guarantee that they will. They can coexist peacefully in the same tank if you combine them. You have to take a gamble and watch your particular betta to see how it reacts.
Conclusion
If given the opportunity, bettas will consume other fish. Since their mouths are so little, the only fish they will actually consider to be food are ones that are very small, like fry, but if they come upon a dead fish, they will definitely devour it.
And this includes both fish that died naturally and fish that they deliberately killed.
On the other hand, they don’t consume their own young child. At least that gives them something to work with.
Do Betta Fish Have Teeth?
There are teeth on betta fish. Given their modest size, these teeth are easy to overlook. A betta’s teeth enable it to grasp live foods like bug larvae and other types of food when it is feeding.
At feeding time, a ravenous betta fish will occasionally strike out at anything. To bettas, even a person who enjoys aquariums may appear to have big, pellet-like fingers. However, betta fish teeth are so small that you cannot even feel them.
When you are a little fish, though, things are very different. A betta’s large teeth may allow him to devour the fins of any tank member he doesn’t like.
In spite of this, betta fish are not carnivores that prey on their tankmates in order to get food. Any deaths among tankmates will result from stress, not bite injuries.