Can Clownfish Eat Betta Food? {How Much & How Often?}

Are you thinking of feeding your clownfish food intended for bettas? Can clownfish eat betta food?

What separates betta food from clownfish food? Let’s unpack how much betta food we can feed clownfish.

It’s also important to discuss how often we can feed clownfish betta food. In this article, we will uncover the truth behind feeding betta food to clownfish.

Can Clownfish Eat Betta Food?

Yes, clownfish are not picky eaters like betta fish. They will gladly consume betta food.

Betta fish food may not be nutritious enough to considered staple food for clownfish. Please give me a chance to explain these details in the article below.

Will Betta Fish Eat Clownfish Food?

Yes. Betta fish and clownfish can be kept in the same tank together. Make sure the space is not limited because you don’t want any disputes for territory. They will most likely keep to their own.

They will however, want to eat each other’s food. Some people separate them during feeding sessions by placing one species in a different tank.

Betta fish will eat clownfish food. They can survive for a while on plant-based food as well, so they’ll eat it. They won’t last too long without their meaty food, but they won’t shy away from clownfish food that is balanced with more plant material.

What Kind of Food Do Betta Fish Eat in Aquariums?

As you can see from the list below, most of this betta fish food is suitable for clownfish. The only thing missing is the balance of plant food that clownfish require as omnivores.
  1. Floating or sinking fish meal pellets
  2. Betta fish flakes
  3. Freeze dried shrimp or krill
  4. Daphnia
  5. Bloodworms
  6. Larvae

Let’s dive deeper into these foods and learn more about their suitability for clownfish.

1. Floating or Sinking Fish Meal Pellets

a) Floating Pellets: Floating pellets stay on the surface of the tank. This is the preferred method for feeding most betta fish. This is their staple food. It will consist of mostly fish meal which is packed with protein.

b) Sinking Pellets: This is not a common method of feeding betta fish. If the pellets sink, your clownfish and other fish will appreciate it. As long as it’s only protein rich meaty fish meal, the betta fish will try to eat as much as they can.

2. Betta Fish Flakes

Betta fish flakes are intended for captive betta fish, but they do not mimic their natural feeding habits. The reason for this is that the flakes will sink quickly.

Clownfish will definitely eat these these flakes up. Clownfish are far more able to naturally dive down and devour them.

3. Freeze Dried of Frozen Shrimp or Krill

Clownfish loves eating krill, mysis and brine shrimp. They’ll eat any type of shrimp that wasn’t originally intended for them. The problem is the same for betta and clownfish here.

Shrimp or krill don’t have enough nutrients to fully replace their staple diets. Clownfish and bettas should only be fed these as treats once or twice a week.

4. Daphnia

Once again, betta fish and clownfish eat these small planktonic crustaceans up. We can provide it for them frozen or freeze dried. The nutrients are not dense enough to sustain a clownfish. This is not enough.

5. Bloodworms

Bloodworms are available live, frozen or freeze dried. They are very rich in protein but also considered a junk food of sorts for clownfish. Betta fish will be able to sustain themselves more on it. Clownfish will need more plant material or vitamin supplements for added nutrition.

6. Larvae

Mosquito larvae is a great option for betta fish. They will get all their nutrition from it. A small amount goes a long way. Clownfish are not fussy eater and they’ll go after it too. The problem is the same here; there isn’t plant-based nutrition for the clownfish to survive on larvae alone.

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Are Betta Fish Omnivores Like Clownfish?

No. Betta fish are actually carnivores.  When in the wild, they tend to consume small bugs or insects and they love eating larvae.

Clownfish are omnivores and also require a balance of plant food as well. This is why we see them nibbling on algae from time to time. Clownfish flakes and pellets contain plant-based food as well.

Betta fish food that is bought in stores are higher in protein. The food is entirely meaty to satisfy their needs as carnivores. Clownfish will also eat them and it will not hurt them.

Are Betta Fish Pickier Eaters than Clownfish?

Yes. Betta fish are more fussy when it comes to accepting the food they are given. A clownfish is much less picky. Not all betta fish eat the same food. The same goes for clownfish.

Fish don’t want to eat the same thing every single day. It’s best the vary their diets. This is why you may consider giving your clownfish some betta fish food. This is totally fine.

A betta fish may need up to a month to fully accept a new type of meal. A clownfish is much more accepting and doesn’t need a set amount of time.

How Much Betta Food & How Often Should I Feed My Clownfish?

If you consider betta fish food to be a treat, then stick to once or twice a week at the most. If you intend to also provide plant material, then mixing betta fish food into the diet of clownfish is fine.

Once or twice a day for mealtimes, we should take a few minutes out of our day to feed and observe our clownfish. If they don’t consume all the food we gave them within 10 minutes, then we may have given them too much. Remove the leftovers.

Here are some recommended amounts. Keep in mind that sizes vary.

  • 3-4 bloodworms max
  • 4-6 pellets
  • 3-4 flakes

Reduce the portions if you are feeding them twice or three times a day. Remember that vitamin supplements like Selcon and plant-based flakes are welcome additions for our omnivore clownfish friends.

Conclusion

Clownfish are omnivores and they are less picky than betta fish. Clownfish require plant material in their staple diet and betta fish do not because they are carnivores.

Feeding betta fish food to clownfish is definitely fine, but try to balance their meals appropriately with plant-based additions.

 

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Brian Arial

Brian Arial has kept fish for leisure and worked with fish stores for most of his life. He enjoys writing and caring for aquariums and ponds.

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