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Lily Vase Series 2. To Feed or
Not to Feed The most appalling feeling came over me when I read the instructions to the lily vase setup. I couldn't believe me eyes. There is no need to feed your fish as the roots will supply nourishment. For someone that is not familiar with the habits of the Siamese Fighting Fish (commonly called betta), this might sound reasonable. After all, the betta is native to the rice paddies of Thailand. But the above statement couldn't be farther from the truth. Even though the betta hails from rice paddies, they are meat eaters. They need the proteins and vitamins found in meat. In the wild they eat mosquito larvae, small bugs, worms and anything else that wiggles passed. In captivity the betta should be fed betta supplemental pellets (Betta Bio Gold is popular) or a betta flake food. Both provide the proper nutrition your betta needs to grow and live a long and healthy life. You might have seen your betta nibble on a root or two when watching him. This is because he is starving. Anything looks appetizing when you are hungry. Even the folks on "Survivor I" ate rats! When picking out a food, keep in mind that bettas have a tendency to be picky. You might have to try several different brands and types of food before finding one that your betta will like. Do not feed them blood worms or brine shrimp on a regular basis. These are considered a treat and if fed to regularly can cause constipation. You should be feeding your fish at least one pinch of
flakes a day or 6 pellets (I feed mine 2 pellets at a time, 3 times
a day). Read the Next Article
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