jawsisabetta

On the internet there is a lot of info about not using freeze dried foods. Can i feed my betta 1 freeze dried bloodworm 2 times a week, or will that hurt him? Sorry for all the questions, i just want my fish to be happy.

ATKINSON

Welcome to FISHLORE!! Im sure someone will help you soon

Lucy

Freeze dried blood worms can sometime cause constipation.
You can soak it in tank water for a few minutes before feeding. That should help some.

ccb04

I use the Hikari freeze-dried blood worms. But as Lucy mentioned, I soak them in tank water prior to feeding. Doing so softens them and also expands them so the don't expand in your betta's belly.

Frozen has a high moisture content ... freeze dried has a very minimum moisture content. That is why soaking them helps.

jawsisabetta

Ok. Should i soak them in tap water or in tank water?

matt6765

tank water

jawsisabetta

Thanks.

Biscato33

Welcome to fishlore!

TedsTank

Yes to the above!!! I always soak freeze dried food in little medicine measuring cups in the tank water. At least 5 minutes or until it sinks.

jclee

I used freeze dried bloodworms with my bettas, and they seemed fine w/ it. Recently, however, I've read that most "freeze dried bloodworms" sold in the U.S. are actually freeze died tubifex worms, which are less nutritious than bloodworms, and I think that freeze dried foods, in general, retain less nutrition.
Link to nutritional breakdown of various worms: http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/foods2.shtml

Discussion of various feeder worms:
http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/worms.shtml

Both of these links were created with salamanders and newts in mind, but a lot of the info should overlap. I'm not sure what this means for bettas, exactly, but I thought I'd get that info out there and let others with more betta experience than I have add on.

TedsTank

Acually I prefer the frozen foods...brineshrimp and bloodworms....the frozed bloods are some kind of bug larva....not tubifex....which can carry all kind of wierd things...they dont grow in anyform of nice water.

rebeccmh

i feed my bettas hikari freezed dried bloodworms in the evenings and they love them. as already said, soaking them does help.

Shawnie

+2 ...im not a fan of freeze dried foods either...they constipate my fish...and im not sure how much nutrition is in something thats freeze dried...but if you choose to use it, soaking it in some fresh garlic juice might help also ..its great for their immune system and stimulates their appetites..not that many fish need that LOL

ToxicChloe

mosquito

I never knew that about freeze dried foods. Is this info true for all freeze dried foods or just blood worms? I feed freeze dried krill sometimes, once a week or less and I feed frozen blood worms every once in a while too.

Shawnie

I can only speak from my fish..they get constipated bad and bloat with freeze dried...plenty of members use it and have not had any issues, I just do not have good luck with it...and the process of freeze drying, takes out allot of nutrition so I just dont bother...

TedsTank

Sry if i confuse..Freeze dried foods are good too!!!..But really should be soaked to return their moisture content.

And frozen are good....same thing, I thaw them in the little cups of tank water.
Dont buy too big of bags of frozen foods...freezer burn seems to ruin them ie: with brine shrimp the burned ones are white....fish won't eat them!!!...just rot in the tank.
Good frozen shrimp or worms should be red.

Some of the nutrients are lost during thawing as some are lost during freeze drying and then soaking.

I think we are talking about our preferences here...use what works for you....variety is important for your fish and you seem to have that down ok!!!

Butterfly

I use Omega One freeze dried blood worms. As advised above it is better to soak them before feeding. They can also be soaked in a bit of garlic juice. It's also best if they are used as treats instead an part of daily feedings.
Carol