Blood Worms Or Brine Shrimp?

Which one is more nutritious for a Betta? I'm thinking the bloodworms because they are closer to the natural diet of a Betta but I really don't know.

Here's the story. I had a pack of frozen brine that I was using. Our fridge broke down and everything in the freezer completely thawed out and went up to over 50 degrees. I thought the shrimp cubes that were still sealed would be okay to refreeze and use. I went to get some for Benny today and all the cubes were black and didn't look right. I went down to PetSmart and after some indecision picked up a pack of frozen bloodworms. I shaved a piece off a cube that contained about 6 pieces of worm and thawed it in a capful of tank water. Then I poured the water and worms into the tank. Benny attacked them more than he ever did the shrimp which he would eat but never was too enthusiastic about it.

Now comes the funny part. Benny grabbed all the smaller pieces and ate them but a couple were like whole worms. He took those in his mouth and spit them back out. One piece settled on an Anubias leaf and Benny would look at it and swim away. Then the Mystery snail started getting close to the worm and Benny darts over, grabs the worm and gobbles it down. It's like he was saving it for later but was determined nobody else was going to have it. He's such an entertaining and funny fish.

Back to the original question . Which one is better for him or are they about the same?

 

Brine shrimp.

Blood worms have very little nutritional value, even if they are more similar to a natural diet. They're sorta like fish Twinkies - tasty, but a treat for every now and then. You could live off them, but you'd be unhealthy, and the same goes for bloodworms.

 

Brine shrimp.

Blood worms have very little nutritional value, even if they are more similar to a natural diet. They're sorta like fish Twinkies - tasty, but a treat for every now and then. You could live off them, but you'd be unhealthy, and the same goes for bloodworms.

Well, he will only get them like once a week.

 

I was thinking you were talking about them more as a staple. Once a week is fine!

 

Get both. Variety is good for your betta.

 

I have read a few times that the only brine shrimp that are really nutritious are the newly hatched ones that still have the yolk sac. The frozen ones also are a lot of mush with only a few intact ones. The bloodworms look like they stay together better. I guess both are good as a once a week treat.

 

I use many different types of frozen foods for my fish to give them variety but I always fortify them with vits like Atvitol & I soak them with garlic guard & feed frozen once a week, my fish go into a feeding frenzy for it especially the rosy & redline torpedo barbs.