PELLETS: To soak or not to soak?

[teeneythebetta]

Okay so I'm currently feeding my betta tetramin tropical flakes, but I'm going to be feeding her hikari betta pellets soon. I've always heard people say to soak the pellets before feeding to prevent bloating. But the other day I saw someone post something saying that soaking pellets takes the nutrition out... Is this true? To soak or not to soak?

Also how many pellets per day should she be fed? (she's about 1.25 inches)

[LebronTheBetta]

Don't Soak. It'll take the Nutrients out. I don't soak mine, and my Betta isn't Bloated. For the Quantity, I think 3-4 Pellets per day would be Okay. Hikari is a Good Brand.

[Oldfishlady]

Correct...you don't need or want to soak the food due to it can cause the nutrients to leach-you can however, roll or lace the pellet in fresh crushed garlic juice.

The fish have lots of enzymes and gastric acid in the GI tract/gut that will break the food down for absorption.
When you place pellets in water they will expand-but in gastric acid they do not=they start to break down, get soft etc.....

[Neil D]

Just thought I should insert here, for some fish, you DO (or should) need to soak the food. Goldfish for example. Soaking the flakes for 30sec-1min would go a long way to stopping bloat. But like OFL said, for bettas it's unnecessary.

[Oldfishlady]

Usually the reason Goldfish bloat with food has more to do with them gulping too much air at the surface not the food itself. Often it is better to feed Goldfish sinking foods to prevent them from gulping too much air at the surface.

[Neil D]

^yeah. I said flakes though. Anyway, hope we solved your issue teeney!

[teeneythebetta]

You sure did! thanks everyone!

[Oldfishlady]

Originally Posted by Neil D

^yeah. I said flakes though. Anyway, hope we solved your issue teeney!

Exactly...flakes-float.... and nutrition is lost pretty fast when soaked-Goldfish feeding on limited nutrition flakes at the surface...double wammy...limited nutrition and gulps air that can cause bloating issues...

One of the most important aspects of fish keeping other than water quality is proper/good nutrition...building blocks of good health......this is what supports the immune response and often this is the area that is skimped on...cheap food....improper feeding and understanding of nutritional needs and digestion....

Glad we could be of help....