Betta splendens have no natural habitat, Chocolate, because they are a domesticated breed that do not exist in the wild. However, it is true that they can go long periods of time without food. Doing this all the time is not good for the fish but every so often, such as going away for holidays and such, is perfectly fine. Any period of time longer than two weeks requires a sitter.
Those automatic feeders actually kill betta fish more often than doing any good. They dirty water, overfeed, and if they do not kill the animal they often cause bloating, constipation, etc.