LIVE FOOD GUIDE
Live Foods help encourage hunting behavior, support growth, and add variety
to your betta's diet. Whether you're raising fry or feeding adults, culturing at home
gives you a steady supply of fresh food.
CHOOSE YOUR CULTURE
Supplies
Pottery
Sponge
Acrylic Plate
Cellulose
sponges
Food
Soft Brush
Grindal Worm
Culture
Pipette
Aquarium
Water
Clean Empty
Container
Hydrate the sponges using aqaurium water. Squeeze and rinse several time untill they are fully saturated and rinsed. ​​​
​
Squeeze access water out. The sponges should be damp but not dripping.
​
Stack the sponges inside the container
-
Bottom: Cellulose sponge
-
Middle: Pottery sponge
-
Top : Cellulose sponge
​
Add grindal worm culture starter evenly across the top sponge.
​​​
Sprinkle a small amount of food over top of the culture
​
Cover with acrylic or plastic feeding plate and close lid while allowing for ventilation
​
Store in room temperature away from direct light. the worms will begin collecting under the feeding plate.
​
Rehydrate culture with aquarium water and pippette.
​
​
Grindal worms naturally gather beneath the feeding plate.
To harvest:
-
Lift the feeding plate.
-
Wipe the worms from the surface using a finger, cotton swab, or soft brush.
-
Rinse the worms in aquarium water if desired, This helps with keeping water quality good.
-
Feed immediately.
Only harvest what your fish will consume within a few minutes.
HARVESTING
SETTING UP CULTURE
MAINGENCE
-
Feed small amounts when food is gone.​
​
-
Rehydrate with aquarium water when sponges dry.
​​​
-
Replace cellulose sponge as needed​
​
-
Split culture every month
PRO TIP : Multiple small cultures are safer than one large culture
Grindal Worms
Perfect beginner live food
for juveniles and adult bettas
QUICK FACTS
​
​
Grindal worms are a soft, and easy for betta to eat. They are incredibly easy to culture indoors, produce quickly, and can be harvested daily from a healthy culture.
​
-
Easy to culture indoors
-
Great staple live food
-
High in nutrition
-
Readily accepted
-
Harvested daily
Why choose Grindal Worms?
Nutritional Profile
Protein
Fat
Fiber
Growth
Conditioning
Difficulty
Best For
Fry
Juveniles
Adults
Breeding
Recommended As:
Staple Live Food
Best For :
Juveniles & Adults
Harvest:
Daily
Difficulty:
Easy
Supplies
Soft Brush
Aquarium
Water
Clean Empty
Container
Breeding
Plastic
Spoon
Instant Mashed
Potatoes
Microworm
Starter Culture
Brewer's
Yeast
Why choose Microworms?
Nutritional Profile
Best For
​​Microworms are on the easiest live foods to culture and ideal for newly free swimming betta fry. They reproduce quickly, require very little maintenance, and provide a constant food source
​
-
Excellent first food for fry
-
Extremely easy to culture
-
Produced quickly
-
Inexpensive
-
Great back
Fry
Juveniles
Adults
Protein
Fat
Fiber
Growth
Conditioning
Difficulty
Mix mashed potatoes with aquarium water until it reaches a thick mashed potatoes consistency.​​​
​
Spread media about 1/4- 1 inch deep in the container
​
Sprinkle a small amount of brewer's yeast over the surface
​
Add microworm starter culture evenly over the top.
​
Close container while allowing for ventilation,​​
​
Store in room temperature away from direct light. ​​​
​
Microworms collect on the side walls on the container. After 3-5 days you can begin harvesting from culture.
​
-
Collect the worms from the container walls using paint brush, finger, or cotton swab.
-
Rinse worms in aquarium water
-
Feed immediately ​​
​
Only feed what fry can consume in few minutes. Feed fry multiple times daily.
HARVESTING
MAINGENCE
• Feed with brewer's yeast only if the culture slows.​
​
• Add a few drops of water if the media dries.
​​​​​​
• Replace culture every 3-4 weeks.​
​
• Split culture every 2 weeks.
SETTING UP CULTURE
PRO TIP : Always keep two or three microworm cultures going. Starting fresh cultures every couple of weeks. ensures you'll never lose your live food supply if crashes.
Microworms
Perfect first live
food for betta fry
QUICK FACTS
Recommended As:
First Live Food
Best For :
Fry ( 3-14 days old)
Harvest:
Daily
Difficulty:
Very Easy
Supplies
Apple Cider
Vinegar
(with mother)
Vinegar Eel
Culture
Pipette
Aquarium
Water
Adults
Breeding
Difficulty
​
​
Vinegar Eels are one of the easiest live foods to culture and are an excellent first food for newly free swimming fry. They remain alive in fresh water for hours, giving fry plenty of time to naturally hunt.
​
-
Excellent first food for fry
-
Extremely easy to culture
-
Low maintence
-
Cultures last for months
-
Stay alive for hours
Coffee Filters
Fresh
Apple
• Mix equal parts apple cider vinegar and dechlorinated water.
• Add a few apple slices.
• Pour in Vinegar Eel starter culture ​​​
​
• Cover loosely to allow air flow. ​
​
• Store in room temperature away from direct light.
​
​
​
​
• Pour the culture through a coffee filter or harvesting method
​​
• RInse the eelse with clean water​
​• Collect them using a pipette
• Feed immediately
​​
HARVESTING
SETTING UP CULTURE
MAINTENCE
• Feed small amounts when food is gone.​
​​
• Rehydrate with aquarium water when sponges dry.
​​​
• Replace cellulose sponge as needed​
​​
• Split culture every month
PRO TIP : Multiple small cultures are safer than one large culture
Vinegar Eels
Perfect beginner live food
for juveniles and adult bettas
QUICK FACTS
Why choose Vinegar Eels?
Nutritional Profile
Protein
Fat
Fiber
Growth
Conditioning
Best For
Fry
Juveniles
Recommended As:
Staple Live Food
Best For :
Juveniles & Adults
Harvest:
Daily
Difficulty:
Easy
Supplies
Brine Shrimp
Eggs
Aquarium
Marine Salt
Air pump
With air stone
Coffee
Filters
Dechlorinated
Water
Hatching Vessel
1 - 2 Liters
Nutritional Profile
Protein
Fat
Fiber
Growth
Conditioning
Best For
Fry
Juveniles
Breeding
Why choose Grindal Worms?
​
​
Freshly hatched baby shrimp are one of the most nutritious foods available for growing fry. Adults provide excellent enrichment and conditioning for older bettas.
​
-
Hatch in 24-36 hours
-
Excellent nutrition
-
Encourages natural hunting
-
Great for conditioning breeders
-
Can be raised to adulthood
Difficulty
Adults
Mix water solution 2 tablespoons of marine salt with 1 liter of dechlorinated water and a pinch of baking soda​​​
​
Add water and brine shrimp eggs to hatching vessel
​
Turn on air pump for strong aeration.
​
Temperature 80 -82 F
​​​​​​
Let air pump and light continue to run till you harvest the culture
​
Most Brine shrimp eggs hatch between 18 - 36 hours, depending on temperature.
• Turn off the air pump off
​
• Wait 5 to 10 minutes for shells to seperate.
​​
• Collect the orange cloud of baby brine shrimp
​
• Pour through a coffee filter or fine mesh sieve. 120 - 180 µm
​
• Rinse with fresh dechlorinated water before feeding.
​
Can be stored for frozen for later use
HARVESTING
GROWING OUT SHRIMP
Transfer hatched shrimp to a grow out container​​
​
Maintain 20 - 30 g/L Marine salt​​​​
​​​
Keep gentle aeration
​
​Feed small amounts 1 to 3 times daily
(Spirulina powder, live algae, yeast or commercial brine shrimp food)
​
Perform regular partial water changes with dechlorinated water mixed at the same salinity
​
PRO TIP : Multiple small cultures are safer than one large culture
SETTING UP CULTURE
Egg
Hatch
(18-36 hours)
Nauplii
(0-1 day)
Juveniles
(1 - 14 days)
Adult
(2+ weeks)
​
BRINE SHRIMP LIFE STAGES
Brine Shrimp
Perfect beginner live food
for juveniles and adult bettas
QUICK FACTS
Recommended As:
Premium Live
food
Best For :
Fry to Adults
Harvest:
Daily
Difficulty:
Moderate
Supplies
Pottery
Sponge
Acrylic Plate
Cellulose
sponges
Food
Soft Brush
Grindal Worm
Culture
Pipette
Aquarium
Water
Clean Empty
Container
Hydrate the sponges using aqaurium water. Squeeze and rinse several time untill they are fully saturated and rinsed. ​​​
​
Squeeze access water out. The sponges should be damp but not dripping.
​
Stack the sponges inside the container
-
Bottom: Cellulose sponge
-
Middle: Pottery sponge
-
Top : Cellulose sponge
​
Add grindal worm culture starter evenly across the top sponge.
​​​
Sprinkle a small amount of food over top of the culture
​
Cover with acrylic or plastic feeding plate and close lid while allowing for ventilation
​
Store in room temperature away from direct light. the worms will begin collecting under the feeding plate.
​
Rehydrate culture with aquarium water and pippette.
​
​
Grindal worms naturally gather beneath the feeding plate.
To harvest:
-
Lift the feeding plate.
-
Wipe the worms from the surface using a finger, cotton swab, or soft brush.
-
Rinse the worms in aquarium water if desired, This helps with keeping water quality good.
-
Feed immediately.
Only harvest what your fish will consume within a few minutes.
HARVESTING
SETTING UP CULTURE
MAINGENCE
-
Feed small amounts when food is gone.​
​
-
Rehydrate with aquarium water when sponges dry.
​​​
-
Replace cellulose sponge as needed​
​
-
Split culture every month
PRO TIP : Multiple small cultures are safer than one large culture
Banana Worms
Perfect beginner live food
for juveniles and adult bettas
QUICK FACTS
​
​
Grindal worms are a soft, and easy for betta to eat. They are incredibly easy to culture indoors, produce quickly, and can be harvested daily from a healthy culture.
​
-
Easy to culture indoors
-
Great staple live food
-
High in nutrition
-
Readily accepted
-
Harvested daily
Why choose Grindal Worms?
Nutritional Profile
Protein
Fat
Fiber
Growth
Conditioning
Difficulty
Best For
Fry
Juveniles
Adults
Breeding
Recommended As:
Staple Live Food
Best For :
Juveniles & Adults
Harvest:
Daily
Difficulty:
Easy
Supplies
Pottery
Sponge
Acrylic Plate
Cellulose
sponges
Food
Soft Brush
Grindal Worm
Culture
Pipette
Aquarium
Water
Clean Empty
Container
Hydrate the sponges using aqaurium water. Squeeze and rinse several time untill they are fully saturated and rinsed. ​​​
​
Squeeze access water out. The sponges should be damp but not dripping.
​
Stack the sponges inside the container
-
Bottom: Cellulose sponge
-
Middle: Pottery sponge
-
Top : Cellulose sponge
​
Add grindal worm culture starter evenly across the top sponge.
​​​
Sprinkle a small amount of food over top of the culture
​
Cover with acrylic or plastic feeding plate and close lid while allowing for ventilation
​
Store in room temperature away from direct light. the worms will begin collecting under the feeding plate.
​
Rehydrate culture with aquarium water and pippette.
​
​
Grindal worms naturally gather beneath the feeding plate.
To harvest:
-
Lift the feeding plate.
-
Wipe the worms from the surface using a finger, cotton swab, or soft brush.
-
Rinse the worms in aquarium water if desired, This helps with keeping water quality good.
-
Feed immediately.
Only harvest what your fish will consume within a few minutes.
HARVESTING
SETTING UP CULTURE
MAINGENCE
-
Feed small amounts when food is gone.​
​
-
Rehydrate with aquarium water when sponges dry.
​​​
-
Replace cellulose sponge as needed​
​
-
Split culture every month
PRO TIP : Multiple small cultures are safer than one large culture
Walter Worms
Perfect beginner live food
for juveniles and adult bettas
QUICK FACTS
​
​
Grindal worms are a soft, and easy for betta to eat. They are incredibly easy to culture indoors, produce quickly, and can be harvested daily from a healthy culture.
​
-
Easy to culture indoors
-
Great staple live food
-
High in nutrition
-
Readily accepted
-
Harvested daily
Why choose Grindal Worms?
Nutritional Profile
Protein
Fat
Fiber
Growth
Conditioning
Difficulty
Best For
Fry
Juveniles
Adults
Breeding
Recommended As:
Staple Live Food
Best For :
Juveniles & Adults
Harvest:
Daily
Difficulty:
Easy
Supplies
Pottery
Sponge
Acrylic Plate
Cellulose
sponges
Food
Soft Brush
Grindal Worm
Culture
Pipette
Aquarium
Water
Clean Empty
Container
Hydrate the sponges using aqaurium water. Squeeze and rinse several time untill they are fully saturated and rinsed. ​​​
​
Squeeze access water out. The sponges should be damp but not dripping.
​
Stack the sponges inside the container
-
Bottom: Cellulose sponge
-
Middle: Pottery sponge
-
Top : Cellulose sponge
​
Add grindal worm culture starter evenly across the top sponge.
​​​
Sprinkle a small amount of food over top of the culture
​
Cover with acrylic or plastic feeding plate and close lid while allowing for ventilation
​
Store in room temperature away from direct light. the worms will begin collecting under the feeding plate.
​
Rehydrate culture with aquarium water and pippette.
​
​
Grindal worms naturally gather beneath the feeding plate.
To harvest:
-
Lift the feeding plate.
-
Wipe the worms from the surface using a finger, cotton swab, or soft brush.
-
Rinse the worms in aquarium water if desired, This helps with keeping water quality good.
-
Feed immediately.
Only harvest what your fish will consume within a few minutes.
HARVESTING
SETTING UP CULTURE
MAINGENCE
-
Feed small amounts when food is gone.​
​
-
Rehydrate with aquarium water when sponges dry.
​​​
-
Replace cellulose sponge as needed​
​
-
Split culture every month
PRO TIP : Multiple small cultures are safer than one large culture
Black Worms
Perfect beginner live food
for juveniles and adult bettas
QUICK FACTS
​
​
Grindal worms are a soft, and easy for betta to eat. They are incredibly easy to culture indoors, produce quickly, and can be harvested daily from a healthy culture.
​
-
Easy to culture indoors
-
Great staple live food
-
High in nutrition
-
Readily accepted
-
Harvested daily
Why choose Grindal Worms?
Nutritional Profile
Protein
Fat
Fiber
Growth
Conditioning
Difficulty
Best For
Fry
Juveniles
Adults
Breeding
Recommended As:
Staple Live Food
Best For :
Juveniles & Adults
Harvest:
Daily
Difficulty:
Easy
Supplies
Difficulty
Nutritional Profile
Why choose Daphnia?
Best For
Adults
Breeding
Daphnia Starter
Culture
1 - 5 Gallon
tank or bucket
Air Pump &
Air Stone (Gentle)
Aged Aquarium
Water
180 - 250 µm
Sieve
​
Daphnia food
Phytoplankton or
Spirulina
Pipette or
Turkey baster
​​Daphnia are tiny freshwater crustaceans that swim naturally through the water column, encouraging active hunting behavior. They reproduce rapidly in healthy cultures and provide excellent nutrition while helping fish exercise their natural feeding instincts.
​
-
Excellent live enrichment
-
High in protein
-
Great for fry and adults
-
Continuous reproduction
-
Easy to harvest
Protein
Fat
Fiber
Growth
Conditioning
Difficulty
1. Fill a clean bucket or aquarium with aged, dechlorinated water.​​​
​
2. Add your Daphnia culture and provide gentle aeration if desired.
​
3.Feed your culture with green water, phytoplankton, or spirulina. Only add enough to lightly tint the water.
​
4. Place the culture in bright, indirect light, Avoid direct sunlight, which can overheat the water.
​ ​​
5. Allow the population to establish before harvesting. Once the culture is reproducing well, you can harvest every few days.
​
​
​
​Grindal worms naturally gather beneath the feeding plate.
To harvest:
-
Lift the feeding plate.
-
Wipe the worms from the surface using a finger, cotton swab, or soft brush.
-
Rinse the worms in aquarium water if desired, This helps with keeping water quality good.
-
Feed immediately.
Only harvest what your fish will consume within a few minutes.
HARVESTING
SETTING UP CULTURE
MAINGENCE
-
Feed small amounts when food is gone.​
​
-
Rehydrate with aquarium water when sponges dry.
​​​
-
Replace cellulose sponge as needed​
​
-
Split culture every month
Fry
Juveniles