My boyfriend has a new betta that is surpisingly fickle.
It doesn't like flakes, and he doesn't like pellets either.

Theory on the pellets is it dislikes them because they border
on too big, and are so hard/crunchy.

What are some good and easy alternatives for food?

Preferably something we can maybe get at a place like walmart
if possible.

If no one can think of anything, I guess it will be another road-trip
for us to the nearest "large" city for supplies again. :rolleyes:

Frozen bloodworms. ;)

Freeze dried/frozen blood worms, live blackworms, live or frozen brine shrimp.

Just in case your not familiar with using the freeze dried foods, you need to be careful not to over feed. It expands and constipation happens easily.

Another alternative is make your own. Beef heart with the fat and grissle cut out, food process it to mush, add some Knox gelatin, liquid vitamins (like Vita-chem), veggies like baby rice cereal or baby food peas, add water until it looks right. Then freeze it how ever you like. Beef heart is a bulking up and quick growing method some breeders use. You can make up pretty much any combination with the beef heart. You don't have to put the veggies in there. I think it's a good idea because when bettas eat bugs in the wild they are also eating what's in the bug's stomachs, which is usually plant based.

Making your own is a bit messy, but it's not like you're going to need to do it every day. I would imaging if you get a beef heart from a butcher you wouldn't even have to get a whole one.

Oh! DO NOT FEED THE BEEF HEART THAT COMES FROZEN FOR FISH TO YOUR BETTAS! That stuff is for big fish. Bettas can't handle it. I've heard stories of bettas choking on it.

Sauce Packet Wallmart has betta biogold by hikori. They are very small pellets. You might also trying taking a little bit of tank water out and soaking the pellets for a few minutes and let them get mushy before you feed that too them. You can also get freeze dried blood worms at Walmart. If you get the blood worms only feed them a three or so times a week because they are meant as a treat.

Run the frozen beef heart through a chopper with a little tank water... works good.

You could also set a bucket of water outside somewhere in the shade, toss in a few leaves and wait for the mosquitos to find it. Bettas love mosquito larvae and it's a natural food for them and best of all ...... it's free!!

Leave it outside? Or better yet, leave my window open and keep the bucket in my room... those little pests can be an issue with my bent window-screen :OO

Thanks guys, I never would have figured on the frozen beef heart.
How long does that keep for?

Have you tried using small or pre-soaked pellets? Rejection of hard foods can usually be remedied by pre-soaking, and this brings out the flavor as well. Alternately, reputable-source frozen or live blood worms, brine shrimp, midas shrimp, black worms, etc. are all acceptable, though if your fish will not eat a pelleted staple you must feed in great variety. Avoid freeze-dried, and if you do use it, pre-soak it first to offset constipation. Finally, if you do use beef heart, chicken livers, or other animal products, I honestly see no problem with the kind intended for fish - esp. since good brands generally make sure they are free of detrimental bacteria and parasites - so long as you break it up into little pieces. I feed one of my special needs girls a cichlid diet with chicken and beef ingredients, and while the pieces are large, I simply chop them up and she loves them. What's nice is, it is enriched to be a carnivore staple, so it has more of the essential nutrients fish need than just store-bought organ meat.