Can bettas eat tropical fish flakes, or do they need actual betta food?
Yes they can. Betta have the same habits and diet as many other small tropical fish. Gourami, guppies, hatchetfish etc are all top dwelling insect eaters and will do fine on the same food. There is nothing unusual about teh diet of betta fish, compared to many other tropical fish. Betta food is formulated for betta, usually has colour enhancing additives, and is sized right for a betta. But look at the ingredients, it will be 99% the same as as other good quality fish food. If you happen to keep your betta with other fish, it will just eat what they eat, and be perfectly OK.
