Can goldfish eat betta food?

Goldfish cannot regularly eat betta food. While substituting betta food during an occasional feeding is relatively harmless, it is unhealthy, as the nutritional needs and digestive systems of goldfish are not the same as bettas.

The two species are dissimilar in that goldfish are omnivores,and bettas are carnivorous. Commercial pellets for bettas contain high amounts of protein, while goldfish need a balance of protein and vegetation in their diet. Since goldfish have slower digestive tracts, a diet high in protein may lead to swim bladder infection, intestinal gas and kidney failure over time. Goldfish owners running out of food should feed their pets unsalted peas or fresh lettuce until they are able to make the much-needed trip to the pet store.