Thanks!

Substrate isn't always needed, however, if you don't use substrate-I would use dark paper or something under- on the bottom of the tank to help make the Betta feel more secure and limit reflection.

Hey OFL, I wanted to get your opinion on this; do you think a substrate is needed in a betta tank?

That is what I am beginning to realize myself. I have looked into Hikari and they seem to go out of their way to do extensive research about the eating habits and nutritional needs of the specific types of fish that they make their specially formulated foods for. They even worked with NASA so that says something. Based on all that I am going to take a chance on them and trust them...

A lot of the ingredients in the fish foods that may sound odd-are often used because of their chemical/nutritional content to provide or meet the nutritional/dietary needs-With processed fish food-it more about the quality of the ingredients than the ingredient itself IMO and from what I have researched.

Oh okay. Well that company seems to know what they are doing and they do extensive research on the nutritional needs of fish, so I am going to give them a try ;)

I don't have personal experience with feeding products from that company and so I can't say one way or the other....

I have been reading some scholarly articles on the nutrition of betta splendens, but I just want to know, do you personally think Hikari makes a quality, nutritious food for bettas?

Okay will do. Thank you very much! It's always a pleasure talking to you :)

I would start my search with Tropical fish nutrition or aquarium fish nutrition, scientific research freshwater fish nutrition needs...etc.... and go from that point and see what pops up.