Betta At Pet Store

[OneOnion]

Long story short, there was a betta at petco that I saw while looking for stuff for my terrarium. I thought about buying it, but I decided not to because I'm not (kind of) prepared for him. So, I don't know what to do right now.

1) Wait until next week to buy him, because I was planning on dividing and setting up the 10 gallon next week anyway, risking the chance of someone buying him or him dying.

2) Buy him tomorrow, have him in the 10 gallon or a container or something(if you think I should do this, explain where I should put him), and wait until next week to give him a good setup. This way there is no risk of him being bought, but it would be my fault if he dies.

3) Other (explain)


Thanks.

 

[woodstock]

Goodness, talk about a debate right here. I won't personally choose which option yet, but:

Do you have a nice container for him? Tupperware? Anything like that? And do you have a heater ready for them yet? What I would is go out and get the heater if you don't have it already (and if you really want him that bad). Buy him, get him in a large container with the heater, a couple plants, etc, and carry on with the set up. Not sure if everyone will approve, but if you reaaaaally want him that bad, I'd consider it. I wouldn't exactly rush setting up the actual 10 gallon, a lot of things could go wrong.

 

[Chard56]

Goodness, talk about a debate right here. I won't personally choose which option yet, but:

Do you have a nice container for him? Tupperware? Anything like that? And do you have a heater ready for them yet? What I would is go out and get the heater if you don't have it already (and if you really want him that bad). Buy him, get him in a large container with the heater, a couple plants, etc, and carry on with the set up. Not sure if everyone will approve, but if you reaaaaally want him that bad, I'd consider it. I wouldn't exactly rush setting up the actual 10 gallon, a lot of things could go wrong.

I've been there, done that and went back to get it but it was gone. I didn't think to see if I could pay for it and come back for it. Otherwise you could keep him in the cup until you get set up. As long as he's kept above 74 degrees I don't think it would be any different than leaving him at the store. They are probably kept at 70 or below and if you thought it was the ONE it will be gone the next time you stop in.

 

[woodstock]

Chard, are you saying get him NOW? I'm a little confused with your post

 

[keithp]

If you want him bad enough and can keep him at the proper temperature than get him. As long as you do water changes while you are in the process of setting up a 10 gallon than your not doing anything bad. If however you risk him being cold than its better not to get him until you have the proper setup. If he is gone you can always find another.

 

[OneOnion]

Yes, but are they heated at the pet store? I'd think they turn off the heat at night, so it wouldn't be at a constant warm temperature. Don't think I'm disregarding your advice, I'm just trying to decide what to do. My old betta lived without heat for a year until someone stole him at the airport, I don't see how a week would be bad.

 

[woodstock]

I extremely highly doubt they will be heated at the store, just IMO.

 

[Honeythorn]

Put a deposit/reserve on him, set up your tank and go back and pay the rest when it's set up.

 

[Chard56]

Chard, are you saying get him NOW? I'm a little confused with your post

Yes, unless you think nobody else will want him. I don't think keeping him in the cup at home until you get set up would be any different than leaving him in the cup at the store.

 

[OneOnion]

I don't think keeping him in the cup at home until you get set up would be any different than leaving him in the cup at the store.

Yeah, this was my main point. I could even provide him with a slightly larger enclosure and water changes for the week.

 

[woodstock]

If you can provide him with a larger container, like tupperware, and a heater - or at least very decent heat - , then go get him! Reserving IS possible, but I'd rather get him now than keep him in the horrid little cup. I know I could do much better with some towels and a bowl. Good luck with him, OneOnion

 

[keithp]

Yeah even in a cup he will get much better care with you, in the store that can mean 1 more week of possibly no food and very dirty water.

 

[MewMew42]

do you have another tank set up that is mature?

if so you could get a big breeding trap and keep him in there for the week if you really want him, he will be fine =] and you knwo he will be going somewhere bigger! gotta be nicer than where he is now...

 

[GuppyGoddess]

Yeah even in a cup he will get much better care with you, in the store that can mean 1 more week of possibly no food and very dirty water.

Yep, get him now so you know he'll be better cared for than how the employees would treat him.

A while back, I saw the coolest lively betta who was flaring up a storm and I hesitated to get him because I didn't have a set-up ready. When I finally went back around a week later, I couldn't find him. There was one that looked identical but that one looked nearly dead. Either the cool one became ill from lack of care (and was the one in there) or someone bought him.

Oh, and not all pet stores will let you put a deposit on a fish. I asked about that once and the store said no because once you've paid for the fish, if it dies under the store's care, they're responsible for whatever goes wrong. That *was* a Petco location by me.

 

[OneOnion]

See, the tank is not mature, but I'll be transferring the filter(10 gallon filter) from the 5 gallon onto the 10 gallon. The 10 gallon has a heater, also, all I need to do to set it up is add a divider and decorate/plant it. I have a spare filter also, but its a 10 gallon filter and has no flow setting. I think I'll go ahead and get him after I set up all his temporary container and stuff. If I use a relatively big tupperware container(5 gallons maybe) could I use the 10 gallon heater, just put the heat on lower than what I want so it doesn't overheat? Thanks.