Bettas From Walmart

[channing]

i was wondering what other peoples experiences were from buying from walmart. I just bought a veiltail from there. All my others i have bought from other places and never had problems with. The thing is that this male doesnt do anything. He just kinda floats at the top of the water and well thats it. he hasn't been eating but that doesn't worry me yet. anybody have this sort of thing happen or anybody have any advice on spicing this guy up. i was thinking about after his been here i a week or so, putting him in my divided tank and seeing if that helps. maybe seeing others will do it. or does this sound like a swim bladder problem. any advice would be nice.

 

[FBTgirl]

I got a male VT from walmart and he was not the active till I put him next to Penny. Try the divider and that might make him think he has to get food before others do.

 

[bhamlin154]

I had a similar experience, I bought one of my bettas from petsmart. I think alot of their apprehension comes with traveling so much and then sitting in 1 cup of water with people tapping on them and picking the cup up over and over. Mine was very timid for a good week or two and it took me a good week and a half before I saw him eat a bite. He is much different than when I first got him.

I would just say watch him and maybe give him a little attention, i think putting him in a divided tank is a good idea. Then again, sometimes it just takes time for them to get accustomed to their new surroundings.

 

[Dibari]

That's kind of a silly conjecture.
Bettas are all different - They have different personalities and temperaments. Where they come from has little to do with it outside of the conditions they live in.
Walmart keeps bettas in small cups full of nastiness in my experience, which lends itself to ill bettas, and they become listless from ammonia poisoning and those tiny conditions.
I think you should take time to care for your betta and watch him flourish.

 

[girl4God81]

You said he was floating at the top? Is he actually floating? If so then it could be more than just a "Walmart fish" like some others are saying. If he's floating sideways it does sound like swimbladder or constipation. If he's just hanging out at the top and isn't very active then he probably just needs to get use to his surroundings. Several of mine did that when I first took them home. The Walmarts around here have larger cups than the normal pet stores so not all Walmarts have the tiny cups anymore.

 

[channing]

no his not sidways. just boring. he was in a nice size cup compared to one of the other boys i got elsewhere. i give him a few more days and see how it goes. he is so pretty i tried taking pics but not so good.

 

[FBTgirl]

Does he have hiding holes and plants??? That might be why.

 

[liz2]

Is the water warm enough? Cold makes them lethargic

 

[channing]

water is warm and he has three plants. not sure want the prob is. ill give him some more time, then his butt is in trouble. he's going in the divided tank for some serous therapy. i don't like boring bettas.

 

[dc3]

Got a betta from wal-mart and he grew into a lovely fish and blew lots of bubble nests and lived in several tanks with other fish with no problems. In retrospect at the time I knew no better - but he was the fish that got me into the hobby - worked out better than fish my friends bought from big al's or petsmart or other LFS's... Not sure that's a blanket truth as every walmart is staffed differently and sometimes you just get plain lucky

 

[Amunet]

Your betta could be sick. Or just not used to being with you yet.
I'm sure when you put him into a divided tank he'll perk up some, but if not, then you just got yourself one mellow guy. Not all bettas are going to have the same personality.

 

[joycould]

If you are going with the divided tank make sure he is healthy, they will probably be sharing the same water unless you have used plexi glass and silicon to divide your tank. Sometimes about 20 minutes of morning sun will help perk them up.

 

[channing]

yeah i make sure he is healthy. but i guesing his fine cause his making a nest. he won't eat but he will do that what a weird little fish

 

[channing]

well thats that he died to today im not happy at all. but thats what i get for impuse buying.

 

[liz2]

sorry about your fish...I got one at the moment who looks lethargic...could be old I suppose.