Biggest giant bettas I have ever seen

[lilsd]

I thought I got over my desire to keep bettas after I impulse bought one from a box store a few months ago, and despite my best efforts to help him he didnt live very long (RIP ). Very happy with my nano tank as it is right now, and while I’ve thought about going down the rabbit hole of getting a second tank, so far I’ve always been able to talk myself out of it

Last time I went to my LFS (not a box store but a locally owned shop) I saw they had probably 8-10 small individual tanks with the most insanely gigantic, absolutely gorgeous koi bettas I have ever seen. I’ve seen giant bettas before but these guys were absolutely enormous. They looked very healthy and their colors were just stunning. I couldn’t stop staring at them lol. They were priced in the $35-45 range which seemed reasonable as they looked to be very unique and quality fish, I’ve seen “fancy” bettas sold online for that much or more. I did not buy one lol. But I’ve been thinking about them ever since. I’m assuming I would need at least a 20gal and definitely no other livestock in the tank….. Someone please help talk me down from this

Has anyone seen or kept *extremely* giant bettas? Seriously I had no idea they could even get this big, they had to be easily 5+ inches long…. Looking for more info on this type of fish…

 

[Aqua67]

I would say go get your betta! I would love to see pics too. I got the urge for a betta about 6 months ago. I hadn’t had a betta in over 30 years. I brought him home and he’s been a joy to watch, feed and keep. Now I’ve also converted one of my four shrimp tanks into a betta tank, and I brought home another one. I’m not sorry and I’m very entertained as this new one sits right next to where I spend most of my time when I’m home and relaxing. Go get your bettta. You won’t be sorry.

 

[JohnnyReb]

Did you actually (A) measure them, or (B) are you guessing, or (C) is what the clerk said??
A..B..C..???

 

[lilsd]

I did not actually measure them, that’s just an eyeball guess. But again I’ve seen giant bettas before and these were seriously twice the size of anything I’ve ever seen.

I would need to get a new tank and set it up/cycle it before going back to buy one, but I am seriously considering it…. They were mesmerizing

 

[JohnnyReb]

TY...you do know many pet shops use a magnifying plastic container for them.

 

[lilsd]

TY...you do know many pet shops use a magnifying plastic container for them.

I did not know that! I am new to this, and had no idea. Very possible that might be the case here, although I do really like this local shop and would like to believe they wouldn’t do that. But if I go back to see them or potentially get one, I will definitely investigate that first. Thank you for the tip!

 

[JohnnyReb]

They are used nationwide. They say it is so you can see them better, I wonder?

 

[OMG_FL]

Did they look like this ??
Cuz this is the largest species of betta (Betta unimaculata) & they grow around 5" but captive bred ones only reaches about 4"

 

[Velvetgun]

I looked for giant bettas but in Italy they are hard to find, they don't have to be huge but I wouldn't mind bettas that are bigger than usual. However, I don't really like koi but they are basically the only ones you can find like that

 

[lilsd]

Did they look like this ??
Cuz this is the largest species of betta (Betta unimaculata) & they grow around 5" but captive bred ones only reaches about 4"
View attachment 369014

Not quite. But possibly a hybrid? They had longer bodies than average bettas, like this one. Bet their fins were more like a classic plakat, a little more full (although maybe this pic is a female?) Almost all of them were koi colored.

I talked myself out of getting second tank and haven’t been back yet to check out the possible magnifying tanks. Even if that was the case though they were still beautiful and definitely much larger than average.

 

[emeraldking]

Well, breeding forms of bettas come in different sizes to start with. If a specimen is captive bred and develops as a giant, you can select fish like that and breed that giant trait. So, that's possible. I've had bettas throughout the years in community tanks. And I've kept and bred them as well for 15 years.

TY...you do know many pet shops use a magnifying plastic container for them.

In our country, I haven't seen such magnifying containers yet.

 

[emeraldking]

Did they look like this ??
Cuz this is the largest species of betta (Betta unimaculata) & they grow around 5" but captive bred ones only reaches about 4"
View attachment 369014

I know a Dutch breeder of this wild betta species who's been able to let them grow up at even 6 inches.

He invited me once. And I was amazed about his skills. Besides talking a lot about labyrinth fish, we ended up on the floor drinking beer.

 

[OMG_FL]

I know a Dutch breeder of this wild betta species who's been able to let them grow up at even 6 inches.

He invited me once. And I was amazed about his skills. Besides talking a lot about labyrinth fish, we ended up on the floor drinking beer.

No matter what they says
6" is huge
I meant for a betta