How Can I Test A Bettas Temprament In The Store?

[ZephyrStarPlaties]

Does anyone here have a method of testing how aggressive a betta is in the store? It's difficult to see their real personalities in those little cups, and I don't want to accidentally buy a betta that kills whatever you put in with it.

 

[Baccus]

Maybe try rearranging the cups, putting the betta your thinking about getting next to some new neighbors and see if it shows any interest in them and starts flaring and being aggressive towards them. If it remains pretty chilled out and not bothered by the switch in neighbors then there is a good chance that it will be laid back and placid towards other tank inhabitants once you get it home. I usually try to get young males not full grown males, that way they seem to be more accepting of new tank mates. Rather than an older male that has always been on his own with no other creatures in his tank.

 

[Bleuet]

I agree with Baccus

 

[ZephyrStarPlaties]

Good idea I'll have to try it out some time.

 

[Fintastic!]

I've done the mirror thing. I wasn't choosing a betta this particular day but they had a little fella with his tail in shreds and quite plain looking. The lfs guy said no one wanted to buy him as he was so beat up. Of course I couldn't leave him so I asked the guy to get me a mirror, which he did, and I held it up right in front of the betta to see if he'd attack. He had a little look and went about his business so I took him home. I've had no problem with him so far and he's thriving. Fab colours. And yes, the lfs guy thought I was crazy.
Also, I've read here that it's better to introduce a betta last to your tank so they hopefully won't be as territorial.

 

[OldMan47]

I give up. I have no idea how to sort fish in my LFS. What I do is simple, I bring home a nice fish and simply expect him/her to fit in with my tank's denizens. On rare occasion I am disappointed, but far more often things work out just fine.

 

[HannahBear77]

see with my males they were kept in bad conditions so even rearranging them around really didnt help until i got them home in freshwater..but if you pick younger lively lookin males just put him up to the older ones who flare at every thing...thats what i did

 

[Fintastic!]

I give up. I have no idea how to sort fish in my LFS. What I do is simple, I bring home a nice fish and simply expect him/her to fit in with my tank's denizens. On rare occasion I am disappointed, but far more often things work out just fine.

Everyone does what makes them comfortable Not-so-OldMan. I know my method is mad but that's just me!

 

[OldMan47]

Fintastic, I really do not want to belabor this point. Fish that work simply do so. I cannot define what makes it so, but I am convinced that many fish can be mixed if you have the patience to actually watch your fish. With that said, there are always fish mixes that simply cannot work. I hope we are not talking about such fish.

 

[Fintastic!]

I'm not arguing OldMan, you're point is a sensible one. I'm only saying that whether it worked out or not, I felt better about doing it.
I had heard good and bad about putting a betta in a community tank. Thankfully so far it's worked out fine.

 

[pablothebetta]

I've never had those little betta cups in my LFSs, they're always in proper setups. In some they're in with other fish though in one store they've each got their own little compartments. Sometimes you can see bettas flaring towards each other in the compartmets and if they're in with other fish, you can watch their behaviour towards their 'tankmates' and see how they get along with them.

 

[blinky000]

This is precisely the reason I carry a mirror in my bag haha