How Do I Choose A Betta?

[PrairieSunflower]

I've decided I will get a betta if I come across the right one... but... how do I choose the right one?
 
It doesn't matter too much to me about the color... except that I don't like the ones with mostly white.  I read posts from time to time where people say they had to get the betta because it had so much personality... so, I'm thinking along those lines.
 
How do I know the betta is happy and doing betta-like things?  I haven't seriously looked at bettas in the LFS when I've been there... but they always seemed to be just sort of hovering there not doing anything and certainly didn't come to the front of the glass when I looked in like most of the other fish.

 

[mtbdean]

Take a small mirror with you!

 

[ReiRei]

In the shop, make sure the Betta is active. If it seems lethargic or such, don't buy it. Some Betta's will come over to look at you - those are usually the healthy ones. I think there was a saying somewhere like: You don't chose the betta. The betta chooses you.
Just look for the lively, active ones. Avoid anything that looks ill. (My LFS currently has a batch of female betta, all of which have white spot.)
 
In the end, it's personal choice - along with how healthy the betta looks.
 
I dont know if I'd sugggest the mirror - Antagonizing them in a shop might get you some funny looks off of staff.

 

[RCA]

I have recently become a fan of the Plakat Betta, and you can see my latest boy here.  You can get some lovely looking Plakats and as well as my latest one my purple Butterfly BE male is shown in my current signature and also in the topic I have linked you too.  I find they are generally healthier and tend to be more active, I guess it is because they do not have to carry their flowing fins around.  My second favourite would be the Crowntails.  
 
How to chose one?

• As well as the normal signs of a healthy fish, no disease or ripped fins (although sometimes this can happen with Bettas when being transported).
• I like them when they are feisty, and how they display this to you depends on how your LFS keeps them? - Let us know how yours are kept in store.
• My LFS keeps them in stock tanks with other fish, plus in Betta Barracks.
• All my boys have come to the front of the tank inquisitively looking at me looking at them 
  
• In addition, I will watch them for some time and see what interests them and how they respond.
• When viewing them they are usually actively swimming, or if in the Barracks they are often going towards another male and showing some interest.  In the stock tanks they also will show interest in the tank next door to them.
• Oh, and of course they need to be pleasing to the eye too 
  

Personally I would not take a mirror to the store, the Betta will often come to you if you place your figure gently on the glass, sometimes following it, or if a young one at least back away from it.  Basically, just watch the Betta actively swimming and you will know which one to bring home.  
 
Get some IAL to prepare the water for your Betta, what tank do you have ready for him?
 
Good Luck and keep us all posted on your Betta journey.

 

[the_lock_man]

It's like choosing a husband or a wife - you just know.

 

[PrairieSunflower]

Should I be ashamed of myself or pleased?  I went to have a looksy what is out there.... and bought the only one to stare back at me.  *hides*
 
I think feisty must describe him well... and.... it turns out bettas are skinnier than they look.  I had floated the bag to match temperature then cut some tiny holes afterwards to let the water mix... and 5 minutes later I came back to have a look.... and he wasn't in the bag anymore!! 
 
He is currently in my tank taking great issue with the thermometer....


He is in a 10 gallon all by himself now.  I moved the cabomba farther apart to leave more room to pass.  I have 3 anubias plants and 3 moss balls, also one ornament to hide in.  I moved some cabomba to make a curtain too in case he hates the fish next door to him.

 

[Noahsfish]

For me at least, I know the first fish I wanted was a "fighter" fish. I'd never really known anything about fish keeping just those cool fish that people keep in bowls....thankfully I did research and he lived 3 happy years in a 10g. AA for choosing, sadly most of the bettas in stores are unhealthy because they're living in such cramped conditions....and (you probably already know this) but they need filters, heaters, water changes, etc..I saw a video once of a women explaining that bettas can live in bowls and need a water change once every 2 months. Ok got really off topic, I mean other than the bettas health the choice is really up to you! You wont really see the bettas true potential and personality until you take him home and give it the proper care, good Luck I hope you find the perfect betta!

Oh and you're acclimating him wrong, not to be rude...never do what you do to acclimate, never let the filthy store water into your aquarium! I mean the fish on the carried home are pretty much flipping out and creating a ton of waste....plus bettas have been sitting in that water for who knows how long. First off you should float him for 20 minutes in his bag, in the tank. I suggest you just open and balance the bag on a table, slowly add tank water over the course of half an hour to an hour and then add him. The reason why I only say half an hour is because if it's from a lfs then your water parameters are probably somewhat similar.

 

[dgwebster]

I miss my betta, Rocky, that I had, one heck of a character, more akin to a dog than a fish! Also one of only two of my fish I have ever named (the other is Fintan, my Plec) but I chose him on the basis of the health of his fins and activity levels. They were both rubbish and I felt sorry for him, so I rescued him from the store. within a couple of months he looked lovely and lived for almost 4 years with me.

 

[Mamashack]

How lovely, Prairie!
I chose mine on the internet - well it was between him and another - then travelled 1½hrs each way to collect him. He'd been kept in something similar to the barracks that RCA mentioned since he'd been imported from Thailand - he's a dragon plakat. I fell for his looks and luckily he's a lovely fish - very friendly and has a few friends in his tank with him as you'll see in my signature.
I'm with ReiRei to some extent in that I think they chose you.
Good luck with your new betta - have you a name for him yet?

 

[RCA]

Should I be ashamed of myself or pleased?  I went to have a looksy what is out there.... and bought the only one to stare back at me.  *hides*
 
I think feisty must describe him well... and.... it turns out bettas are skinnier than they look.  I had floated the bag to match temperature then cut some tiny holes afterwards to let the water mix... and 5 minutes later I came back to have a look.... and he wasn't in the bag anymore!! 
 
He is currently in my tank taking great issue with the thermometer....


He is in a 10 gallon all by himself now.  I moved the cabomba farther apart to leave more room to pass.  I have 3 anubias plants and 3 moss balls, also one ornament to hide in.  I moved some cabomba to make a curtain too in case he hates the fish next door to him.

Ha, resistance is futile ... welcome to the Betta Club.
 
Glad he managed to escape the bag and scare you, that will be the first of many scares, just ask any Betta owner, as they have ways of freaking you out that they are dead!
 
Sounds like a real character, what type, colour is he? Pictures and name please 

 
+1 what Noahsfish said about acclimatizing, never let the LFS water go into your tanks.

 

[PrairieSunflower]

I do normally acclimate fish this that way, but figured it wouldn't hurt since he is to be the only fish in the tank so he wouldn't make anyone else ill.  Plus I figured it would be rather diluted considering they barely gave me 2 cups of water with him and he moved into 10 gallons.
 
He will have a name at some point, I will let  my kids fight that one out.  LOL
 
He is a lot more lively since coming to my tank.  Here he is. Oh, and he has one side fin that is sort of iridescent, the right one, but he never poses for a photo showing that side!  Well... except for the photo where he is too far away.
 

 
Here he is noticing his neighbors.

 

[Mamashack]

Oh he's such a beauty, Prairie! Nice buy!!!
Looks,like he's got a good environment there too!

 

[PrairieSunflower]

The filter isn't giving him too much trouble.  All but one corner is sheltered by plants.  My idea of putting plants to make a curtain so his neighbors don't upset him isn't working out... seems he found a space and likes to be there staring at them... doesn't look upset by them though.

 

[PrairieSunflower]

The kids have officially named him..... Jimmy.  LOL

 

[Mamashack]

haha

 Jimmy! lol