How Old Are Store Bought Bettas

[Dorri]

Mainly those bought at Walmart or Petetera? If there are any employees surfing, I would like to know this question?

I bought another betta today, and it's beautiful.

 

[Bubblenester]

They're generally 6-9 months old, and I've heard sometimes they can even be a year old. Basically they want them to be big and have full-sized fins. I've overheard people at my LFS who were looking at bettas exclaim that one was nice but "too small". I really wanted to tell them that if they got a younger one they would be able to enjoy him longer, and of course he would grow!

 

[nakomis90]

They're generally 6-9 months old, and I've heard sometimes they can even be a year old. Basically they want them to be big and have full-sized fins. I've overheard people at my LFS who were looking at bettas exclaim that one was nice but "too small". I really wanted to tell them that if they got a younger one they would be able to enjoy him longer, and of course he would grow!

I dont know about the two stores you mentioned but i got my female only yesterday and she is less than an inch including her fins..
but i know they are getting fry dropped off by somebody...
so maybe thats it?

 

[OohFeeshy]

Females are usually much younger because they don't need to be fully developed fin/colour wise.

 

[nakomis90]

Females are usually much younger because they don't need to be fully developed fin/colour wise.

ahhh i see

thankyou for clearing that one up for me

 

[Dorri]

Since Betas have a 2-5 yr lifespan it isn't fair that that they may already be 6-9 months old or even a year when bought, so it seems that we don't have them their whole lifespan so I feel cheated somehow? Hope Panda is a young fish, now looking at his size I'm not so sure. He looked a lot smaller in the store but when I got him home and compared him to Casey my other betta who was bought back in June, Panda looks bigger. But he is slightly smaller than Grumpy my 3 & 1/2 year old beta. Maybe because of his light coloring it's just an illusion and he isn't all that big?. Anyways, no matter, he is here to stay, I love him and I hope he lives long.

 

[nakomis90]

Since Betas have a 2-5 yr lifespan it isn't fair that that they may already be 6-9 months old or even a year when bought, so it seems that we don't have them their whole lifespan so I feel cheated somehow? Hope Panda is a young fish, now looking at his size I'm not so sure. He looked a lot smaller in the store but when I got him home and compared him to Casey my other betta who was bought back in June, Panda looks bigger. But he is slightly smaller than Grumpy my 3 & 1/2 year old beta. Maybe because of his light coloring it's just an illusion and he isn't all that big?. Anyways, no matter, he is here to stay, I love him and I hope he lives long.

I was lucky with my little lady she is roughly less than an inch and still has her baby stripes,
she is a doll and love her
my new male is alot older

 

[Bubblenester]

Since Betas have a 2-5 yr lifespan it isn't fair that that they may already be 6-9 months old or even a year when bought, so it seems that we don't have them their whole lifespan so I feel cheated somehow?

I agree. I'd rather have a young fish than a full grown one that might die of old age in a year... snatch up smaller males when you see them, or better yet find a nearby breeder to get your fish from.

And yes, females are generally sold much younger because their size and finnage doesn't matter as much to the buyer.

 

[nakomis90]

Since Betas have a 2-5 yr lifespan it isn't fair that that they may already be 6-9 months old or even a year when bought, so it seems that we don't have them their whole lifespan so I feel cheated somehow?

I agree. I'd rather have a young fish than a full grown one that might die of old age in a year... snatch up smaller males when you see them, or better yet find a nearby breeder to get your fish from.

And yes, females are generally sold much younger because their size and finnage doesn't matter as much to the buyer.

Hi bubblenester do you know how old the females have to be tooo breed?
Cuz my girl is about an inch long and seems to have verticle stripes when she sees the male... only when cleaning i put her in the spawning tank next to his!
he flares and she gets her verticle stripes and he gets all confused and attempts to chase her but he just knocks his head against the glass!
i have put cardboard between the two tanks

but just curious!

 

[Dorri]

If I should ever come home with another, what besides size should I look for to ensure a young beta boy? Should I be looking for something in the finage? When I bought my other one, his fins were very thin and skimpy and now have fanned out so beautifully within a matter of a few months. Even so he still looks smaller than Panda. When Panda gets mad I notice he has a black collar or beard that comes out, which doesn't show up when he is casually swimming around. When he does this he looks even bigger.

 

[Bubblenester]

Hi bubblenester do you know how old the females have to be tooo breed?
Cuz my girl is about an inch long and seems to have verticle stripes when she sees the male... only when cleaning i put her in the spawning tank next to his!
he flares and she gets her verticle stripes and he gets all confused and attempts to chase her but he just knocks his head against the glass!
i have put cardboard between the two tanks

but just curious!

I like to breed them at 6-7 months. Your gal is definitely still too little to breed... wait until her body is about 2/3 the length of a full grown male's, and she's full of eggs. You can tell eggs from just a fat stomach because she'll look more "chesty" than fat.

If I should ever come home with another, what besides size should I look for to ensure a young beta boy? Should I be looking for something in the finage? When I bought my other one, his fins were very thin and skimpy and now have fanned out so beautifully within a matter of a few months. Even so he still looks smaller than Panda. When Panda gets mad I notice he has a black collar or beard that comes out, which doesn't show up when he is casually swimming around. When he does this he looks even bigger.

I'd go more by body size than fin length. Fins can grow at different rates compared to the body, depending on what type of environment they are raised in.

The "beard" is his gill membrane... yep, the idea is that it makes him look bigger to his rivals.

 

[nakomis90]

Hi bubblenester do you know how old the females have to be tooo breed?
Cuz my girl is about an inch long and seems to have verticle stripes when she sees the male... only when cleaning i put her in the spawning tank next to his!
he flares and she gets her verticle stripes and he gets all confused and attempts to chase her but he just knocks his head against the glass!
i have put cardboard between the two tanks

but just curious!

I like to breed them at 6-7 months. Your gal is definitely still too little to breed... wait until her body is about 2/3 the length of a full grown male's, and she's full of eggs. You can tell eggs from just a fat stomach because she'll look more "chesty" than fat.

If I should ever come home with another, what besides size should I look for to ensure a young beta boy? Should I be looking for something in the finage? When I bought my other one, his fins were very thin and skimpy and now have fanned out so beautifully within a matter of a few months. Even so he still looks smaller than Panda. When Panda gets mad I notice he has a black collar or beard that comes out, which doesn't show up when he is casually swimming around. When he does this he looks even bigger.

I'd go more by body size than fin length. Fins can grow at different rates compared to the body, depending on what type of environment they are raised in.

The "beard" is his gill membrane... yep, the idea is that it makes him look bigger to his rivals.

Thanks
your a great help

 

[Dorri]

Yep, thanks for the advice

 

[nemosworld]

Females are usually much younger because they don't need to be fully developed fin/colour wise.

so true. i bought my female thinking she was cellophane, but after about a month, her fins turned bright orange