how & where to get a healthy betta

[sunniesunn]

Hi ok here's the question where can I find a healthy happy betta I have looked at the stores and Im still kinda confused on which ones are the healthy ones all the ones I have seen look so unhappy in those little cups so I still have'nt been able to tell which ones I should get I have been reading the posts and the pinned topics so Iknow what kind of tank and everything else to get I am just confused on the actual betta where to get it and how to tell can anyone help??

 

[red_fish_blue_fish]

Well, go to the depressing places, pick one with nice fin condition, and give em' nicer accomidations...ta' da'...you with have a healthy happy Betta that is no longer depressed. SAVE A BETTA. So many VTs need good homes.

 

[Elise]

I like to pick ones that are fiesty! Although in those cups they aren't always active/fiesty (I got one of those, took him a few days at home and now he's as fiesty as my other boy!). Just look for healthy fins (there's lots of pics on the pinned post about different kinds of tails) Just look for no ulcers or lesions on the skin. I like to move my finger by the cup and see if his eyes follow the finger. That way I know there's something going on upstairs and he's not almost dead.... Usually healthy bettas jump right out at you (a lot of flaring and squirmy-ness). Have fun!

 

[D Chia]

Dr Robert Goldstein, author of Bettas: A Complete Pet Owner's Manual, has the following advice:

"A healthy fish should have clear eyes, unsplit fins, no bite marks, and no white rims or margins on the fins or body. The body should be full but not bloated, and thick; avoid fish that appear sunken or showing their ribs. Discrete fecal droppings should litter the bottom of the jar indicating regular feeding and normal digestion. Females should be almost obese yet active, with a prominent white egg-spot at the vent (the end of the oviduct), and should swim without struggling to maintain equilibrium."

When selecting bettas, take time to observe their behaviour and look for signs of illness. If the fish is inactive, instead of swimming about and flaring when placed next to others, they may be poorly cared for, potentially ill or carrying diseases. Assessing the fish with the tip of a pen or by moving your finger (as suggested by Elise) would enable you to check its behaviour and stamina.