Violet Veiltails Betta Blog

Finally, we’re at the step you wanted to see. The reason I did the other steps first is because that’s how they should be handled. Set up your tank and supplies, make sure ample food is ready, and that your water parameters are stable. THEN you can focus on picking out a betta.

Now, if you choose to buy your betta from an established breeder, then he/she knows much more than I do and you should listen to their words of advice. And good job on finding and choosing a breeder. =]

But… Most of us don’t have a betta breeder nearby that we are aware of, so we have to go to pet stores. Now, you can follow these simple, basic guidelines:

Choose a Retailer

First things first: There is a difference between a fish store and a pet store. A pet store is any from giant chain stores like PetCo to Petsmart or little family owned shops that deal with all types of animals and supplies. A fish store deals strictly with fish; all kinds of fish, but only fish. Most of the employees at fish stores will know their way around fish and should be happy to help you. If you can go to a fish store, go there first, otherwise your pet stores should be fine.

Before you dive straight for the betta area, wander around the store a little bit and take a look at the other habitats. Are they clean? Are there any dead animals? Are there animals that are showing obvious signs of illness? Are the animals (especially fish) hiding or lurking in corners instead of moving about? (Reptiles are an exception. Reptiles don’t like to move a lot.) See if the store is clean, organized and well stocked. Talk with the employees and see how much they know. Make sure the store is clean and well maintained. If it isn’t, go somewhere else.

Physical Features

Ok, now you’ve moseyed on over to the bettas, and you’re staring at a few dozen bettas that are begging for you to take them home. Now, I doubt you have enough room to take all of the home with you, so you should just settle with the healthiest one for your new betta. I know you feel like you should take the sickest looking one there to take it home and nurse it back to health, but try to squelch that urge.

When looking at the physical features of a betta, look for the following:

Make sure that there are no missing scales, bumps on the body, or open wounds. Check for patches of cottony white growths or white specks over the body. Bring a small flashlight with you, or ask a store employee for one, and aim the light at the betta. If you see what looks like “gold dust” on the body or fins, then avoid that fish, as it has velvet disease.

Check the gills next. Make sure there is no damage to the gills, no major discoloration (a little bit is nothing to worry about, but if the gills have no color, then avoid the fish) If you catch the betta in a flare, then make sure the gills are extended as well. If they stay clamped to the body, that could be a sign of internal damage.

Check the fins now. Make sure there are no broken rays (the little “fingers” that makes the fins flare) and that there are no holes in the fin webbing. If you see little black circles on a non-black betta, then avoid that fish, as it has fin rot. If the container is big enough for the fish to fully flare, that is the best time to examine the fins and gills.

Behavior

Now that you’ve picked out a few fish that look physically fine, now you need to look at how the fish are behaving. A healthy fish will be:

Alert. The second you pass in front of the container, he should react in some way. A twitch is usually enough, and may be the only reaction you get until you look more closely.

Reactive. Pick up the container and see how he reacts then. A healthy fish should spazz out a little bit. Flaring is good, but sulking is bad. Lazy looking fish should be avoided.

Responsive. There are a few ways to test this. One is to see if he will follow your finger across the container. You can also smuggle in a betta pellet and put it in the container to see if he will eat. A responsive fish will eagerly snap up the treat.