Guest Author - Jilly Florio

How do you know which betta fish to buy in the pet store? Here are some things to look for, so you can bring home a healthy, happy betta pet!

When you are in the pet shop, it's important to take a good look at all the bettas individually. Are the bettas cups mostly clean and full of living betta fish? Do most of the bettas seem alert? [Note - don't tap on the cups to check for alertness. They are probably stressed out enough from their shipment ordeal anyway!] Are the bettas' colors bright and shiny, or dull? Do the bettas have ragged fins, protruding eyeballs, scales stiking out or fuzzy growths anywhere?

These are all warning signs of unhealthy overall conditions. One or two sick little bettas in cups is sad, but you can probably just call the sick ones to the store employee's attention and still find a nice little fish for yourself.

Sometimes all the cups are full of dirty water and sickly, dying and dead betta fish. I have seen this at a few Walmarts, for example. This kind of thing should not be tolerated. Ask to talk to the manager and tell him what you think. Don't buy one of these bettas to "save" him, even if your heart goes out to him, because this kind of animal mistreatment should not be rewarded with your cash.

It's also a good idea to scan the pet store as a whole. Is there a bad smell in the store - the smell of dead fish or dog urine? Pet stores do not have to have smells. I have worked in some very clean ones! Is there spilled feed all over the floor gathering cobwebs and dirt? Are the sales people friendly and knowledgable, or is the help indifferent? All these are clues for you to decypher about their degree of proper pet care. You don't want to buy a new pet who will just end up getting sick once you bring him home.

Back to choosing your betta. If most of the bettas seem healthy and happy, then certainly look for a betta that appeals to you. Some people look for unusual colors, patterns or fins types. Other people wait to find the alert little fellow who waves his tail, looks you in the eye, and begs for a ride home.

If you find a betta you really like, be gentle with his cup or bag. Move him carefully to the checkout counter. Don't let the clerk scan your betta (radiation is not healthy for tiny bodies). Hold the cup yourself while your betta is being rung up. Then, drive home with care. Go slow around those curves! It's better to have a friend hold your betta's cup or bag, but placing him on the passenger seat will probably be fine.

Your goal is to get your betta fish home without too much shaking, so that his transition will be smoother. A stressed betta usually ends up with a case of ich, which is hard to treat. A stressed fish also takes longer to start eating, show good color, or learn to like you.


Your New Betta - Setting up his Tank
Betta Care - Life in a Tiny Bowl