Tips to Consider When Buying a Healthy Betta Fish
Can’t wait to purchase a new betta for your recently set up 5-gallon tank? Now you don’t want to put the cart before the horse, errr, fish. Because there are certain things you need to consider when selecting betta fish. And making sure it’s healthy should be your primary concern.
So here’s a quick overview of some tips to consider when picking a healthy betta fish that won’t have you reaching for the smelling salts when you bring your new charge home.
Tip #1: Consider where to buy from. Bettas can actually be bought from all types of pet stores as well as directly from betta breeders. You can even go as far as buying a betta from Thailand which is where you will be able to find those that have the most exotic colors and finnage. But honestly these may not be the best bet for your first one.
Tip #2: If possible buy bettas from breeders rather than pet stores. Even their culls are going to be better in most cases. You see pet stores have a lot of bettas available but it’s a pity seeing those bettas kept in small cups and containers. And most likely, the water has not even been changed in days so it’s really not unusual to come home with a sick betta. If you’re buying in pet stores try to avoid getting a betta that’s been kept in a tiny plastic prison with dirty water.
Tip#3: Ask the betta fish breeder or the pet store owner how long the betta has been there. You don’t want an old fish. Plus if it has been there for a long time then it could be more prone to possible infection.
Tip#4: Check for the signs of a healthy, well-adjusted fish. Basically you would need to examine everything. Eyes should be clear. Fins intact. Scales should be close flat to the body. Fins not clamped. Color should be bright and not dull. The body must have no swelling or no whitish or brown spots. Horizontal stripes on the body could be a sign of stress so you might be wise to stay away from any showing these too.
Tip #4: Observe the betta’s movements too. A healthy betta is a very active and dynamic animal. So it’s normal for it to swim tirelessly most of the whole day.
Now when checking for the healthy one, there are actually some tricks you can do to test the agility of your prospective pet. Here are three ways to test healthy betta behavior:
Do the mirror trick. Try to place a mirror facing the tank in such a way that the betta is able to see its reflection. If it flares its fins and starts to charge, then you might be looking at one fit betta.
Do the finger feint. Point your finger on the outside surface of the tank and a healthy betta should be able to respond to it by swimming faster or it may attempt to follow wherever your finger goes. But never tap the tank as this may stress the betta.
Do the bold colors gambit. Wear bright colored clothes when doing the picking. The idea is to see if the fish takes the bait and tries to check you out. Who knows if this really works? But there are some people who actually do this when checking for signs of a healthy betta.
Finally take your time. Some bettas do not show their true colors right off. Some might seem so hyperactive and healthy and then they could turn out oddly lethargic the next minute. So don’t be in any kind of hurry. Just take your time observing the movements of those on your short list and decide from there.
These selection tips are not mandatory obviously. But they sure can help you meet a betta that stands to do well under your care. Lucky for you they are easy to follow. Or in other words its’s about as hard as working as a spell checker in the local M&M candy plant.
So here’s a quick overview of some tips to consider when picking a healthy betta fish that won’t have you reaching for the smelling salts when you bring your new charge home.
Tip #1: Consider where to buy from. Bettas can actually be bought from all types of pet stores as well as directly from betta breeders. You can even go as far as buying a betta from Thailand which is where you will be able to find those that have the most exotic colors and finnage. But honestly these may not be the best bet for your first one.
Tip #2: If possible buy bettas from breeders rather than pet stores. Even their culls are going to be better in most cases. You see pet stores have a lot of bettas available but it’s a pity seeing those bettas kept in small cups and containers. And most likely, the water has not even been changed in days so it’s really not unusual to come home with a sick betta. If you’re buying in pet stores try to avoid getting a betta that’s been kept in a tiny plastic prison with dirty water.
Tip#3: Ask the betta fish breeder or the pet store owner how long the betta has been there. You don’t want an old fish. Plus if it has been there for a long time then it could be more prone to possible infection.
Tip#4: Check for the signs of a healthy, well-adjusted fish. Basically you would need to examine everything. Eyes should be clear. Fins intact. Scales should be close flat to the body. Fins not clamped. Color should be bright and not dull. The body must have no swelling or no whitish or brown spots. Horizontal stripes on the body could be a sign of stress so you might be wise to stay away from any showing these too.
Tip #4: Observe the betta’s movements too. A healthy betta is a very active and dynamic animal. So it’s normal for it to swim tirelessly most of the whole day.
Now when checking for the healthy one, there are actually some tricks you can do to test the agility of your prospective pet. Here are three ways to test healthy betta behavior:
Do the mirror trick. Try to place a mirror facing the tank in such a way that the betta is able to see its reflection. If it flares its fins and starts to charge, then you might be looking at one fit betta.
Do the finger feint. Point your finger on the outside surface of the tank and a healthy betta should be able to respond to it by swimming faster or it may attempt to follow wherever your finger goes. But never tap the tank as this may stress the betta.
Do the bold colors gambit. Wear bright colored clothes when doing the picking. The idea is to see if the fish takes the bait and tries to check you out. Who knows if this really works? But there are some people who actually do this when checking for signs of a healthy betta.
Finally take your time. Some bettas do not show their true colors right off. Some might seem so hyperactive and healthy and then they could turn out oddly lethargic the next minute. So don’t be in any kind of hurry. Just take your time observing the movements of those on your short list and decide from there.
These selection tips are not mandatory obviously. But they sure can help you meet a betta that stands to do well under your care. Lucky for you they are easy to follow. Or in other words its’s about as hard as working as a spell checker in the local M&M candy plant.
Resource Box: For more tips covering female bettas click here. Or for other helpful info on betta fish care why not visit http://www.better-bettas.com? You’ll find this leading site to be jam packed with useful tips, helpful advice and must-have resources.