How To Choose The Best Betta Fish From Pet Store?

I understand that choosing the right type of betta from a pet store can be a confusing and difficult task at times, especially for beginners. This has happened to me as well. That is precisely what we will discuss in this article: how to choose the best betta fish from a pet store and what factors you should consider.

I remember going to the pet store for the first time to buy a betta fish and having no idea how to choose a healthy betta fish. Even I had no idea what questions I should ask the pet store owner. But luckily, my aquarist friend told me a few things that I should look for when purchasing a betta fish:

9 Things To Check When Buying A Betta Fish

• Scales should be smooth with no injuries.
• Fins should be smooth and free of damage.
• The gills must not be discolored or damaged.
• The body should be clear without any patches
• The stomach should not be bulging or elongated.
• Eyes should be clear, alive, and bulge-free.
• Make sure Betta fish is kept in clean water.
• Choose a 6 to 12 month old betta.
• Check the alertness, healthy bettas are smart and alert.

Purchasing a betta fish can be a fun and exciting experience; however, it is essential to go into the purchase with the proper assumptions. There are many factors that can have an effect on the health of your betta, which means the likelihood of making the incorrect choice is increased. 

Make sure that you have a complete understanding of the things that you should be looking for when you are purchasing your betta fish before you start your search.

Find A Legitimate And Reliable Betta Fish Store Or Dealer.

You should look for a store that has been in business for a long time. A good reputation is also important, and you should ask about the store’s reputation for selling healthy betta fish.

In addition to looking at reviews on sites like Yelp or Google Places, you can also ask other customers at your local pet store if they know of any reliable dealers in your area.

Healthy Bettas Are Active And Confident.

Betta fish are also very active and swim around their tanks with confidence. They swim around the tank, investigate it, interact with the other fish and plants, and occasionally just relax in a quiet corner. Betta fish, unlike some other tropical fish like goldfish, are neither timid nor lethargic (which can be kept with bettas).

Betta fish that are sluggish or lethargic should not be purchased. These are not viable options because they may be ill and not eating, breeding, or in need of medical attention, all of which are indications of a problem.

You can use YouTube to find videos of healthy betta fish, which will allow you to make an informed decision about which one would work best in your aquarium.

A Healthy Betta Fish Always Swims To The Top Of The Tank.

A betta fish that is in good health will always swim to the top of his or her tank with self-assurance and happiness. In addition to this, it appears to be very active when moving around in its tank, and it may even leap out of the tank on occasion if something catches its attention. Therefore, you should also keep this in mind.

A Healthy Betta Fish Has Bright Colors.

A healthy betta fish should have bright and vivid colors all over its body. It could be sick if the colors are dull and washed out. The coloring of your betta fish should be consistent throughout its body, with no blotches or other areas of unevenness.

Furthermore, it should have a lively appearance and not have the appearance of something that has been damaged by either too hot or too cold water.

The more vibrant the color, the better; if there are patches of discoloration, this may indicate internal problems such as illness or parasites.

The stripes on a betta fish can also provide information about the fish’s overall health. Stripes should not have any fading or discoloration like the rest of the body and should be bright and vivid in appearance instead.

It is possible that your Betta has been stressed out by something in their tank, or it is possible that they have an infection such as fin rot. If the stripes are faded or discolored, it could mean either of these things.

Gills And Eyes Shouldn’t Be Red.

Check to see if the gills of your betta fish are swollen and red before you bring it home. This could be a symptom of an infection in Bettas, such as erythromycin toxicity, which causes them to have trouble breathing due to the accumulation of fluid in their lungs (pulmonary edema).

It may also be an indication that your betta has been stressed out as a result of an excessive number of changes (such as moving into a new tank), so make sure you don’t buy a betta that has these symptoms.

Since gills are used for breathing and for the circulation of water and oxygen through them, it is essential to monitor how well they are moving. This is because they play a role in both processes (this helps keep body temperature balanced).

You want these areas to move easily and without any problems, which would make it more difficult for him or her to properly breathe!

Eyes Shouldn’t Be Sleepy, Glazed, Bulging, Or Red.

Similarly, If you notice bulging around the eyes, this could be another sign that your betta fish is sick. This is because these symptoms frequently appear when there are other health issues going on inside the body, such as parasites or bacterial infections, etc. which require immediate attention before they become worse. And you probably wouldn’t want to buy such fish.

See If Their Body Shape Is Symmetrical Or Not.

Check the betta fish’s body to see if it is balanced on both sides. If there is a size disparity between one side of their body and the other, it is likely that they do not have good overall health. Betta fish that have tails that are bowed or twisted is not healthy either.

It is important for your betta to have a symmetrical body shape because it demonstrates that the owner has provided it with adequate care and attention throughout its life cycle. This ensures that your betta will be able to mature into an adult without encountering any difficulties in the future.

Pregnant Bettas Are Harder To Care For.

Make sure you don’t buy pregnant betta fish because they are difficult to care for and are likely to die as soon as you introduce them to a new aquarium.

Here’s how to tell if your betta fish is pregnant or not:

• Examine the abdomen for a full, rounded appearance. The abdomen should be full and round, with no bulging or tucking.
• A pregnant Betta fish will have bright colors on its body, but this may be hidden if it is still young.
• If you look closely at their fins, you’ll notice that they’re also thicker than usual.

Don’t be concerned if you can’t tell the difference between pregnant and normal betta fish. Simply ask the store owner, and he will tell you.

Make Sure That He/Sher Eats Well.

The next thing that you want to look into when purchasing a betta fish is to ensure that he has a healthy diet. Observing how he acts while he’s contained in the tank is the most effective method for doing this. You can be confident that he will have a long life in your home aquarium if he is active and enjoys swimming around, playing with toys, and eating without any difficulties.

The Belly Shouldn’t Be Bloated, Curled, Or Tucked.

The abdomen of a betta fish should never be allowed to become bloated, curled, or tucked up in any way because this condition indicates poor health. If you notice that your betta fish has a bulge in his or her belly, then it is possible that he or she is experiencing digestive issues.

It is normal for betta fish to have a slight tuck to the belly, but if you notice that your betta fish has a bulge in his or her belly, then it is possible that he or she is experiencing digestive issues.

The Betta’s Attitude Is Very Important; You Don’t Want An Aggressive One.

An aggressive betta fish is not a good choice for someone just starting out with fish keeping. This is due to the fact that it will be more prone to contracting diseases and passing away, in addition to being more likely to fight with other bettas.

Aggressive bettas also have a tendency to bully the other fish in their tank, which can result in other fish bullying the aggressive bettas as well.

If this is your first time purchasing a betta fish, we suggest going with a small male Betta splendens, which is the most common species.

Small males of this species are less likely to engage in territorial or food source battles than other types of males. They are also more pleasing to the eye than larger males; however, there are not many females available in this size, so you will need to choose carefully if you want one of these.

A Healthy Betta Fish Will Have Strong, Even Fins That Point Upward.

A healthy betta fish will have strong fins that are evenly distributed and should be pointing upward from the body. These fins should also be free of any splits or tears. The size of the tail fin should be appropriate, and it should not be disproportionately large or small in relation to the body size of your betta.

What Should You Do Once You’ve Chosen A Betta Fish?

After you’ve decided on a Betta pet, you’ll want to handle it with extreme caution whenever you relocate it. Don’t give the glass bowl or the plastic bag a vigorous shake. It could break. The fish may experience stress as a result of this. It’s possible that your Betta won’t let you know if she’s not feeling well.

It is important to acclimate your new Betta to his or her new tank and home as soon as possible after you bring your new Betta into the house. This will ensure that your Betta is familiar with his or her surroundings and will not become stressed when additional fish are added to the tank.

Wrapping It Up

We have high hopes that this guide has been of assistance to you in gaining a better understanding of how to select the best betta fish for your tank from a reputable pet store. Leave a comment down below if you have any questions or would like to share your experiences with other readers if you would like to share them.