Betta breeders?

I know this forum isn't very active, but where does everyone get their bettas? Do you go to a pet store or a breeder? If a breeder, which one?

Petco usually gets beautiful bettas

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Originally Posted by SCWood

Petco usually gets beautiful bettas

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Yeah, I always see really pretty ones there! For some reason petsmart never has nice ones. I'm setting up another betta tank so I might run out to petco in a few days.

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Originally Posted by Megg

Yeah, I always see really pretty ones there! For some reason petsmart never has nice ones. I'm setting up another betta tank so I might run out to petco in a few days.

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Petsmart and petco have VERY different pet care standards and one of the things I think petsmart lacks in is fish care

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Both Petco and Petsmart generally have poor fish care, but I will admit Petco is often better. They do get in some lovely bettas, and that's where I got mine - Sunny. But you do need to carefully check the betta you are considering if you buy from them, look for signs of heavy stress or ammonia poisoning, and see if he (or she) takes interest in you. Males will often flare at you if you pick up their cup, which is a small sign of good health. But be careful of fish with damaged fins, cloudy eyes, or fungus/dots/raised scales.

aquabid.com is a great place for bettas as well as plants and other supplies, but these are international breeders and you usually need a proxy, and have to deal with shipping costs. But these are show bettas (including koi betta which neither Petco or Petsmart will ever have) so they're often pricey anyway.

Also, here's Sunny:

http://41.media.tumblr.com/3002d7880...so51o1_400.jpghttp://40.media.tumblr.com/8b824b261...so51o1_400.jpg

(Look at how crazy big his fins have gotten!)


He was about a year at the store, and has spent another with me, completely healthy. So you can definitely find good bettas there who will live long with good care.

Good luck!

For a quality Betta, if you are planning on breeding, or want a show fish, I suggest a reputable online breeder. The ones in petco, etc, are not usually of very good quality and are often sick.

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Originally Posted by Asherah

For a quality Betta, if you are planning on breeding, or want a show fish, I suggest a reputable online breeder. The ones in petco, etc, are not usually of very good quality and are often sick.

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Do you have any recommendations on breeders?

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Originally Posted by kriwu

Both Petco and Petsmart generally have poor fish care, but I will admit Petco is often better. They do get in some lovely bettas, and that's where I got mine - Sunny. But you do need to carefully check the betta you are considering if you buy from them, look for signs of heavy stress or ammonia poisoning, and see if he (or she) takes interest in you. Males will often flare at you if you pick up their cup, which is a small sign of good health. But be careful of fish with damaged fins, cloudy eyes, or fungus/dots/raised scales.

aquabid.com is a great place for bettas as well as plants and other supplies, but these are international breeders and you usually need a proxy, and have to deal with shipping costs. But these are show bettas (including koi betta which neither Petco or Petsmart will ever have) so they're often pricey anyway.

Also, here's Sunny:

http://41.media.tumblr.com/3002d7880...so51o1_400.jpghttp://40.media.tumblr.com/8b824b261...so51o1_400.jpg

(Look at how crazy big his fins have gotten!)


He was about a year at the store, and has spent another with me, completely healthy. So you can definitely find good bettas there who will live long with good care.

Good luck!

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Wow, he's gorgeous! I'd love to have one like him.

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12...94dfcb0a77.jpg This is one I saw at Petco today:)

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Originally Posted by Megg

Do you have any recommendations on breeders?

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No, it's been about 10 years since I've kept or bred. Too long to give a good recommendation. I'm sure you will find a lovely one.

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Aquabid is a good resource but most will end up costing you a LOT, because of the international shipping.

I've been out of bettas a long time too, but I used to be in contact with the "local" betta club too. www.ibcbettas.org can get you in touch with quality betta breeders.

Honestly, having seen and bred really high quality bettas, I don't ever see a decent betta in petsmart, petco or any of those box stores. I rarely see anything worth it in even fish stores.

If you want real quality, check out the IBC and find a breeder. You'll be wowed by the fish you see there. Also, aquabid is awesome for window shopping, even if you don't buy because of the internation shipping, there are a few US breeders on there, but you'll still pay shipping to get the fish.

Have you heard of aquabid? There are always epic fish on there, including bettas, and a lot of choice and variety. As well as a ton of other fish-related things and breeders. It's basically the faunaclassified of fish. :P

ETA: wolfy-hound beat me to it LOL.