Bettas in Pet Stores

[baileyhewlett]

Today I went to Petsmart to upgrade my 1 gallon tank to a 2.5 gallon at the advice of some forum members and while I was there, a lady in charge of the fish started chatting me up while she was changing the water for all the betta fish. Every single betta there looked so happy and healthy and I just had to compliment the woman on taking care of them so well! She was so thankful that someone appreciated the time she puts into these beauties and told me that they change their water twice weekly (which is quite a bit for a big pet store I think) and when they get bettas in that are sick, she makes sure to treat them before putting them up for sale. I just thought that was so wonderful and I'm glad to see at least one Petsmart making sure these animals are taken care of before they go to their forever homes. After I finish setting up the new tank, I am definitely buying a betta from here.

As a comparison, after I went to a nearby Petco for a few silk plants and basically all their bettas were swimming in their own poop. Only maybe 5 out of around 50 bettas looked healthy and I was so saddened to see this. If only these bettas had been fortunate enough to go my local Petsmart. Now the lady in charge of fish here was nonexistent until right before I was about to leave. I asked her quite a few questions about them that she had no idea how to answer and then she started pointing out all the stressed and sad looking bettas that she said I probably didn't want to buy. I feel sorry for those poor little guys. :(

[LadyVictorian]

ONLY TWICE A WEKK :O THAT IS HOW OFTEN MY 5GALLON GETS CLEANED

I get that she is trying but those dinky cups need to be cleaned out TWICE a DAY. Ammonia builds up so fast in those cups and makes them very sick. I test the ammonia levels from every fish or aquatic animal I have purchased and so far only my frog was in safe levels of ammonia. Both betta's were in deadly amounts and one was even a baby. If they really cared for the fish they wouldn't be so lazy and clean at least once a day, hell i did with my hospital tank. I would if I worked there as well and if my manager complained they could shove it.

[baileyhewlett]

She seemed to genuinely care about the fish, though. I agree that that is not a lot but compared to most fish stores, it is pretty good. Their cups were crystal clear.

[LadyVictorian]

Even crystal clear the water is deadly. My baby had crystal clear water but her ammonia tested 4.0...4.0 FOR A BABY. They said they changed water twice a week as well but reality twice a week is not enough. The place I got my frog changes their water every day and all the betta's were in 10gallon community tanks. MUCH better situation in general. You can't judge clean water by celerity. Some clean water even looks gunky like water with IAL which we know people here change water regularly but the water has a hue to it because of IAL. At the same time you can not clean a tank for a month and still have clear water but that does not make it clean nor safe. I am sure they also got a recent shipment as well making the fish appear more healthy. When you go to petco a few days after a new shipment every fish is happy and healthy, by the end of the week they are all struggling to survive. I'm sure it's the same there especially with infrequent water changes.

[baileyhewlett]

That does make sense. I'll go back in a few days and see if they still look healthy. :) I really hope they do.

[RedRaz]

When I bought both my bettas they both had crystal clear water but both were really sick I found out later. I'm very reluctant to buy anymore bettas at these stores. I just wished they took better care of these beautiful fish. *sigh* Maybe when I'm ready for a new betta I will try to see when they get new shipments or just look for a breeder instead. I appreciate that this employee was trying to clean the water but they should be changed daily. Perhaps they should have less bettas so they can care for them better. I guess that would make too much sense.

[baileyhewlett]

RedRaz, did they look healthy originally when you got them? This is why I'm nervous about buying in big pet stores. :/

[RedRaz]

Originally Posted by baileyhewlett

Today I went to Petsmart to upgrade my 1 gallon tank to a 2.5 gallon at the advice of some forum members and while I was there, a lady in charge of the fish started chatting me up while she was changing the water for all the betta fish. Every single betta there looked so happy and healthy and I just had to compliment the woman on taking care of them so well! She was so thankful that someone appreciated the time she puts into these beauties and told me that they change their water twice weekly (which is quite a bit for a big pet store I think) and when they get bettas in that are sick, she makes sure to treat them before putting them up for sale. I just thought that was so wonderful and I'm glad to see at least one Petsmart making sure these animals are taken care of before they go to their forever homes. After I finish setting up the new tank, I am definitely buying a betta from here.

As a comparison, after I went to a nearby Petco for a few silk plants and basically all their bettas were swimming in their own poop. Only maybe 5 out of around 50 bettas looked healthy and I was so saddened to see this. If only these bettas had been fortunate enough to go my local Petsmart. Now the lady in charge of fish here was nonexistent until right before I was about to leave. I asked her quite a few questions about them that she had no idea how to answer and then she started pointing out all the stressed and sad looking bettas that she said I probably didn't want to buy. I feel sorry for those poor little guys. :(

I have that same 2.5 aquarium... mini bow by Aqueon right? The filter was way too strong for my betta. That is something to keep an eye on when you do get your cutie pie betta. I'm gonna try to baffle my filter eventually.

[baileyhewlett]

Originally Posted by RedRaz

I have that same 2.5 aquarium... mini bow by Aqueon right? The filter was way too strong for my betta. That is something to keep an eye on when you do get your cutie pie betta. I'm gonna try to baffle my filter eventually.

Yep! I really like the way it sets up and all that it includes. I bought an aquarium sponge to baffle it. :)

[LadyVictorian]

Awww Raz, I am so sad for you and your beautiful fish. Maybe next time you can get a fish from someone who breeds here? I'm betting then you would get a healthy fish, or perhaps adopt a rescue from someone on here. I know I am considering rescuing fish, getting them better, and then finding them homes.