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521K views 5K replies 635 participants last post by  Lyonfish 
#1 ·
I've seen several threads regarding "Baby Betta" for sale at PetCo. I wanted to start this thread for all discussion about PetCo selling Baby Betta, pictures of your new fish or what you've seen at your local stores, and stories of our success and failures.

I am really not sure how I feel about Betta being sold so small. I know that in the hands of your average fish keeper most do not have a chance. Those that do survive to adulthood will probably spend the rest of their lives in cold water in the 1/4 gallon "tank" they have stocked with them in the display.

Regardless, after hearing about petco selling true "baby" betta, I had to go take a look. Sure enough, I saw no less then 30 colorless, unsexable almost-fry less then the size of my thumbnail, fins included.

I had no intention of actually buying one of these poor fish, but then I saw one that was slightly larger then the rest in the baby cups. This one had started to show a blue and red mix of color and was clearly a double tail. Sure enough I walked out of the store with a miniscule but potentially beautiful new fish at the low low cost of $1.99.

I brought him home on Saturday. He is in M1's old 1 gallon corner tank. My apartment is running at a cool 80 degrees and his tank is holding solid at a comfortable 78. If he makes it to be large enough, I will add him to the empty section of my divided 10 gallon. He currently eats crushed hikari and frozen bloodworms.

Not going to get too attached to his fragile little guy just yet, but my fingers are crossed.

Anyone else fall victim to this cuteness trap? Post your pictures and tell your stories.
 

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#1,155 ·
So, I live in Canada, so there's no PetCo, which means no baby bettas :(
I have never seen one in any pet store here.

However, I was just looking at the female bettas in PetSmart, wondering if there would be one to catch my eye and join my sorority. As I picked up all the jars, and looked at them, I noticed one jar near the back, so I reached for it. There seemed to be nothing in it, so I tilted it back and forth, wondering if PetSmart accidentally put up an empty jar. A little baby betta swam into focus. I was super shocked and really excited.

I bought her for $3.99 and slowly acclimated her to a 1gallon tank that seems way too big for her. The temperature is a solid 78F, and so far, she's just sitting near the ground. She has almost no colour, except for this almost translucent blue on her fins.

At PetSmart:



In her tank:



 
#1,156 ·
Oh poor baby!! I'm so glad you picked her up! Emaciated and everything! Although...I'm not seeing ovaries and so just keep in mind she might turn to a male Plakat lol it's certainly got the streamlined body of a wild Betta or plakat :) fatten her up and then we'll see! haha

Good luck with her! You should start a log if you haven't already!
 
#1,157 · (Edited)
Thinking of starting that log, but I'll wait a couple days. I really don't want to start a log, and then find her dead only after a week. She's super fragile and barely eats :/

I looked under her, and saw a white egg spot, so I'm 99% sure she's a female. Thanks for your support though!
Trying to think of a name for her.

gonna run and see if I can macro up some better pictures!

I really think she has some sort of crooked spine :/ her back never really fully straightens out.


Currently have an IAL inside, so hopefully she becomes more comfortable and moves around.
 
#1,158 ·
At that age you may not see ovaries even if they are female, and an egg spot does not make it a female. Males, especially young ones, can have false egg spots. Only time will tell.

I've seen a baby at the petsmart here, I hate petsmart. And not selling baby bettas is a good thing IMO, I'm willing to bet that over half of them die in the store sadly.

Glad you got it, and good luck! Crush the pellets.
 
#1,159 ·
Yeah I heard about that egg spot thing :( Hopefully she is a female!

It is a good thing that they're not selling baby bettas, but I have always wanted one, so it was kind of a guilty pleasure for me. :S

Yeah, crushing the pellets and flakes as small as I can, but nothing seems to interest her.

I Agree, while I was a PetSmart there were at least 3 dead bettas. I was super shocked since the one near my house usually takes pretty good care of it's fish, but I guess it happens.
 
#1,160 ·
Ohhhh Clifford is really cute!!!

Mar, your baby is super cute too, poor thing looks like he/she needs tlc, she's lucky you found her.

I was in petco looking for more decor for Bubblefishy's tank and an employee asked me if I was shopping for a fish and I said no, that I bought one several weeks ago and was shopping for stuff for it...she showed me a tank that was maybe a gallon and had a divider in the middle so i could have another betta in there. :shock: i don't know if she was trying to sell me a second fish or what. They must have just fed the babies, there was sooooo much food in their cups. I wish i could take them all home. :|
 
#1,163 ·
I just got myself a baby double tail today, though only because he looked really sick. I'm willing to do my best for his so I nabbed him before he faded or was tossed. The Petco near me takes good care of their bettas, unfortunately this was not that Petco. These fish weren't in as good as condition as the ones I usually see.

This guy, who I've named Will, was on his side not doing anything except breathing. Of course I bought him. I probably wouldn't have if he wasn't a double.

This is him after I put clean water in his cup (he's usually like this)


and this is him only about 20 minutes later


I'm going to take it as a good sign.

The betta next to him is Mushu, my dragonscaled iridescent halfmoon. I got him last week from my Petco and besides some fin rot he should be pretty healthy. They're in my little Betta Clinic. Mushu will go back into my 10 gallon tank with my 3 oto cats (who he gets along very well with) and I have a .5 for Will once he's able to swim around better and then eventually a 2.5. Once I manage to find a job I'll work on getting something a bit bigger for him.
 
#1,164 ·
Omg he is so cute! I would be horrified to see a baby betta in that condition :(
 
#1,168 ·
Yeah

I kinda think I killed him though. I had put some food in there for him and was try to get him to eat. Even when I wasn't near him he was going all over place and didn't seem in control. I shouldn't have tried to feed him.
 
#1,169 ·
You can't blame yourself blame for trying to feed your Betta!

Its definitely not your fault. He deserved worse treatment in the pet store so it definitely wasn't the food thing. Sometimes you just can't save them
 
#1,170 ·
All the bettas at that particular petco weren't in good shape. Fin rot was the least of their worries. I'm pretty sure I saw some fungal infections and maybe a velvet or two.

Thankfully the one I normally go to takes much better care of their bettas. Where the other changes the water once or twice a week they do it whenever they notice the water is dirty. They also check multiple times a day, not leaving it up to just the aquatic specialist.

I'm not sure when I'll be able to go back to Petco, but I'm freezing his itty bitty body so I can either get my money back (woohoo, $2) or just get another baby. I'm really hoping they have a double tail.

What are some things I should look for if I pick out a new baby?
 
#1,171 ·
I'm no expert, but id suggest the regular things? Bright clear eyes, healthy fins, and an active Betta that responds to outside stimulus. Also if your pet store knows, ask about the age so you can act accordingly? Idk ;/
 
#1,172 ·
Ok

For food are crushed NLS pellets good? Hikari baby fish food? Frozen bloodworms? I have all of those things.

I have a .5 gallon, a 1.7 gallon (or 2...I never found out) and a 2.5. I don't have a filter for him/her but they need water changes every day anyway, right? I was going to look all of this up, but got distracted with trying to save poor Will.

I don't have a job right now, but I'm trying to find one. I also have to dog sit for my grandparents for a week and will get paid for it. I should be able to get a 5 gallon as a permanent home for him/her and maybe a small filter and heater. I'll have to go through the site to see. If I don't have enough I still have the heat lamp as a back up.

Sorry I'm rambling. I think stuff out better when I write/type it down.
 
#1,173 ·
Since I don't have any live food on hand, I feed mine crushed pellets and flakes and the occasional frozen bloodworm/daphnia. dont expect the Betta to eat it right away. Its gonna be shy. Just leave it there and come back in 15 minutes. Remove uneaten food. If your Betta refuses to eat, you mayvhave to get live BBS. They should have a water change every other day I believe, but every day couldn't hurt!

Your plan sounds good! Keep us updated.
 
#1,174 ·
Hold the phone, there's a 5 gallon tank at walmart for $26, filter included, hood included, and a vast majority of the reviews are 5 stars. The filter is the same kind I have for my 10 too, easy to baffle.

I don't even HAVE to get it now. The baby can grow over the next few months and then I can get it when I start thinking he/she is getting too big for the 1.7 that way it can cycle without the fish in it.

Saves me a lot of money this way.
 
#1,175 ·
I would suggest getting it soon though. They aren't going to grow much at all in a 1.7-2 gallon tank. I had my babies (split) in a 3 gallon with water changes every other day and they barely grew over the month that I had them. Switched them to my 5.5 and they had obnoxious growth spurts! It's also going to be easier to care for the 5 gallon, so not right now but soon if you can get that it will be much easier for you and your little one.

They do excrete the growth stunting hormone and it will just effect him/her faster in a smaller tank, see?
 
#1,177 ·
For babies? I still suggest doing at least a 50% every other day just so that it stays crystal clear for them, it's key in their development along with multiple feedings a day of course ^_^
 
#1,179 ·
Because of a string of recent accurances I am going to be getting a 10 gal tank today and doing a fish in cycle with my adult female (going to be extremely diligent on the water changes and chemistry level watching) and I was thinking of, until I get more females and QT them for a while, having a divider in for my baby betta to be in there too so it gets filtered water and more room and such. What I am really wondering though is if I should wait to put the baby in until after the cycle is finished or if I can ust watch really carefully and have them both in there while it's cycling (divided of course). I posted a thread asking but no one has answered and I'm thinking that asking this thread will be more efficiant and logical simply because it IS about babies... ? >.< Not trying to be impatient or anything I just like knowing what my plan is before I jump completely in.
 
#1,180 ·
My first baby grew up in a 5.5 gallon filtered tank, she grew like a weed. My second baby I kept in a 1.75 gallon Kritter Keeper and did the same water changes but her growth is stunted...she is still about half the size as my first baby. I did a 50% water change every day or every other day.
 
#1,183 ·
Gill(y) is doing well and swimming all over the place. His/her colors are even brighter now. He/she will be a lovely little fish.


Gave Gill(y) two crushed NLS pellets an hour apart and they were snapped up happily. He/she looks healthy, is alert, and is curious about the thermometer as well as me when I approach.





 
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