[True Indigo]

I'm currently having trouble. I absolutely love my current betta, Gyarados, but I've been seeing some dazzling fish on Aquabid, if that simply was the case, I'd be alright with my decision and wouldn't feel a lot of regret.

My problem is that I came across a beautiful Purple and Gold Half Moon King Betta in a PetCo that sadly died in the store after they refused to sell me the sick fish (it died later that night even after they treated it) and I know am aware that sometimes my local store gets incredible show-quality fish.

My initial problem was that I didn't know when to buy a fish from Aquabid (I can only afford to have one more betta fish). I've taken a liking to Plakats and Half Moons (especially copper colored) but have no idea when I should give in and finally buy one from the site.

Now I have the added pressure of knowing that my local store sells some incredible fish that interest me.

I don't know what to do! Whether to buy or just wait till I come across a fish that says "I AM THE ONE! BUY ME!" like I was prompted to do with the Half Moon King Betta that I sadly did not recover for me to bring home.

Currently, one of my biggest temptations is this guy on aquabid:

But he wasn't quite saying "I AM THE ONE! BUY ME!" but more like "I have captured your intense interest and you wish you could afford one more fish if you decided to buy me!". So I'm not sure whether to give in, or wait till I see the one that does say that from either my local store or aquabid.

So ultimately, I'm wondering from all of you is this:

How do you determine when and when NOT to buy a fish when you know you couldn't afford another one after it?

 

[Sivan]

For me, it's easy.

Picking out a fish is not like picking out new clothes. I do not buy just because the betta looks nice, for there are many attractive types of betta out there and it is impossible to have them all. Buying living things on impulse is bad. It is not good for the person or the animals, which is something I always consider. Personally, I am only in the position to have one betta. I currently do not have one, as I have no supplies up in my new apartment yet.

Once I have my tank brought to me and am ready I will begin to look for a fish. I already know my preferred breeds, crowntails and halfmoons, as well as my preferred colors, yellows and other brights. I will keep an eye out for a betta that meets my preferences. I will come across many that I like and think are beautiful but unless I see one that I absolutely bond with immediately, I will not buy. I get one fish and that's that for the next 5 years it lives.

I judge my income, above all else. I am a student, about to enter grad school. I currently have a sparsely houred job that pays me once a month. I am hemorrhaging money because of this and cannot afford to make impulse buys I will later be unhappy with. Knowing my limits keeps me in line. I have many other responsibilities that I consider before buying a betta, such as finding a steadier job. Maybe one day when I have my own house/apartment, stable income, and permanent living situation, I can consider more than one betta if I have the time to properly care and love them equally.

 

[Rosso1011]

I'm not sure if Sivan mentioned it, but in addition to income, I would take into consideration how much time and energy I have. I currently do not have enough time and/or energy to maintain another aquarium. I already have enough for my personal limits as far as water changes go. I probably would lose interest if I added anymore aquariums at this point, even though I would like to set up a sorority one day.

 

[True Indigo]

I am also a student. I found, however, that my time and job situation don't seem as hectic as yours currently is, Sivan. I know I have enough to take care (and already have the resources for) another fish. I have another tank with another filter and everything. I find that maintaining my tank takes me half an hour at most if I want to completely take it apart, clean it, et cetera, and all of that.

Though one of the things you implied is important is something I greatly agree with. My current betta fish, Gyardos (pictured) was a fish I never expected to get. He's mostly red (and was even more red when I first got him) and was a double tail. I usually like crowns and half-moons (and I have a new found love with plakats). I don't really like betta fish colored red since they seem so common. But Gyarados caught my eye because he followed my movements and made little snappy motions with his mouth whenever I got close. I got him for his personality.

And Rosso, I only have one betta fish (but I have two tanks). I find it'd be no problem to get another fish with my current situation and that I have the time and dedication to take care of one (but I will not get a third which is why it adds another pressure to get the one I really want).

But so far it seems you guys make your decision like I probably should. Unless I find an instant connection, I shouldn't buy it. I absolutely love the look of this betta fish, but it didn't scream out to me like I should get it but merely to "give it consideration". So I'll probably just wait longer.

Thank you guys. I still would love to hear how other people determine when and when not to get another fish too.

 

[Rosso1011]

It's a difficult thing to resist a new betta. I am glad to hear that you are thinking things through thoroughly before buying.

Unfortunately, there is a Petco where I usually gas up my car in one of the cities I sometimes pass through. On my way home today, I found myself stopping by for "just a quick look". There was a gorgeous, cambodian, crowntail female sitting in her cup. She was lively and active when I inspected her. I wanted that fish... but I'm questioning where I would put her tank and whether I am dedicated to the upkeep of another tank. Just have to let that one go.

 

[Bombalurina]

I'm with you, True Indigo. I see an attractive fish, and I want it, but I don't fall in love with it. Some fish, on the other hand, just tug at my heart, and I frequently don't know why. For instance, I turned down the most beautiful white delta male in favour of my royal blue and red girl Athena for no reason other than that I knew she was the one.

Of course, I take care not to fall in love unless I have tank space. I don't know how - it's not that I avoid looking, but somehow I harden my heart against their little pleas. Then when I do have a tank, I open my heart back up again and listen to the begging coming from each little tank...

Of course, sometimes all the heart-hardening in the world isn't enough, and you end up leaving THE fish at the shop.

 

[True Indigo]

Yeah I'm definitely thinking this through and thank you, Rosso. It seems like when you come across the right fish, you just know.

And Bombalurina, I definitely get what you mean, which is why I found a sign to get one more fish. Found a reduced price on a ten gallon tank, it was only missing it's cover and came EXTRA with a heater (I can get a lid for it easily). Got it for half off with a quite flow filter, 50 watt heater, conditioner, net, et cetera. Now that I know I have the tank for another fish (I can even make a small community), I am letting my heart open, but only for the THE fish.

 

[jaela]

I'm another one who goes with my heart. When I decided to get my first betta, I went into the store looking for a male.

But there were three females, and one had markings that made her look like she had a sweet little smile on her face, when viewed from the side. That little face tugged at my heart so hard! She wasn't as flashy as the boys and her colours were a little dull, but I couldn't leave without her.
Fast forward several months, she's so full of energy and recognises me when I walk into the room and her colours have even brightened with the high-quality and varied diet I've been feeding her.

My other girls were obtained via aquabid so I didn't get to interact with them beforehand, but I kind of waited for the jaw-drop factor and the tug at the heartstrings while looking through the available females. I knew I'd made the right choices when I found the ones that made me think, "I'm going to be a little bit heat-broken if someone else wins her."

Here's to hoping you find the right fish soon! Please post pictures when you do! <3

 

[Sheldon31]

The one thing that's stopping me from impulse buying the stunning dragon scale in my LFS is my other half. He's keeping me grounded otherwise I'd have bought that fish today even though I don't have the time or money to look after another aquarium. Also, my spare needs some tlc before I can put anything in there.

Picking Kyon was easy. I went out specifically to get a betta but said to myself that if one didn't "speak" to me then I would walk away and leave it until my lfs got new stock. Kyon chose me. He came to the glass straight away and flared for me. He also had the nicest colour. There were 2 other blues but his just stood out to me as its a much colder blue than the royal blue that seems to be most common. My other half would like a red veil tail or crown tail when we are ready for another. (listen to me talking like we're preparing for a baby haha).

 

[Sivan]

I have a question. Why did you name your red betta Gyarados? Wouldn't that name be more appropriate for a blue and white one? Unless you're referencing Gold and Silver, of course.

 

[LinkLover]

I go by which fish needs me the most. Like ones that look really sick and obviously need some TLC. But that's just me, cause I'm a sucker for suffering animals, and can't say no to their sad looking faces!

 

[nel3]

im pretty resilient to such issues as i have specific targets to get. the 2 CT are more impulse along with desired colors. the DT was also impulse but its one of the top color traits i want. id love to get a plakat but a 6th fish is a bit much until one eventuality occurs to lower the number of fish in my care. that and i dont have any space to put another tank.

 

[nel3]

sry double post

 

[True Indigo]

I have a question. Why did you name your red betta Gyarados? Wouldn't that name be more appropriate for a blue and white one? Unless you're referencing Gold and Silver, of course.

Haha, glad you asked. When I first saw him in the store, he would snap his mouth at me whenever I got near and would wriggle around wildly in his cup (but not in a way that would alarm fish owners). I had already made the mistake of finding myself naming him Gyarados because it reminded me of my favorite pokemon as a kid. One of my friends told me that didn't make much sense but I remembered that there's a Shiny Gyarados (red) and back then, he was almost completely red with only a little bit blue (he has more blue now however since I got him!).

And yeah, I tried buying this Purple and Gold King Betta but the store wouldn't let me due to it being sick. It was the only sick fish I have yet to really connect to but he died overnight in the store. I was upset since they said they'd treat his fungus and hold him for me.

And yeah, right now I'm really into copper-colored fish, but I definitely want a short-tailed fin one (such as a Plakat) and am sticking out for that. The reason why the King Betta stuck out to me was because of it's coloring and because he was sick. I wanted to rescue the poor guy.

 

[Megalechis]

I have to see a fish in person or see video of it in order to fall in love. The sickly ones tug at my heart, but I know if I take them home and can't save them I'll feel even more horrible. I have to be able to see with my own eyes that the males will flare if something unfamiliar comes too close, and the females don't stay constantly hid in a corner. Other than that - it's mainly color; if I haven't seen a color in person before, I'm far more likely to do an impulse buy for it. I still live at home - so the income issue isn't a huge one yet, though it still tugs at my decisions.

When I got my most recent Crowntail I went to a different petstore first. The males were quite nice, and I really wanted to replace my Red CT with something different - but nothing really popped out. When I went to the petstore across town the first bettas I saw were two white bodied red finned brothers. Just judging on their interest level in me as I approached is what made me fall in love with one over the other. One ignored me, the other flared and began swimming around his little bowl watching me. So I took the second one home. The color caught my eye first as I'd never see a white betta up close, then the flare/activeness test.

 

[freemike]

I go by aquarium maintenance schedule and space for the fish. Right now I have an aquarium that is almost ready for prime time and will be getting stocked soon. I'm already changing/cleaning 3 tanks on water change night and that is soon to be 4. I know this isn't a lot for some people but with my schedule the way it is it can be hectic. So unless I start doing divided tanks I don't see me getting to many more fish unless one unfortunately passes.

 

[Ramble]

I usually go for the pitiful ones...which can be a lot of them. Of the three I have now, the first was at the store six weeks, looking sad and pale. Now he's a handsome orange guy who's about 50% larger.
The second was supposed to be a VT female- it had lots of personality so I couldn't resist (and turned out to be a round tail...or combtail male.) He's always been healthy.
and the third is an opalescent half moon male who bit off most of his tail and was emaciated...a coworker gave him to me. He still has a big chunk of tail missing, but it's growing slowly. He's the most personable of the three and quite healthy now. I love 'me all, the little imps!

 

[LittleBettaFish]

I used to be the worst impulse buyer. I had tubs of fish on my bedroom and rumpus floor and our electricity bill was just insane. If I saw a fish I liked I just bought it, as I had a pretty decent income and the time to properly care for them. Of course that didn't stop my bedroom from being rather cluttered, inaccessible and ghetto.

Then I started to cut back and sell off some fish and tanks. I got my barracks up and running, and that really took a load off maintenance time. Plus I don't have a job anymore, so I have to be a bit more frugal.

Currently, I'm into killifish, Australian and New Guinea natives and wild bettas more than splendens so I have really condensed tank numbers. I would be set if my fry stopped requiring separate grow-outs!

Nowadays, I only purchase high-quality imported bettas. I have completely stopped impulse LFS purchasing, and I will not buy any wild species unless I have a tank set-up and running at the time.

If I can't make room for a fish or have to put it somewhere other than my bedroom or the rumpus, I don't buy it. If I have to purchase anything but live plants and wood, I don't buy the fish. It would have to be a really special betta for me to take home on impulse. It's hard not to just snatch up every betta I see, but I'm trying to wind back my slightly hoarderish tendencies.

 

[bettanova2]

I will buy when I can afford it, and have enough time and space for a new betta. When there is no more space, I will stop buying a betta even the more truly appealing betta is available for me. Buying betta is very addictive, and keeping only 1 betta is not enough for me as I love many type of bettas. Currently I have 11 bettas and I think it is already more than enough for me