[freeflow246]

Dropped by Petco today to grab a new thermometer (dropped mine and it shattered... cheap things) and some more food, and as I was looking through the bettas, as I always do, I saw a new shelf. At first, I thought they were guppies. But on closer inspection, they were baby bettas. Tiny tiny things. About as long as my thumbnail. Just old enough to show some color, but definitely too small to eat any of the stuff they sell at the store.

I took a picture on my iPhone. New to this, so I'll attempt to upload it soon. But seriously, can you believe that? The only bright side is that they're $2, which is about $9 cheaper than most of the fish there.

To top it off, when I was checking out I saw this lady buying a betta, along with clothes for her dog (gag). She was slamming it around and sloshing the water all over the place. :roll:

 

[popcornprincess]

were they labled betta? they could be similar tropical fish... i seriously doubt that petco was selling fry.

 

[Zappity]

I know >_< There's threads about them all over here. I can't believe they're selling them either! At least my 2 local Petcos aren't..or I'd have to get one.
And about the lady sloshing the betta, WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE?! lol

 

[freeflow246]

Yea, they were labelled as bettas, and were right next to the adult bettas. You could tell they were bettas, too. So sad. :/

 

[freeflow246]

The proof!

 

[Zappity]

d'aww! They're so cute! And the sad thing is people who don't know anything about them are going to buy them and keep them in those torture 'cubes' -_-

 

[MrVampire181]

It's insulting to me as a breeder. Let the average person think it's easy to raise a betta and they'll end up breeding some veil tails in a bowl. It's not easy to breed and most people who try fail.

 

[freeflow246]

Yea, they were selling betta 'cubes' right underneath them. The things were waaay too small.

 

[MrVampire181]

I have to explain this all the time to new breeders. YOU CANNOT RAISE FRY IN A SMALL TANK/TUB. I use nothing less than 20-30 gallons for growing them. Those juveniles will be stunted in a bowl/cube thing. They need tank with heat, proper food, and frequent, large water changes to grow successfully.

 

[newarkhiphop]

my petco has bettas that size but there not labeled as babys , i saw a crown tail that size last weekend

 

[registereduser]

My Petco seems to have stopped selling them. With the 30 day refund thing they have, I bet they were sick of refunding money all the time for all the babies that die.

 

[Olympia]

Hopefully it will stop soon due to that. It's ridiculous that any supplier would sell fish that young. It's ridiculous that the store would buy them. Betta that small still need a live food diet, they just stand no chance. :/

 

[registereduser]

Hopefully it will stop soon due to that. It's ridiculous that any supplier would sell fish that young. It's ridiculous that the store would buy them. Betta that small still need a live food diet, they just stand no chance. :/

actually, the one I bought loved the sinking catfish pellets. I'm pretty sure she died due to my ignorance about uncycled tanks and the ammonia levels killed her

 

[pasoindy]

I saw some tonight. They were very cute, and one was quite interested in me. They also had a beautiful light blue and yellow HM. I felt so bad for them. I hope they are bought by Betta lovers. My husband was like, no no no.
At least their cups were clean and filled up.

 

[Amphibianite]

My word and I though seeing girls that were less than an inch was bad. The fact they have to gaul to sell true fry at the store, this just sickens me.
Part of me is tempted to go see if mine has them so that I can complain in person.
Another part is tempted to buy them out to set up a 30 gallon and see if I can raise them right, of course I won't because that will just encourage them to sell more....

 

[freeflow246]

I don't know why they would sell them; they don't have nice fins yet, and they can't be making much profit. They were like $1.99. I'm betting it's a trend that will pass. No one seemed to be buying them.