Do these bettas look healthy?

Hello everyone.
I'd like to get a betta but can't find any in a shop in my area. I found this add on the Internet who is willing to send them by post (that's not a usual practice in my area, most people are afraid to send fish by mail and I'm not sure if it's even legal).
She sent me these photos of available bettas. How do they look to you? Are they healthy? Is it ich on the third one?
Which would you choose?
The betta will live in a heated and filtered 60l (15gal) tank. Maybe I could divide it into two and get two of them.
What do you think?

 

The first two look healthy, I would divide the tank and get them!
I'm not sure what's up with the last one.

 

Its not a very good angle for the pictures.. but I agree the third one does seem like it has something going on moreso than the others. With good care, its probably something easily treated

 

I decided to order only the yellow one for now, because I don't know the person selling and don't want to risk getting two sick fish. I don't know if they would survive the transport either (he should be here the next day, but still...). I can always add one more later
BTW is it possible to enhance yellow colour in bettas? I've only seen red colour enhancing foods.

 

HI again. So there was a misunderstanding and the lady has already sent me the fish. It should be here tomorrow. But the problem is that the tank will come in 2 or even 3 days!
I wonder what would be the least stressful for him? Should I leave him in the cup he will be travelling in or should I put him in some larger plastic container and move him in his new tank in a day or two? I feel so miserable about this!

 

My betta came before his tank too. I first kept him in a 1 gallon mayo jar with holes poked in the lid, then transferred him to a 5 gal tupperware from Walmart and left the lid slightly loose so he could breathe. I did a partial water change 25-30% daily. He was in these containers for about a week, I think? He stayed healthy, and it was fun since I could move him around the house to where I could watch him. Now he's in his new 5 gallon tank, and I'm doing a fish-in cycle.

 

Thank you Lizzinator, so I'll place him in something more comfortable than a cup. I'm glad you had the same experience because I couldn't decide whether change of environment or small space was a larger stress. Now I'm more comfortable with making a decision

 

That yellow fish is so pretty I can hardly stand it! And I would agree it's probably better to put him in something bigger since the ammonia would build up so fast in a teensy cup.

 

That yellow fish is so pretty I can hardly stand it! And I would agree it's probably better to put him in something bigger since the ammonia would build up so fast in a teensy cup.

Thank you. At first I wanted to get a blue betta but when I saw this yellow one I felt in love with him
I'm so concerned about his transport. I think about him every now and then hoping he is safe at the post office :-/

 

Thank you. At first I wanted to get a blue betta but when I saw this yellow one I felt in love with him
I'm so concerned about his transport. I think about him every now and then hoping he is safe at the post office :-/

As long as they're packaged well all will be fine. This is how most fish are packaged for shipping, and it makes for a pretty smooth ride I'd imagine

 

Anything greater than or equal to 2.5 gallons with 20% water changes daily will keep him happy! Keep a bare bottom and vacuum once a week if he will be in there longer than one week. If you cannot vacuum do a 100% water change. He should have a heater at all times and it should be pre set or adjustable because the stupid little ones fry fish. Make sure to use water conditioner!! Make sure you have a filter with this new tank to get a fish in cycle going.

 

You could always use a big tupperware or other plastic storage container for now. Just don't fill the water up high enough that he could jump out

 

Keep us updated

 

That's really interesting about how fish are packaged and shipped. Still seems terrifying to me, but interesting.

 

He came dead :-(((((( it's my fault that I wanted to do something illegal, just to get what I want!!! I feel so guilty!

 

He came dead :-(((((( it's my fault that I wanted to do something illegal, just to get what I want!!! I feel so guilty!

How illegal?

I'm sorry he passed (

 

He came dead :-(((((( it's my fault that I wanted to do something illegal, just to get what I want!!! I feel so guilty!

How is it your fault? Was he packed with 2/3 air, 1/3 water in what the person sent him in? Bettas need more air in their bags. I have safely shipped fish and plants (the fish was a betta, and she made it in two days). How was it illegal? Many people ship bettas, so there is always that small chance of something going wrong, even with the best of care in shipping.

I'm sorry you lost him before you even got the chance to see what he was like.

 

I'm not sure if it's really illegal but no serious shop in this country sends fish by mail. I know that in the neighbouring Czech Republic it is only legal to send fish by train (not by normal post or delivery services) and shipping time has to be 24 hours. I assume that because no registered business sends them here, it probably isn't allowed here at all.
He was packed in a bag with too little water. He had red marks on his gils. Only because I was too lazy to go to another town to get a betta myself.

 

I'm not sure if it's really illegal but no serious shop in this country sends fish by mail. I know that in the neighbouring Czech Republic it is only legal to send fish by train (not by normal post or delivery services) and shipping time has to be 24 hours. I assume that because no registered business sends them here, it probably isn't allowed here at all.
He was packed in a bag with too little water. He had red marks on his gils. Only because I was too lazy to go to another town to get a betta myself.

No, the poor packing job killed him, the red gills were from ammonia poisoning, which would have been prevented by a drop of prime (some ammonia detoxifying similar product) and fresh water. It may be, but I do not think so (fingers crossed) with how many other fish get shipped around you. It wasn't lazy, you wanted the fish you were looking at, sometimes the only way to get them is to order them. I'm sorry still, that was all together a bad experience.

 

I'd say there was 25% water, rest was air. I didn't measure it because I was so sad I couldn't look at him and threw him away with all the packaging immediately after making sure he was really dead.

I'd say there was 25% water, rest was air. I'd say maybe 1,5 dl of water (converter says it should be 5 oz). I didn't measure it because I was so sad I couldn't look at him and threw him away with all the packaging immediately after making sure he was really dead.

 

I'd say there was 25% water, rest was air. I'd say maybe 1,5 dl of water (converter says it should be 5 oz). I didn't measure it because I was so sad I couldn't look at him and threw him away with all the packaging immediately after making sure he was really dead.

That's upsetting. Did you contact the seller to tell them about it? It might make them improve their shipping methods so it is less likely to happen. I don't like when I lose fish, specially my bettas, they are really personable creatures.

That picture, it makes him look like he was stressed out...his fin looks like he bit it, I'm not sure how long ago they took the picture you have at your first post, but he doesn't look (body wise) healthy when compared. You said it was one day shipping? (They normally don't end up in that shape unless it has been a few days or if they weren't as healthy when they started their journey....) I am sorry for this, I hope it doesn't completely turn you off of fish, I know how hard it can be to lose one like this (lost a couple bettas in shipping before, not fun at all).

 

I contacted the lady and she hasn't replied yet.
He really does look different compared to the first picture. She told me his fin was injured from a female.
Funny thing is that my tank and plants have been shipped and will be here tomorrow. I guess I'll go to another town and pick a betta personally in a real LFS.

 

Sorry about your fish being dead on arrival, but you shouldn't blame yourself. Fish get shipped/mailed/trucked/flown all the time. Let's face it, the fish in the LFS weren't born their, they were shipped from somewhere else.

But best of luck with getting a new betta. I assume you'll post some pictures.

 

I'm sorry By the looks of it, he wasn't healthy when he was shipped to you. Any good breeder(assuming that's why he was in with a female) would not ship a sick fish, especially if it has just been bred.

 

That hardly even looks like the same fish that was in the cup. I'm so sorry. That seller is responsible for the death, that's for sure, not you.

 

Thank you everyone for support! It means a lot to me. I'll post pictures once I get another one

 

I'm so sorry this betta didn't work out for you. I hope the shipper is honest enough to give you a full refund. But at least your tank has made it, and now you're ready for a fresh start with a healthy fish. Good luck!

 

She offered to send me another fish. She will send me more photos of available fish today. I didn't promise to accept, just want to see what she has to offer. She was truly sorry because this was the first time she had shipped a fish by mail. She only sold them personally before.
I'll post the new pictures here so that you can judge them.

 

Oh, id be heartbroken if that happened

 

She offered to send me another fish. She will send me more photos of available fish today. I didn't promise to accept, just want to see what she has to offer. She was truly sorry because this was the first time she had shipped a fish by mail. She only sold them personally before.
I'll post the new pictures here so that you can judge them.

You can look at how to ship fish on here and give her recommendations, if you get one, to make sure it has a higher chance of making it.

 

Here Australia all fish come with a DOA (Dead on Arrival) guarantee where they replace the fish if it comes in bad health on arrival, sorry to hear about the fish, best of luck with your next fish!