Should I get another Betta? What to do?

My 5.5G is cycling after being sterilized after Atlantis' failed bout with dropsy and is looking pretty good. I've been feeling a little weird lately though, I've been looking at the bettas at every pet store I've walked into, and regardless now, I feel shaken that I may end up with another case like Atlantis even though I will be avoiding Wal Mart from now on. I really, really want another crowntail for the 5 gallon, but I just have this thought in the back of my head that things will turn out bad.

Everything is going just great with Christen, she's looking healthy and acting like the crazy nut she is, which does help with the uneasiness. Should I get another betta, or should I get something else? I dunno what the problem is, but I guess I just need a boot in the arse. I've been looking at the handful of pictures I have of Atlantis and it got me rather worried... I miss the little bugger.

 

Awww *HUGS*
Buying fish is just risky. Even if you buy from a reputable dealer.. you still could end up with a sick fish. But that's the risk we have to take in order to have our lil pals.
Just remember that if you choose to get another betta, whatever time it spends with you will be a million times better than the very short life it would live in one of those tiny cups.

 

I think it's understandable to feel like that after losing a little one to Dropsy - we lost Mario a little over a week ago to it. My wife often is like "are his scales ok?" about our other Bettas, worried they might have dropsy too. It's natural to feel sort of "gun-shy" after fighting something like Dropsy but our other Bettas are fine and we both say "go for it" when you're ready - your new Betta is ready for that love you have to give him/her.

Maybe something that would help you is to take a look at getting a female. They tend to be healthier than males and give you all the joy a male does. Often when you look at the females, one will swim over to you in her cup & order you to take her with you - like our Angel did to me. Angel is such a little character, I think I'll always have at least 1 female Betta. Usually, the selection is good at the store because a lot of people just look at males so you can sometimes find a real beauty of a CT or DR.

shollia is totally right.. even though we only had Mario 2 months, we know that he was a very happy fish and totally spoiled. He ate up the love & attention we gave him and had a spoiled Betta life.. much better than if he'd died in the tiny cup at Petco or been bought by someone who would put him in a Betta prison. Your little Atlantis (love the name btw) enjoyed life being loved by you and what more can a Betta ask for than that? So sad to lose one, but doesn't it feel good knowing you can give a little Betta such a good life by giving them what so many Bettas never know.

 

I know precisely how you feel. The difficulty is that sometimes fish simply do get sick. What's rarely discussed is that a lot of fish in the wild or under the best conditions will die.

I've done precisely what you've done--gone around peering at bettas and then not wanting one for the same reasons but hardly able NOT to want to look at them. At the end of the day you probably will so...perhaps deciding that you will simply do your very best to care for the little creature who might just become a kind of ornament or gift to someone indifferent otherwise.

 

Maybe something that would help you is to take a look at getting a female. They tend to be healthier than males and give you all the joy a male does. Often when you look at the females, one will swim over to you in her cup & order you to take her with you - like our Angel did to me. Angel is such a little character, I think I'll always have at least 1 female Betta. Usually, the selection is good at the store because a lot of people just look at males so you can sometimes find a real beauty of a CT or DR.

Yeah my little Christen is a female veil tail. She was in 50 gallon tank when I bought her, so she definitely had better health, and still has good health - but as much as I love this little one, I know that deep down I do want another male - maybe this unease will actually settle when I do inevitably get one. It definitely seems that that is the way of things, that the females tend to live healthier lives than the males do... and ultimately that's likely where my unease comes from. I worry that I'll just get another sick male, if I were looking at the females I'd likely not be having this problem right now

 

I completely understand how you feel Asinity. I go to Petsmart all the time for supplies for my dogs and the fish and I always go by the Bettas and look at them. I'm too so afraid to get one because of what happened with Royell getting Dropsy. That's why I've been looking online lately. Then again look what happened there. I just can't win for trying. :-[ :-\ Natalie

 

Yeah my little Christen is a female veil tail. She was in 50 gallon tank when I bought her, so she definitely had better health, and still has good health - but as much as I love this little one, I know that deep down I do want another male - maybe this unease will actually settle when I do inevitably get one. It definitely seems that that is the way of things, that the females tend to live healthier lives than the males do... and ultimately that's likely where my unease comes from. I worry that I'll just get another sick male, if I were looking at the females I'd likely not be having this problem right now

We'll probably always have at least 1 or 2 of both male & female so I understand you wanting a male. They both bring different things to the party and are both great little companions. Chickadee mentioned that she orders her Bettas from Miami Aquariums - you could ask her about the quality & health of their Bettas. I also read that they care much better for the Bettas in Asia, so perhaps an Asian seller on Aquabid.com might be the answer.. whatever would help you feel more secure that the day you get your fish he's a healthy guy. If not now, later on when you're feeling the time is right.. it's something just you'll know when you're ready. Good luck with your decision.

 

Well, I'm completely shocked by this but my 5 gallon seems to have cycled, and it hasn't even been two weeks. I've got barely readable ammonia readings, my test goes from 0 to 0.6, and then up from there... and it's in between somewhere. I've got .20 nitrite readings, and 5 for nitrate. ph is

My readings are;

Ammonia - <0.6 mg/L
Nitrite - 0.20 mg/L
Nitrate - 5.00 mg/L
ph - 8.0

I'm going to let the tank keep going on it's own until the weekend and re-test then to make sure, I'm just kind of shocked with how fast the tank cycled. I've got a few days to figure out what I want to do atleast... but I'm sure we'll have a new addition soon.

You've all made excellent points, no matter what, I can give one betta a chance to live a healthy, happy life that they most likely will not get unless the person who buys them actually knows what they are doing. Thanks for the support.

 

I'm going to let the tank keep going on it's own until the weekend and re-test then to make sure, I'm just kind of shocked with how fast the tank cycled. I've got a few days to figure out what I want to do atleast... but I'm sure we'll have a new addition soon.

You've all made excellent points, no matter what, I can give one betta a chance to live a healthy, happy life that they most likely will not get unless the person who buys them actually knows what they are doing. Thanks for the support.

You know, the nitrogen cycle has a funny way of surprising you, doesn't it? We just had 2 tanks cycle in about a week (God only knows how) and I couldn't believe the test results.. both had 7.0ph, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites & 5-10 nitrates and sometimes tanks seem to take a month to cycle.. go figure. I'm glad to hear your tank is looking ready and that you may have a new addition to your family next week. Remember: 1) You're a good Betta parent, 2) You're prepared with any needed meds & 3) You've got these experts here that help us out & all of us for support so you've got the worst-case covered. Now you can find that healthy Betta and enjoy his little attitude and the funny things he'll do to make your day for years to come.

Have you decided what avenue you'd like to take on getting your new Betta? LFS, eBay, Aquabid, Miami Aquariums? Natalie tempted us greatly showing us this one show breeder's Bettas on eBay - WOW! is about the first thing to say when looking at them, some STUNNING beauties for sure. We'd be bidding on a few now if not for an upcoming trip we're taking.

 

Petsmart seems to be the best choice for me really, as much as I'd love one of those bettas online I just simply can't afford one at that price.

Petsmart usually has a pretty decent selection of Crowntails anyway and they are usually maintained quite nicely especially when comparing that to some other places, even some pet stores are just as bad, if not worse than Wal Mart - which is very sad.

 

Petsmart seems to be the best choice for me really, as much as I'd love one of those bettas online I just simply can't afford one at that price.

Petsmart usually has a pretty decent selection of Crowntails anyway and they are usually maintained quite nicely especially when comparing that to some other places, even some pet stores are just as bad, if not worse than Wal Mart - which is very sad.

The one & only place in our little town for Bettas is Petco. Those online ones are more expensive for sure & I hear Petsmart probably is the best pet store for Bettas, our Petco sure isn't, but it's not as bad as most pet stores we've seen in other cities. Mostly I expect we'll stick to Petco for our Bettas, but I hope to (when I feel I've learned what to do enough to try) mate our Angel to a white HM male so I'll have to go online for one of those. Saw one on eBay yesterday that's at $15.00 that would have our bid on it if we weren't taking a trip soon. Can't wait to see what you find? Ok, now my wife has me doing it - getting excited about not only our shopping for a Betta, but others - we'd go shopping for a Betta with everyone if we could.. lol. Best of luck to you in your search and I know that just-right Betta will look at you & pick you out.

 

Well I just moved all the fish out of my 10 gallon except my betta. I moved the 8 neon tetras to my 36g because there were only 6 in there and they just looked lonely I also moved the 3 endlers to their own 10 breeding tank. They weren't very happy with me taking them out of a nice tank and putting them in a bare bottom tank with 2 plants.

So i'm left with just my half moon beta. The tank looks a little bit empty and i'm going to the pet store tomorrow. Should I get another betta and split the tank? Also, what are some good betta names? I am horrible at coming up with names

 

The answer to that question is always "yes" LOL

 

Haha. After reading your thread filled with all the betta talk, it got my mind going. I spent an hour trying to figure out what to do with all the other fish. I blame you!

My LFS takes really good care of their fish...... except the bettas. They are kept in very tiny cups. I hope I can find one that looks like it some life left in it.

 

>=D

 

 

That's GREAT!!!! That just made my day!

 

@ soltarianknight!

 

Be happy I didnt drag the gecko, python, frog and DG into it

 

Well here's what I can home with! I'm pretty sure he's a veiltale, but I'm not sure. It just said "normal betta" on the label. He was one of the better looking ones in the store. I was supposed at how good looking they all were. Almost all of them were lively and active.

I still need a name for him and my other betta, so I'm open to suggestions!

 

oh nice, hes a red bI color. Love the clear finnage but it may turn color, fair warning.
I see NO exterior issues what so ever. He even has a good spine.

 

He looks like a "Creamsicle" to me ;D

 

He looks like a "Creamsicle" to me ;D

That was the first thing I thought when I saw him.

 

I love cellophane bI colors, its always intresting

 

I would call him creamy ( creamysicle)!

 

I think I'm gonna call him Creamsicle.

He's really enjoying his new home! He's swimming around exploring everything. When I first put him in, him and my other betta got into a little flaring contest through the divider, but now its like they don't even see each other.

 

He looks like a "Creamsicle" to me ;D

Yep !!!

 

Oh lala, a red copper. Nice. I'm thinking ember. It must be copper week. Everyones getting them lol. Over on the betta forum we have had 4 coppers show up this week plus the one I just got XD. The red is a very nice one though.

 

Wow! INtense red! hey, I might call him intense! or maybe mars or ares....