Tips to picking out heathly betta

Here are some tips that I'v found to be fairly good in picking out a healthy betta.
1.  Put your finger up to the bowl and make sure he see's it and moves, if just sits and watches, probably not healthy
2. Ask owner how long they have had him, shorter the better, just make sure you quarantine him when you get home
3. If he isn't moving at all or barely at all, clamped fins, sitting at bottom, floating on top, bloated (stomach larger than normal) or finrot it's probably old or sick and almost dead
4. If in dark area ask to move to brighter area and check for ich, and other diseases

Anymore anybody

Austin

 

Please ditch the mirror.  It is not a good idea as it is a stress and can be considered cruel to them.  If they have been forced to live in poor conditions they do not need the stress of being scared out of their wits.  That is what making them flare artificially is basically.  If they were not made to feel unsafe they would not flare.  It is one thing for them to flare when they are in an open tank where they can swim away when they want to but in a cup they are trapped.  Imagine people doing this to them all day.  They would probably all have heart failure.

Otherwise they sound okay.

Rose

 

Fixed ;D

 

I'm not sure you could really stick your finger in the bowl either...this would require taking off the lid which would slosh around the water and freak out the Betta...
As for the flaring thing if the store stacks betta cups next to each other you can see which Bettas attempt to flare at their neighbors.

Also to add to #3 an old (or more likely just sick) Betta will clamp fins, sit on bottom, or float on top...might as well state the obvious just for the heck of it. And I see a lot of bloated Bettas or ones with finrot (or both :'()

Also #4 is a good idea, I've never thought of that.

 

It says to stick your finger by the bowl just to see if he acknowledges it, if he doesn't then he's probably depressed not in it. Ok I'll add that.

 

when I go to a pet store I have such a hard time picking out the healthy betta. I allways want to take home the one in the back that looks like he hasn't seen people in a long time. I know it is not a wise idea, but I just want to help the sick ones first.  :-\

I remember picking up a very pale betta before just because he was the only one that seemed to miss out on good care. he was constipated and his water was very dirty, but a few peas and days later and he was the most gorgeous purple and red betta. I ended up giving him to a friend because I simply didn't have room for another betta.

 

I'm glad you saved that Betta. It's sad how they are mistreated in the stores. :'(

Just a little note beginners shouldn't try to save Bettas before having Betta experience because need to be knowledgeable or else you will just be wasting your time. Also a lot of pet store Bettas are way too far gone to even try to save. :'(