Where to get bettas other than Petsmart and petco

I've been to 2 different Petco's in the last 3 days..

Their bettas look so bad. I seen maybe ONE that I may have taken, it was a King Betta.. but he didn't even look all that healthy.

I know I'm smackin a dead donkey here.. I am just frustrated. I really don't want to buy one and nurse it back to health, I think that just defeats the purpose and another one will just take it's place.

Where do you all get your betta outside of the petco and petsmarts of the world?

 

I have not purchased a betta of any kind in a long time, but if I did again I would use an online source like Ebay or aquabid. You can also find many species of wild bettas (and NUMEROUS non betta fish) on those sites.

 

Try your luck on facebook and your local aquarium clubs (google), perhaps there are some people on there who breed as a hobby.
And people get them off aquabid, I believe.

 

I've been looking at some on ebay, found a seller that has good reviews. Only downside is the shipping, I wouldn't be home to get the delivery and check if they were okay until much later in the day, which makes me nervous.

 

At my local Petco they sometimes have betta in their tanks not those horrible little cups...if you don’t want Petco or Petsmart I would recommend aquabid.

 

I've been looking at some on ebay, found a seller that has good reviews. Only downside is the shipping, I wouldn't be home to get the delivery and check if they were okay until much later in the day, which makes me nervous.

Depending on your post office, you may be able to have the post office hold the fish until you can pick them up, which would be less risky for the fish.

 

My mom is off a lot during the week and usually home, she could bring them inside.. but as far as opening and checking them in the bag? If she just checked them to make sure no DOA, would they be okay to remain in the bags until I got home? I'd say it would be a good 6 hour wait until I got there to deal with them.

I've never gotten fish through mail before, so this is new territory. lol

 

They would likely be fine...alternately you could leave her a simple set of directions on what to do with the new arrivals (I have done that before when I have had fish shipped in). Perhaps you could have a QT tank set up beforehand for her to acclimate them to?

 

That's gonna be a long talk with her

 

That's gonna be a long talk with her

Bribe her with candy...that it how I get my sister to do it

 

I've never gotten livestock shipped but I wouldn't leave them in a bag for 6 hours. I would see if you could find a way to sneak out of work/school and get them quickly acclimated into the tank. From my understanding after they are shipped and the bag is opened the water parameters change quite a bit so the best bet would be to get them out. You could set up a bucket with a net and have her open the bag and pour the bag over the net till the betta drops into the net and have her plop n drop him into your tank.

 

What if she doesn't open the bags? Just do a visual inspection? I know that once the bag is open, then the toxicity rises super fast.

 

What if she doesn't open the bags? Just do a visual inspection? I know that once the bag is open, then the toxicity rises super fast.

like I said I never had livestock shipped but I would think the sooner their out the better...

 

Ammonia tends to accumulate in the shipping bags, so unless you intend to give the fish a VERY short acclimation I would add an ammonia neutralizing chemical like seachem prime before beginning the acclimation.

 

My intentions are to temp acclimate, open the bags and then remove. I watched a video by Rachel O'leary and the way she explained that once that bag is open, the ammonia goes way up and it's best to cut the bag and get them out.

Also there is no way I can leave work early. I am usually home by 5:30 and mail guy comes between 11:00-3:30 .

 

I know some people use poly filter after opening the bag...

 

Try your luck on facebook and your local aquarium clubs (google), perhaps there are some people on there who breed as a hobby.
And people get them off aquabid, I believe.

Took your advice! I found someone in the local club! She sent me videos of the ones she has and I picked out five of them! Here they are: I am so excited! It will probably the weekend when I pick them up, if she is available.

 

Took your advice! I found someone in the local club! She sent me videos of the ones she has and I picked out five of them! Here they are: I am so excited! It will probably the weekend when I pick them up, if she is available.

That is really great, I love everything about this post! That is some nice looking stock, and that was fast!
I just love it when we support each other's hobby like this

 

ANDD.. she talked me into a 6th one, for just 5 dollars more LOL .. so here is the 6th little guy.

Now I gotta get another tank and steal some media. Thankfully, I had two more sponge filters for an emergency.

I just love them! And looks like I will be picking them up on Sunday.

 

ANDD.. she talked me into a 6th one, for just 5 dollars more LOL .. so here is the 6th little guy.

Now I gotta get another tank and steal some media. Thankfully, I had two more sponge filters for an emergency.

I just love them! And looks like I will be picking them up on Sunday.

Good salesperson

Are they siblings? Looks like some of them are, at least.

 

They are except for the male cello and red marble, the cello and red are from the same parents.

I honestly wasn't really wanting any females, but when she sent me the video with them.. I was like oh wow, those are some pretty girls!

 

They are except for the male cello and red marble, the cello and red are from the same parents.

I honestly wasn't really wanting any females, but when she sent me the video with them.. I was like oh wow, those are some pretty girls!

I guess your house is going to be packed with small tanks and a lot of bustling activity!
If you get 5 females or more you could consider starting a sorority, but you will need a large tank for that.

 

The plants that I orginally was gonna put in the snail tank came today. Thank you Vishaquatics ! But they ended up going into the betta quarantine tanks until I can get the plants I want for all my new five gallons that I will be getting at Christmas. (Another fluval spec V and marineland 5 portraits.) I'll take the sponge filters from these and stick in those and I will be set.

Also by the way, these 3.5 gallons are GREAT hospital/quarantine tanks and they will be 15 bucks at petsmart on Black Friday. I did switch out the lights tho, so those lights aren't stock. I still need to add the black vinyl to the backs, I got one done in another room and didn't finish lol.

I'm all set pretty much for Sunday when I pick up them up!

 

Local

I've been to 2 different Petco's in the last 3 days..

Their bettas look so bad. I seen maybe ONE that I may have taken, it was a King Betta.. but he didn't even look all that healthy.

I know I'm smackin a dead donkey here.. I am just frustrated. I really don't want to buy one and nurse it back to health, I think that just defeats the purpose and another one will just take it's place.

Where do you all get your betta outside of the petco and petsmarts of the world?

local fish store. Mom and pop shops, etc.