Betta Care 101: Part Four
So you've gotten everything, you've gotten your tank cycled, you're ready for your fish.
I recommend getting one from a breeder, instead of the big national chain petstores. Those fish are mass bred with no regard to genetics or health. All they want is a fish that looks pretty enough for long enough to get people to buy them.
There are plenty of breeders here in the US that do it for love of the animals and a desire to strengthen a specific line.
These fish may cost a bit more, but not a lot. There's a dumbo halfmoon I found here in the US for $25. The same kind of fish would cost $20 at a national pet chain.
The difference, of course, is shipping, and that can get pricey. But again, you're paying for a much higher quality of fish that will live much longer, have much fewer health problems, and you'll be supporting someone who loves the animals, rather than a corporation wanting to profit from people's ignorance.
Aquabid seems to be the most popular site, but I've also seen some amazing ones for sale on Ebay and through smaller, local fish stores. But some of those stores go through mass breeders, as well, so I always make a point to ask where they get their fish. If they can't tell me, and provide me with a name and contact info or website, I don't bother.
Those mass breeders are the same as puppy mills. Just going for numbers.
Breeding bettas is expensive and labor intensive. It's not easy to do, it takes thousands of dollars of equipment. It's not something you can do in your spare time. It's not something you can do for easy cash.
It's something that breeders do because they're passionate about the animals. They love their breeding pairs, they take excellent care of the fry. They want their fish to be healthy as well as beautiful.
To me, that's worth the extra $20-50 in shipping. I'm okay with spending an extra thirty bucks on a fish that'll live for 10 years with fewer health problems, and helps keeps more fish from suffering in those tiny little cups at the pet stores.
There's also a bigger variety online. More colors, more fin shapes, younger and healthier stock.... I mean, I honestly don't see why people even want to buy fish at the national chains.
I recommend getting one from a breeder, instead of the big national chain petstores. Those fish are mass bred with no regard to genetics or health. All they want is a fish that looks pretty enough for long enough to get people to buy them.
There are plenty of breeders here in the US that do it for love of the animals and a desire to strengthen a specific line.
These fish may cost a bit more, but not a lot. There's a dumbo halfmoon I found here in the US for $25. The same kind of fish would cost $20 at a national pet chain.
The difference, of course, is shipping, and that can get pricey. But again, you're paying for a much higher quality of fish that will live much longer, have much fewer health problems, and you'll be supporting someone who loves the animals, rather than a corporation wanting to profit from people's ignorance.
Aquabid seems to be the most popular site, but I've also seen some amazing ones for sale on Ebay and through smaller, local fish stores. But some of those stores go through mass breeders, as well, so I always make a point to ask where they get their fish. If they can't tell me, and provide me with a name and contact info or website, I don't bother.
Those mass breeders are the same as puppy mills. Just going for numbers.
Breeding bettas is expensive and labor intensive. It's not easy to do, it takes thousands of dollars of equipment. It's not something you can do in your spare time. It's not something you can do for easy cash.
It's something that breeders do because they're passionate about the animals. They love their breeding pairs, they take excellent care of the fry. They want their fish to be healthy as well as beautiful.
To me, that's worth the extra $20-50 in shipping. I'm okay with spending an extra thirty bucks on a fish that'll live for 10 years with fewer health problems, and helps keeps more fish from suffering in those tiny little cups at the pet stores.
There's also a bigger variety online. More colors, more fin shapes, younger and healthier stock.... I mean, I honestly don't see why people even want to buy fish at the national chains.
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