I work at a LPS, and we got in a batch of really nice bettas about 2 months ago. PK's, deltas, etc. The store was selling them for $30 each, which was a little much for me, so I just tried to treat them nice and to make sure the people I sold them to would give them good homes. The majority of them got snatched up right away.
A couple weeks later, a woman called saying her betta was really lethargic. She had him in a big (~5G) vase, and he just wouldn't perk up, and sat on the bottom or hung out at the top all day, every day. I suggested new tank decorations to give him a change of pace, different foods, warmer water, more water changes, etc... no matter what she tried, he just was lazy.
I guess she finally got fed up and decided that she didn't want the fish any more. She brought him back to the store and traded him for a red veiltail, the feistiest one she could get.
That night, when I came in for my shift, I looked at the bowl on the counter with the lazy fish. My manager told me some lady had brought him back, she assumed he was sick or something. I asked if I could take him home and rehab him.
Now, I don't know WHAT the lady was doing wrong, but this fish is the most active betta I have EVER owned! I took over 100 pics trying to get one in focus because he's always moving! He nests like it's going out of style, patrols his section of my divided 10 gallon with the most authority I've ever seen, eats like a pig! And gorgeous to boot!
I think he might be HM... he's not even flaring in these pics, just "posing". What do you think?
A couple weeks later, a woman called saying her betta was really lethargic. She had him in a big (~5G) vase, and he just wouldn't perk up, and sat on the bottom or hung out at the top all day, every day. I suggested new tank decorations to give him a change of pace, different foods, warmer water, more water changes, etc... no matter what she tried, he just was lazy.
I guess she finally got fed up and decided that she didn't want the fish any more. She brought him back to the store and traded him for a red veiltail, the feistiest one she could get.
That night, when I came in for my shift, I looked at the bowl on the counter with the lazy fish. My manager told me some lady had brought him back, she assumed he was sick or something. I asked if I could take him home and rehab him.
Now, I don't know WHAT the lady was doing wrong, but this fish is the most active betta I have EVER owned! I took over 100 pics trying to get one in focus because he's always moving! He nests like it's going out of style, patrols his section of my divided 10 gallon with the most authority I've ever seen, eats like a pig! And gorgeous to boot!
I think he might be HM... he's not even flaring in these pics, just "posing". What do you think?
Blue and brown, is he? He's not what I'd have picked out for myself, but I certianly wouldn't have returned him, he's too pretty. I especially like the actual shape of his fins.
great--can't imagine what the previous owner was doing to make such a difference.
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