future betta tank

[asparagus]

Ok, if you've been reading any of my posts (and I think there are alot all over the boards-grin) you know I dont yet have ANY fish, but am going to get a bunch when I return from vacation in about 2 weeks.
My daughter and I are each getting a 5 gallon mini bow (for which I got 25 w heaters) and we'll each get a betta. Knowing myself very well, and knowing I also have a 10 gallon (actually 2 of these, one will be a guppy tank) All Glass aquarium kit with filter, hood etc (the only thing it DOSNT have is a heater) I was thinking at some point in the near future ,of the possibility of dividing this baby (the 10 gallon) into a 3 "room" betta apartment complex with those dividers- Ive seen two kinds on the market. They're plastic w/ little holes and they attach to the tank with steel clips. Anyone have any experience with these?
Also, the bettas Ive seen in the lfs's all seem so sad and sick looking- When I move the cups or tap lightly on the jars, some of them do get more active, but I really dont want sick fish. I also am very leery of getting one online via mail....There are also alot of stories on here about sick, fungused, and ichy fish. Do bettas pretty much come from LFS or large fish emporium (petco etc) with some sort of issues that must be accepted?
Thanks!

 

[shadow]

They look sickly when they are in those cups since there is not much room to do anything but lay there. I've gotten 2 bettas from Petco and they have since passed on. I did get another from a private company petstore and his is doing great, they do keep them in jars but they have room to swim around.

When looking for a fish you want to get one that is as active as can be. When bettas are kept next to each other they usually flare, you want one that looks healthy. No ripped fins, growths ect. I only have my betta in a tank with other fish so I don't have any expierence with dividers, sorry!

 

[Joby]

I guess I'm lucky as my lfs house their bettas in tanks and with nice placid tank mates too instead of those cups so you can see them swimming around.

I have a 10g divided at the moment with a male VT and a male CT

I bought one of those dividers with the clear plastic holes which clips to the tank with metal clips. They only went in together last week but are getting on fine. Nobody has attempted to jump the divider although I've put it up as far as I can without touching the light and its very well secured so nobody has managed to find a way round it. They flared like crazy at first but they've settled down now and just seem to watch eachother and only occasionally flare which I think is quite good for them.

Alfie the VT has really perked up since we put Ozzy in next to him

 

[Seahorse]

Dividers are excellent - for us addicts they are gold.

Let's see... one of my boys is a Wal-mart rescue. Bring a small mirror with you and hold it up to various cups. If he flares, that is a good sign. A lot that I tested paid no attention and to me that is bad... even though they are surrounded by other males in cups all day, they should have some reaction. Make sure their coloring is good. And yes, most that you see look sad, because they are.

I have had my guys a long time, and they are from less "reputable" places. They have grown to be big, beautiful, hardy boys.

 

[Raven]

Glad you're thinking of getting a betta!
Personaly, i make all my dividers from inexpensive craft mesh and report binder slips secured by aquarium cilicone. I get my bettas from people who generaly don't want theirs anymore and LFS (including Petco, Petsmart and Wal-Mart). Most pet store bettas are from wholesale breeders, the stores just sell them, that's why they might look a little beat up. A little TLC goes a long way for bettas.

 

[asparagus]

The best part about this whole thing....it dosnt seem to have an ending- it can just go on forever and ever and ever!!
Is there anywhere (like a petstore chain vs a lfs) that offers more variety or just better looking bettas?
The one place I went, they really didnt look too too unhappy, but they were all red. My daughter wants a blue one.
Of course, I want a yellow one.
I am putting a mirror in my purse today. I imagine Im going to feel a bit foolish at these places holding the mirror up but if thats what it takes to get good fish......

 

[Raven]

Some LFS will order a betta type if you request it. Other than that, it's like a hit or miss thing. Breeders and online are the best options for specific fish.

 

[Seahorse]

The best part about this whole thing....it dosnt seem to have an ending- it can just go on forever and ever and ever!!
Is there anywhere (like a petstore chain vs a lfs) that offers more variety or just better looking bettas?
The one place I went, they really didnt look too too unhappy, but they were all red. My daughter wants a blue one.
Of course, I want a yellow one.
I am putting a mirror in my purse today. I imagine Im going to feel a bit foolish at these places holding the mirror up but if thats what it takes to get good fish......

I felt foolish too at first with the mirror, so I just waited until the aisle cleared out a bit. I use a makeup mirror, so it is pretty tiny and doesn't look so obvious.

Like Raven said, it really is a hit and miss. Most big chain stores like Wal-mart sell veil tails, but you can definitely luck out. I know people who have found crown tails and delta tails. Just keep at it.

Ask when they receive new shipments in, and sometimes requesting specifics will work at smaller petstores.

As for coloring (especially yellow, which I have never seen in stores) you may want to consider ordering online.

 

[asparagus]

I hope Im not breaking any rules here, but can you guys recommend reputable online dealers? If Im ready to get my fish and cant find any, I may want to do the online thing. I am driving 45 minutes tomorrow just to check out "the largest fish store in the northeast" so they claim. Ive hit all the LFS and none of them have any that Id really like to bring home.
I apologize if my question about online dealers/breeders is out of line.
I live in the US.
thanks!
Asparagus

 

[Seahorse]

bcbetta.com, aquabid.com

I'm sure everyone else will have a lot more links. Shipping can be outrageous sometimes though.