How To Tell If Your Betta Is Old?
- Thread starter ReiRei
- Start date
Blondielovesfish
Kia Ora
I'm not completely sure but I think the length of the tail has something to do with it 
First of all, where did you get him from?
If it was a big pet shop chain it could be that he's as old as a year already - maybe somewhere between 6 - 12 months.
His size and colouring might also give you some clues, I would have thought. If he is fairly sizable already with bright colours and iridescent scales that might also suggest he's a good bit older than you've been led to believe.
Also, as previously suggested, large, well formed and well coloured fins tend to suggest a more mature betta.
If it was a big pet shop chain it could be that he's as old as a year already - maybe somewhere between 6 - 12 months.
His size and colouring might also give you some clues, I would have thought. If he is fairly sizable already with bright colours and iridescent scales that might also suggest he's a good bit older than you've been led to believe.
Also, as previously suggested, large, well formed and well coloured fins tend to suggest a more mature betta.
A well kept betta will live up to 5 years so you still have some time left in him even if he's a year old at purchase.
Once the fish reaches maturity, which it likely is when you buy it, it's really not possible to tell the age. The only sure way I know of is to get the betta from a breeder who records the date of each lot.
Once the fish reaches maturity, which it likely is when you buy it, it's really not possible to tell the age. The only sure way I know of is to get the betta from a breeder who records the date of each lot.
Depending on the tail type of the betta, it is possible to guess a bit. VT are the only tail type this really works with though. VT will have really long finnage when older as their tails do not stop growing. I would always guess a betta as around a year old when purchased from a pet store UNLESS you know they source from local breeders or the fish is tiny when purchased(baby betta from Petco here in the US). Although bettas can easily live 5+ years normally they live to around 2yrs if they were in the stores just because of all the damage received while being in the unheated ammonia loaded water they are kept in,
Oh and I forgot, an older betta normally will not be as active and may be more prone to things like fin rot and bloating/constipation.
Oh and I forgot, an older betta normally will not be as active and may be more prone to things like fin rot and bloating/constipation.
KirkyArcher
Fish Addict
Cut them in half and count the rings
there are growth rings on fish scales but that's about it.
Lately, he's become quite lethargic - sits around all day and doesnt really do much. I bought him from a LFS that I will NEVER go to again - Nothing but problems from them.
Unlike my other Bettas, he never actually grew any larger from when I first got him - always staying the same length.
I've had him 3 months, and over that time he's slowed down, his colours have gone slightly brownish.
In regards to his tail, It is a crowntail, and is much larger than my other two bettas (Admittedly, they are VTs.)
At first I thought he was ill, but if I interact with him, he's normal and his tail doesnt show any signs of stress - no splits, no fin rot etc.
It just makes me wonder.
Perhaps someone else had him before me, gave him to the LFS, and now I have him.
Unlike my other Bettas, he never actually grew any larger from when I first got him - always staying the same length.
I've had him 3 months, and over that time he's slowed down, his colours have gone slightly brownish.
In regards to his tail, It is a crowntail, and is much larger than my other two bettas (Admittedly, they are VTs.)
At first I thought he was ill, but if I interact with him, he's normal and his tail doesnt show any signs of stress - no splits, no fin rot etc.
It just makes me wonder.
Perhaps someone else had him before me, gave him to the LFS, and now I have him.
Left, is the first ever photograph of him when I bought him in april.
Right, is him now. The scales are more prominent, and he has browned slightly. Not sure if fins are longer, might just be camera zoom or something.
I may be clutching at straws, but I wouldn't put it past that nasty LFS to give me a incorrect age - especially as he is showing symptons of getting old.
I dont want to be a bother
I'm just looking for answers as to his change.
KirkyArcher
Fish Addict
Doesn't look like the same fish at all as well as being darker his blue tone has also disappeared. You haven't let someone look after him and it's been swapped for another one after his demise
KirkyArcher
Fish Addict
All you can do is accept him as being older and continue with your obvious affection for him
tropicalmumma
Mostly New Member
He does look like an old fish. We lost one of ours, but he was over 2 years old at the time we had him for over 2 years as well, he was looking much like that towards the end. He was a very vivid blue then over time I noticed in photos that he had lost a lot of the colour and his tail fins were more straggly. Hard to tell unless comparing old photos with new photos. Enjoy him and keep giving him the best life he could have, you sound wonderful
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