My slight fear of bettas

[~FairyAngelFish~]

I love bettas yet I can be so afraid of them at times, for instance I could never gather the courage to net a betta out of its home and put it in a different bowl so I could clean the tank or whatever, but I still want a betta so bad. It's like I'm afraid of fish, especially if they are bigger like a betta. lol they freak me out sometimes. Does anyone know what i mean and how to get over this fear? Also, is there some way to know if a betta is more or less agressive than the other at the pet store? jw, thanks.

 

[turbotiber]

Wow, never heard of anyone with a phobia for fish... but do you like dogs? Bettas are like aquatic puppies so you can think of them that way

Maybe you can get over your fear by understanding exactly what it is you're afraid of, is it their scales, their fins, their eyes, mouth, the way they swim?

 

[~FairyAngelFish~]

It's like... the fact that they can... jump on you and die and flip around its just... gross. ok i'm like more afraid of dead fish than live fish. I think I'm afraid of jumpy fish that come up to the top and make a nice quick dart.
Bettas are supposed to be peaceful but in my opinion they are also agressive

its not what they look like i think thyere pretty lol


fish out of the tanks scare me thats it!

i swam in a river full of minnows and i was scared at first but then i didnt mind

 

[wuvmybetta]

It's like I'm afraid of fish, especially if they are bigger like a betta.

"Big like me?"

Do you keep fish at all Fairy?

 

[~FairyAngelFish~]

DUDE WOAH THAT THING SCARED ME
lol






ya i have two little neon tetras, but i liked the betta i had better. i like bonded with him lol dont laugh

 

[wuvmybetta]

DUDE WOAH THAT THING SCARED ME
lol

Hey now,hey now...that thing is my baby

I say just go for it. But don't get one if you're so paranoid of contact with him that he becomes neglected. If you get a nice sized 2.5 with a nice lid, you can get a small gravel vac and you'll really never have to touch him directly.

 

[~FairyAngelFish~]

Well i actually like contacting them in the thing, but now i have to work on getting some cash! How much does all this cost?

 

[wuvmybetta]

I'm the wrong person to ask. I spend waaay too much on bettas,there must be a more efficient way!

I'll guesstimate,per betta set-up...hmmm 30 bucks minimum. You could get a sweet split 5 gallon set up for around 50 or so.Probably even less than that. Someone else will fill you in on their choices,I'm sure.

 

[turbotiber]

Oooh dead fish you're scared of... hmm, dead anything usually gives most people the creeps. Definitely get something with a lid so it doesn't jump out (Kritter Keepers are good and you can get pretty big sizes I think up to 4g?). I have 6 and not one of them has jumped out (at least not yet), but they do like to dart around, especially if they see another betta or their own reflection

Good luck choosing your betta

 

[GuppyDude]

yea it is a bit creepy when u net a bigger fish and hes squirmin around all over the place used to bother me to but my bettas dont move that much anymore in a net, they know whats happening

 

[fourplayfishy]

if your afraid of netting can u put ur hands and a plastic bag in the tank? if so just take some water out with it. thats what i do cuz one of mine is afraid of the net... or you could train it into the net

 

[Sorrell]

You're not alone in fish fear I am scared to death of leleupi's

I think if I see one I would have to leave, they seriously freak me out

 

[AlexsDaddy]

Sorrel, that fish is so awesome! How can you be afraid? How big are they, do you know? I'm not scared of my bettas. The only thing I fear is them dying. Ghost Shrimp kinda freak me out though. Not just by looking at them though. They are kinda weird looking so I don't think I would like touching them. Weird looking things kinda freak me out.

FairyAngelFish, the best way to get over any fear is to just face it head on. If you get a betta, I hope you enjoy him/her. I love all 11 of mine.

Edited to add:
Fishkeeping can get expencive though. I just spent 140 bucks the other day on fake plants and meds. Just that! No fish, no tanks, just plants and meds! You don't spend that much though if you don't want to get fancy like me. I think I paid 25 or 30 bucks on my 2.5 minibow tank. That's filter, and lighted hood included. Gravel, heater, and thermometer are seperate. I didn't like the filter though. You can pick up a 5 gal tank (just the tank) for like 10 or 15 bucks at most places, but by the time you get gravel, plants/decorations, thermometer, and filter, it can end up around 50 bucks total.

 

[turbotiber]

What freaks me out about bettas is seeing them with dropsy... oh my goodness does that give me the CREEPS, it totally freaks me out. Oh i get chills everytime I think of it or see it, even in a picture

 

[cutechic]

This is how much my lfs sells things for, but I converted the prices to US for you.

2.5g tank- $10
gravel or sand- $4
mini gravel vacuum- $5
water conditioner- $3
betta- $3
food (1 pk frozen + 1 pk pellets)- $10
TOTAL: $35

You'll probably want decorations as well... my preference is live plants. Nano filters are another option- they cost $7-10. HTH.