Question..

[flamepony12]

I know this may be a stupid question to some of you, but is there a way you can for sure tell if a betta is young, old, etc.? We think Siam is only a few months old, but I'm just curious. Thanks!

 

[Ethos]

I dont think so.....correct me if I'm wrong.....If so, I'd also like to know how old my bettas are...

 

[Synirr]

There are a few ways to tell, but none of them are surefire.
Older fish sometimes have crinkles at the ends of their fins, but this can also happen in young fish due to poor water quality... older fish are also usually larger bodied, as fish continue to grow throughout their lives. The growth process slows dramatically after they reach a certain size, but they do get a tiny bit bigger with age...
Younger fish tend to be more active too, and just... well.... look young
It's kind of hard to explain.

 

[MegTheFish]

Also, bettas from stores tend to already be 6 months to 1 year in age.

 

[Ethos]

Really? Why?

 

[MegTheFish]

I don't really know. I was just told that. I think its because the breeders or whoever breeds them has to wait until they are old enough to sell, then they are shipped and blah blah blah so it could actually take awhile before they arrive at the store.

 

[Synirr]

Really? Why?

Because suppliers breed them on a massive scale and need to get rid of their spawns as soon as they're old enough so they can use the room to spawn more.

 

[flamepony12]

Thanks! yep, Siam sounds young.

 

[soritan]

Really? Why?

Because suppliers breed them on a massive scale and need to get rid of their spawns as soon as they're old enough so they can use the room to spawn more.

Sorry, maybe I'm misunderstanding you... but wouldn't that mean that fish from Breeders would be older, and LFS bettas would be younger, if they're "kicked out of the nest" faster, rather than the reverse, where breeders generally sell you young fish?

I was always under the impression that LFS bettas were 'old'.

 

[Synirr]

Really? Why?

Because suppliers breed them on a massive scale and need to get rid of their spawns as soon as they're old enough so they can use the room to spawn more.

Sorry, maybe I'm misunderstanding you... but wouldn't that mean that fish from Breeders would be older, and LFS bettas would be younger, if they're "kicked out of the nest" faster, rather than the reverse, where breeders generally sell you young fish?

I was always under the impression that LFS bettas were 'old'.

No, it doesn't mean that fish from breeders would be older... but breeders and mass suppliers have different motives for selling their fry young. Breeders sell their fry young because they want to get their fish to you while they're in their prime.... mass suppliers just want to move fish. I've seen fish at Petsmarts and Petlands that were just babes, probably 3 or 4 months at most

 

[pjfish]

I heard they usually wait until the fins grow out nice and pretty before they sell them. That's why they're about 6 mths to a year. True or just another myth?

 

[daudy_dojo]

arent older bettas kinda slow...er! and dont they need canes...?? lol im just being a smartpants!! well i guess when it comes to age for bettas they are a bit bigger than young ones, and they tend to be more lazy! right?

 

[Synirr]

I heard they usually wait until the fins grow out nice and pretty before they sell them. That's why they're about 6 mths to a year. True or just another myth?

Makes sense...