Where to find NICE bettas?

[mellowvision]

The local shops keep sickly looking betas in 8oz of water.
Overseas shipping for most aquabid auctions is absurd.
No one on AC seems to be an actual breeder of them.
There don't appear to be many options available for finding unique, healthy, well kept betas. With all the talk of how not to keep your beta, I'm surprised there's no talk of where to get ones that have been raised properly.

Suggestions?

[dixienut]

i too aksed this question and got next to nothing on it,..

[kyryah]

I would love an answer on that one myself, lol.

Kristina

[Lexi_D]

I was going to breed crowntails this summer, I can let you know when they're available if you'd like one. :)

[Dr. Awkward]

Have you tried local clubs/forums? I frequently see nice ones for sale on our local forum here in north Texas.

[lateinningmagic]

I have 4 stores within walking distance and they all have Bettas in cups. A couple of variety stores sell them too on Myrtle Avenue (Ridgewood ). My cousin bought two in a plastic small tank (don't worry, I convinced his mom to buy the 10g starter kit) for $15 and he haggled the Betta food from $3 to 1. I was surprised the variety store kept Bettas in better condition then Petland discounts and at a better price. Granted its still inadequate, but better then cups.

I suggest going to your LFS the day they recieve a new shipment. I went with my sister to buy some food and it happened to be new shipment day. They were acclimating fish in almost every tank when I went in, and they had about a 15 new Bettas in cups and they all look in pretty good condition so we bought one.

[Flying_Diamond]

i recommend aquabid. i've always liked their bettas, and i finally bought one on there pretty cheap for my boyfriend for only 50 bucks total.. including shipping. check them out.

[mellowvision]

honestly, I do not want to support the lfs's on this one. I'd like to buy betas that are only ever in a cup for shipping.

[lateinningmagic]

honestly, I do not want to support the lfs's on this one. I'd like to buy betas that are only ever in a cup for shipping.

Unfortunately even my good lfs sells them in the cup. That's what people expect, so thats how they sell them.

[iamgroovy]

i recommend aquabid. i've always liked their bettas, and i finally bought one on there pretty cheap for my boyfriend for only 50 bucks total.. including shipping. check them out.

I too recommend Aquabid and not all the sellers are overseas. You just have to look. Here is the fella I just bought from a breeder in Arizona. About $50 total and he is stunning!

http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/closed.cgi?view_closed_item&fwbettashm1244648858

She just bred him before she sold him so she'll probably have some for sale soon.

[Inka4040]

Couldn't remember the link, but here it is courtesy of Amante di betta.

http://www.aquatech-ny.com/id75.html

[iamgroovy]

Couldn't remember the link, but here it is courtesy of Amante di betta.

http://www.aquatech-ny.com/id75.html


These folks sell on aquabid also. I've looked at several of thier bettas.

[Sunshinessmile]

There is a petco near my mom who is promoting bettas as community fish! the bettas they sell are all in among the peiceful tetras and what not! It was really nice to see!

[Inka4040]

Yup. Same folks. These two I find particularly nice.

http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.cgi?fwbettashm&1245763806
http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.cgi?fwbettasd&1245639003

[iamgroovy]

The first one is one I was was watching before I bought my red white and blue guy.

[FINJOY]

HI, MENTIONING RIDGEWOOD AND SPECIALLY OF MYRTLE AVE BROUGHT BACK MANY FOND MEMORIES, I WAS BORN AND RAISED ON LINDEN STREET BETWEEN WILSON AND KNICKERBOCKER AVENUES, WHICH AS YOU KNOW IS ON THE BROOKLYN SIDE OF RIDGEWOOD, MYRTLE AVENUE MAIN SHOPPING AREA THEN AND MOST LIKELY STILL IS NOW.

[iamgroovy]

I've seen alot of betta sellers on eBay and aquabid from the NY area. You might be able to avoid shipping charges...

[armada]

I was thinking of breeding my Crowntails in few weeks. You want one, you can have one.

[kyryah]

Have you tried local clubs/forums? I frequently see nice ones for sale on our local forum here in north Texas.

See, that is the thing. I don't HAVE a local forum (that I know of) and local clubs simply do not exist. The nearest pet supply is 60 miles. Some of us are just plain rural and do not have those options.

Kristina

[Twistersmom]

Unfortunately I support the local fish stores that keep the bettas in cups.
I see one in terribly nasty water or one that looks like its on its death bed and I just can't leave it at the store, even though I know, I really should.
Think I am up to 11 bettas now.
I hate supporting stores that treat there fish that way, but on the other hand I feel good about giving the fish a better life.

[iamgroovy]

See, that is the thing. I don't HAVE a local forum (that I know of) and local clubs simply do not exist. The nearest pet supply is 60 miles. Some of us are just plain rural and do not have those options.

Kristina

That's my situation. That's why I usually buy fish online. The few pet stores in the area are more than 30 miles away and the health of their stock is questionable. The extra cost in having fish shipped is worth it for me

[StarStruck8]

I think the first link was posted already, but ah well. :)

Aquatech NY (http://www.aquatech-ny.com/id54.html)

Betta Splendens (http://bettysplendens.com/articles/home.imp)

The 2nd one can be a bit more expensive...seems to be almost the same amount it would cost to get one from Thailand. I love Halfmoon Plakats and I never see those locally!

[katschamne]

Petco is now putting some of their stock in tanks. They are trying to inform people that you can put them in a tank and they do well. We have ours in eye level tanks and you would be surprise the comments we get because of it. We still have the rest of them in bowls but we try to tell people that those are temporary housing. We clean our bowls out at least twice a week. I know that this is an exception, and not the norm weather it be a LFS or big box store. It all depends on the store staff. Plus if you think that the bowls are bad you should see how they are actually shipped.

[kyryah]

That's my situation. That's why I usually buy fish online. The few pet stores in the area are more than 30 miles away and the health of their stock is questionable. The extra cost in having fish shipped is worth it for me

Yup, I have had people tell me I am crazy to pay that much for shipping, that I am spending to much - but I would not HAVE any of what I have if I didn't! It is completely worth it to me to pay the extra and get healthy fish from hobbiests, rather than drive 60 miles to get sick fish from a big box store.

Kristina

[Flying_Diamond]

I too recommend Aquabid and not all the sellers are overseas. You just have to look. Here is the fella I just bought from a breeder in Arizona. About $50 total and he is stunning!

http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/closed.cgi?view_closed_item&fwbettashm1244648858

She just bred him before she sold him so she'll probably have some for sale soon.

this betta looks a lot like the betta i recently purchased for my boyfriend.. expected to be here next thursday.. here's a link. :)

http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/closed.cgi?view_closed_item&fwbettashm1245207004

[WandaA]

I've had good luck on Aquabid. There are a lot of US sellers there.

[BettaFishMommy]

have you tried here? http://www.brooklynaquariumsociety.org/


here's another link that might be useful: http://www.ifocas.org/usstates/newyork.htm


and here's a link for everyone in the U.S. of A. looking for a local fishy club/group/forum:
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/greatercity/links2.htm

[nikond70s]

i used to buy my betta online. i forgot what the site was..dammit! but their betta's were top quality runs about 35-60 for a pair and shipping would be like $40-50 bucks. so i basically paid like $100 for a pair of betta plus shipping. i know it sounds crazy but it was very worth it. and not to bragg or anything. i rarely find any betta's as nice as mine(my opinion of course). check my avatar. and i no longer have him.