BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Fish A Few New Betta Questions

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It's me again! Broadway's betta-mom. I have... a slew (slough? sloo?) of new questions, and I figured I'd make a new thread for them... feel free to delete if I'm wrong in doing so!

1. I am seriously considering getting a second betta (of course, not for the same tank!) to have as well as Broadway. Do you think this is a good idea, honestly? I have plenty of time, but I don't know if I'm skilled enough yet at caring for bettas. But I just love them so much!

2. If I do get another, I might get a female. But even if I don't, I'm curious about this question. I've seen pictures of females with eggs, and they look almost like they have dropsy! How do you tell the difference? And will a female have eggs even if a male isn't in her area? I know this may sound really stupid, but I just don't know how these things work with bettas. <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

3. If I do decide on getting a second fish, how can I convince my mom that I'm not just wasting my money? I mean, she can't "forbid" me from getting another, but I'll probably never hear the end of it. She loves animals, but she'd think it was a waste.

Edit:
4. I remembered the other! What are some good places to buy bettas online for a price that a college student can actually afford?

I had more... I'll post them if I think of them.

On another note, I gave a speech today in my public speaking class about getting betta fish as college pets. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

1. If you feel like you are willing to take care of the 2nd one and feel you are prepared to find answers to your questions/issues and you have the space, I would say Go for it!!
2. I don't know anything about female bettas. Maybe someone else will be able to help you.
3. If it brings you pleasure how could it be a waste? You could use them as flare buddies (for VERY short periods of time). This allows them something similar to exercise. You should not have them side by side all the time if they seem to flare at each other excessively.
4. I don't know anything about buying online. Sorry...

I am sure you did a great report; let us know how you did!!
Amber

Thanks a ton! I appreciate the help. I feel like I could care for a second betta, but I don't know if it would turn into an issue at all. Thanks again for the advice!

It seems to me that bettas online would be more expensive in general, because they are generally sold by breeders. What is the price of a betta there? Here they run about $4 a fish, a little less (unless you want a crowntail, then it's about a buck more). Also, it is probably stressful on the fish to be shipped around (not that they aren't shipped to stores in the first place though, so I guess this doesn't matter).

I really wanted a kind other than a veiltail, which seems to be all Wal-mart carries... and that's the only pet store around here, unfortunately. But I don't mind picking up another veiltail if that's the cheapest route to go. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I was researching also about possibly getting a female betta for Ares, and how to deal with the female getting pregnant, etc. and realized that I do not have the energy it will take lol I also have a 6-gallon aquarium at home and both that and Ares at work keeps me plenty busy! Oh and the 2 male bettas I gave my 2 nephews as well (I clean the tank, etc for them). So I guess you gotta make sure you got the time to devote to them, specially when you get little betta babies!

As far as online, I've been looking atthe following:

www.aquabid.com
www.liveaquaria.com
www.siamcrowntail.com

I feel i have to say though that i have never ordered from these sites before. The top 2 were recommended to me from a previous post and the last one I just happen to find on the internet while browsing. I LOVE looking at the bettas!

Good Luck in whatever you decide to do! =)