Choosing your first betta fish. So you have seen all the beautiful pictures, you have done the research and you have decided that a betta fish is the right pet for you! Good choice! But what do you need to know before buying your betta fish? And what tips are there to ensure you choose a healthy betta fish? First step: You should set up your aquarium before buying a betta fish. Aquariums should be cycled before adding fish. Usually around two weeks. Check out our guides on choosing an ideal betta fish tank and how to set up a betta fish tank. arge national pet-stores are often not recommended for live-stock of fish. There have been too many examples of neglect (dead fish in tanks / tanks not maintained). Choosing your first betta fish with healthy There are even examples of Siamese fighting fish being sold in tiny little cups from large national stores – these should be avoided at all costs. This is not a healthy environment for a betta fish. The water will get dirty very quickly because there is so little of it – this leads to many betta fish illnesses. This means you are more likely to buy an ill fish but also we believe this storage of a living animal is animal cruelty and shouldn’t be supported. Some betta fish lovers opt to buy these betta fish claiming they are ‘saving’ them – their heart is in the right place however buying these fish is only supporting the trade. Wherever you choose to buy your fish make sure that all the tanks in the shop are well maintained and never buy a fish from an aquarium that includes a dead or a visibly ill fish.
