Picking Out A Betta

[Kissy]

When picking out bettas, its important to watch out for signs of disease, color, ragged fins, flaring at others etc. but I came up with another good way to tell if a Betta is healthy. Stick your finger in the little hole at the top of the cup. The betta will think its going to be fed, so if it reacts and starts looking for food, you know it is aware of its surroundings and also has a nice appetite!

[Guest Paper Tiger]

Erm, please don't do this.

You've been doing things throughout the day. You've touched door handles, you've picked up your pet supplies, you've gone to the restroom, and you have probably used soap afterwards.

There's a lot of stuff on your hands, and you're introducing it into a very small space whose conditions need to be kept as clean as possible for the fish living in it.

Also, you're then carrying out contaminants from inside the fish cup (and let's face it, fish pee too) and passing them along to anything you touch afterwards--including other cups as you test other fish, which is a good way to pass along any sick fish's germs.

[tinkerbell]

maybe just wash your hands before and after?

good tip though!!

[Guest Paper Tiger]

maybe just wash your hands before and after?

good tip though!!

374254[/snapback]

It's good for you, but bad for the fish--soap residue on the hands and all.

[sandy]

I think kissy meant just show your finger to the betta and not actually touching the water?

[Kissy]

Whoa, sorry for confusion. I wrote that wrong. You don't need to stick your finger in the hole. Usually, when the betta sees a hand over the cup they should spring to life thinking about their meal. No need to touch at all. Sorry ^_^;;

[tinkerbell]

good tip.