The Best and Worst Bettas PetSmart Sells (Tier List)

If you’ve ever bought a betta fish from PetSmart for your aquarium and it looked perfect… then slowly fell apart a week later, it’s not because bettas are “delicate.”

It’s because the PetSmart cup wall rewards the wrong genetics.

This video ranks the most common bettas PetSmart sells from F tier to S tier, based on what actually survives long-term once the fins stop being a novelty and the fish has to function like a real animal.

Bettas ranked in this tier list:
• Rosetail / Feathertail Betta — bred for fins that tear faster than they heal
• Double Tail Betta — unstable body genetics that collapse under stress
• Crowntail Betta — permanent shredded-fin look, even in good tanks
• Halfmoon Betta — fin drag, fin rot magnets, constant damage risk
• Dragonscale Betta — thick scaling with long-term health concerns
• Dumbo / Elephant Ear Betta — extra fin mass, awkward swimming, easy injuries
• Veiltail Betta — the “boring” betta that often survives the longest
• Female Betta — better mobility, fewer fin problems, less fragile by design
• Koi Plakat Betta — the best balance of color + function PetSmart actually sells

What you’ll learn before you buy one:
• How to tell if a betta is already failing on the cup wall
• Why certain fins rot first (and why it isn’t random)
• What PetSmart labels actually mean vs what the fish really is
• The one betta type that gives you the best odds in a real home aquarium
#aquarium

26 Comments

  1. Omg I haven't seen your videos in a bit, congrats on the channel image upgrade! I don't know when exactly you made the switch into showing your face, but the suit is looking awesome!

    I love my betta lots. He has a very special (to me) slightly heart shaped tail which made me struggle to tell what kind of tail he has, I have since found out he's probably a "low grade" double tail, but I think he is the most special little guy! His unique tail is so charming, and I love the look of a heart shaped tail 😀 he has perfect mobility and is basically still a half moon. Fortunately I've never had issues with him, but also I do put a LOT of thought into his care.

  2. Instead of the fancy Betta I prefer the standard male and the female I have 2 female Bettas in fish bowls I have had them for years they have actually grown to be a bit large but I have them in a big fish bowls so no worries 😊

  3. I assume this list applies to Petco too?

    I'm amazed how people think the Veil Tail is boring.
    For the price, I think it's nicer than most freshwater fish.
    $4 v $40….. Yes Please!

    Great video.

  4. Miss the fish dude but love the face reveal!! For some reason I imagined you white and I cannot tell you why 😂 keep up the videos! I’m learning so much about fish keeping and I don’t even have fish nor plan to get any any time soon lol

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