[header] How to help a betta fish live longer [title] Pick a healthy fish. [step] Make sure to acquire your fish from a store or person that takes good care of their stock. It can be difficult to tell what your fish's life was like before you got it. 
You might not know how old it is, or if it could be carrying illnesses. Betta fish in the store can be stressed, sick, and kept in poor conditions.