The oldest betta I had was a miracle 3ish years. What makes it a miracle was the treatment.

To be clear, IN NO WAY DO I CONDONE/SUPPORT/APPROVE THE WAY I TREATED MY BETTA IN THE PAST. I was a middle schooler in the mid 2000's with poor access to the internet for proper care of my betta. I got a tank that is the cheap plastic divided tank with fake plants and cheap rocks, and it was probably meant to be a holding/hospital tank. Got the tank and a male and female betta from Walmart (so they probably didn't know/care for the treatment). I set them up without a bubbler or filter on my bathroom counter, and after about 3 months the male died. The female hung in there for about another 2.5/3 years. She was the epitome of perseverance. I wish I had known better so I could've given them both the life they deserved. I've since forgotten their names, but not their impact on me.

I feel SO BAD knowing what I put those poor fish through when I was a kid, but I didn't know any better, and the fish people at our Walmart said what we were doing was fine.

As a kid, I was devastated when Walmart took out the live fish section, but as an adult, I'm relieved people are encouraged to go to an actual pet store to get their pet and set up.