I would have loved to buy from a good breeder... but there were none close enough... and I'm really hesitant to get one shipped to me. Yes, call me paranoid!
So I had two choices. Buy one from Petco, or the petstore in town (where I got Nor and Marley). I chose the one in town, of course (we know all the workers and they take great care of their animals)! Their bettas all looked healthier than Petco's.
Is their a smaller petstore in your town? If so, it might be better to go with them.
Hope you can find a healthy little guy!!