Bitten By The Betta Bug! New Pink Betta.

[TubbyLaLa]

After Waftys arrival I am certainly besotted with bettas. So I sacrificed a sofa in the lounge to make room for another tank (good old ebay!) looking at the space wondering if there is room for a few more . Our LFS's have some bettas in dire need of rescue but I don't want to perpetuate bad trading and poor conditions, not that keen on posting fish so wondered what peoples opinions are....

 

[K.J.]

I'd rescue it, but it's all up to you.

 

[_cRaCkEr_]

Bettas are addictive and that's for sure ....

 

[TubbyLaLa]

Problem is KJ there are at least 6 locally in need of rescue!!! I have Wafty in a Juwel Rekord 60 and as he is just settling in building bubble nests don't really want to disturb him by putting dividers in there to fit in another one, and he is fairly new so don't want any problems with new fishies with possible disease going in there, hence the new tank. The new tank will only be big enough for one betta to be comfortable (I like giving them plenty of swimming room) and I am on the look out for any other suitable tanks second hand. Am leaning towards the rescue option as there are not many breeders locally so that may count that one out anyway. Will have to wait for new tank to cycle but luckily have friends willing to donate mature filter media so should not take too long fingers crossed!

 

[three-fingers]

That's what I don't understand about this section, the amount of 'rescued' bettas.
Personally I would never 'rescue' a betta, IMO it's just SILLY .

 

[lilfishie]

i personally would rescue one, i'd rather take it in knowing i can give him a second chance than watch him sit and rot or get eaten by other fish, bit thats just me

 

[stang1]

I'm all for rescuing fish but I'm against lining the pockets of the stores.
As has been said before, if a fish is kept in poor conditions, then rescuing it isn't going to stop the store from replacing it with another fish, just to be kept in the same conditions.
By all means, rescue the fish but also have a word with whoever is in charge. If they are a decent store, then they will listen and hopefully make some changes. If not, then you may have to go over their head and speak to someone higher up in the hope of resolving it.
My lfs generally keep their Bettas in good conditions but I've had a chat with them to see if it can be improved. They are asking someone to help design a Betta barracks system. They agree with letting Bettas have space on their own but also allowing them a decent amount of space to swim around in. Hopefully, your lfs may take notice too!

 

[TubbyLaLa]

It is like banging your head against a brick wall with one lfs still putting bettas in with awful tank mates in small way overcrowded tanks. Even though i have spoken to several members of staff/managers asking for bettas to be moved for the sake of the fish and also pointing out how do they expect to sell a betta with no fins! If you can't pull at their heart strings (cos they don't seem to care abut the fish) pluck at their wallets to make the point!! Happy fish = happy customers! Don't know how much good it did but I live in hope. So don't want to go there again Wafty was saved but I don't want to keep lining their pockets. One local lfs is fairly good bettas are ok but the was a large pleco (i think) wedged in a tank as he had not got enough room to turn round poor fella was way too big for the conditions he was in pointed the fish out to the owner and he did seem concerned but had no bigger tank to move him into. I just feel that if I keep buying bettas in bad conditions I am perpetuating the problem. I just sometimes think the sympathy vote feeds bad practice but also don't want to leave the poor fishies to their doom. If any one knows of good breeders in the norfolk area please let me know. Can you tell my mind still isn't made up?

 

[lljdma06]

I do not rescue fish from LFS. I will not bring disease into my other aquariums and risk my other stock. People are very nice for doing so, but I think you ultimately contribute to the problem. The LFS will just replace the rescued betta with a new fish. If you don't buy, they won't supply. I will bad mouth a store that has consistantly poor stock, and have often openly critiqued store owners about the conditions of their fish, incorrect labeling, and improper fish combinations. Usually, especially if it is a "mom and pop" store, they will try to listen, especially when they learn that I am an experienced hobbiest.

I will, however, take less than perfect stock from a local breeder or friends here who have bred fish. Especially from friends here with adoption threads. But these fish were raised in a clean, disease-free environment by a person who obviously cares about the well-fare of the fish (especially if they are posting huge spawn threads with detailed accounts featuring proud pictures of stuffed fry! ) and they are otherwise healthy fish. They just have minor imperfections (weak gill-flap, split fin, under-developed ventrals, etc) and make great pets, but can't really be sold as breeding stock. I do not consider this a "rescue", however, just a sensible, often great way to get a good-looking betta at a great price! I actually prefer to get bettas this way, as I'm often exposed to better color combinations and a better variety of fin types than what is available in my neck of the woods. My favorite betta is still Alberich, a lovely plakat from Synirr's first spawn, with a deformed gill-flap and a smaller-than-average size. He is one of my loveliest fish and it was great helping Synirr out by taking some of her stock. Unfortunately, this way of getting bettas has declined a bit here. We've had some pretty fantastic spawns about 2 years ago. I have, however, seen some recently encouraging threads, so hopefully this trend will continue.

llj

 

[Miss Wiggle]

i won't 'rescue' fish. think it contributes to the problem, if i see something in a store i don't like i speak to the manager about it, if i don't get a satisfactory response i vote with my wallet and shop elsewhere.

both our betta's in the past have been from a reputable breeder on-line, closest to option 2 but not quite!

 

[girl4God81]

I use to rescue some bettas here and there from a local walmart. On top of that I kept in close contact with 2 managers and 2 of the guys under the store manager. They were all very nice. I had told them 2 or 3 times that the only reason I was buying a couple of their bettas was b/c I had been seeing them in their cups for weeks only getting worse, water not being changed, etc. They of course apologized every time and said it makes them look horrible that a customer had to buy fish b/c they weren't taking care of them. They were both pretty embarrassed esp since they kept telling me they assign people to change water out and they don't know why it isn't getting done. It was a reflection on them not doing their job as a manager and they knew it.

But now, every time I go over there, the same poor girl is doing water changes. She never looks too happy to be doing it and isn't overly friendly either. But, at least she's doing it! And the tanks always look great, and the betta cups usually seem clean. Not near as many dead bettas.

 

[TubbyLaLa]

MR TubbyLaLa Solves the problem when exploring one fish shop that was keeping fish in good conditions he spotted this guy! I cut through my guilty about mistreated bettas thinking that was left, majority of my thinking was for having healthy happy fishies. This fella just shouted look at me take me home from his tank, such a sweetie just need to think of a name, Mr Tubby LaLa wants to call him ladyboy!! I think we are in need of name suggestions here he is.....

 

[lilfishie]

aw he is such a pretty lil guy, no idea on names though, not very good

 

[Maxsmom]

Awe... he's beautiful! I can see how hard it is to resist getting him... and other bettas that need rescuing... but like the others have said... there will be another one to take their place...

 

[TubbyLaLa]

He was not what I consider a rescue, the shop only had a few bettas but they were in good sized individual heated/filtered tanks, (Mr T is very tall so I was too short to spot them!!) and all look very healthy and happy. So I don't think I am perpetuating the pet shop ignorance problem and have a healthy happy fishy. I think we have found the only fish seller we will be dealing with from now on. Very happy with the new arrival! Still need help with names though