I Can't Decide!

[Khanna]

 Against my better judgment, while my sister, mother and I were at walmart, I went off to see if they had any bettas. Having heard the awful way they're treated from people here, I prepared myself for the worst. So it wasn't a shocker to see almost all of them belly-up in their little blue cups, it was what I expected to see. I wasn't expecting the need to save each and every one of them- even though they weren't the fancy halfmoons I was thinking about- I wanted to give them a better home. It makes me sick how they're treated; I was on the brink of bringing one to my mom and begging her to spot me five dollars to save this one, even though I knew she would say no.
 
 I saw one, one of the few active ones, and he looked so eager to see me. He flared, and started showing off, and when I picked up his cup, he started swimming around in circles. He was beautiful, orange with green- he almost sparkled. When I put him down, he kept flaring, looking at me.
 
 Then a woman, clearly a mother, walked up to the betta shelves and bent down to look. She wrinkled her nose and looked at me, "Why are they all sleeping?" I shook my head and said, "No, ma'am. They're all dead." She laughed and said, "Ha, you know, bettas (Bay-tuhs) can live in puddles. It's where they lived in China. They sleep at the top of the water." She shook a cup, and one of the bettas stirred weakly. "See, he's fine. I'm getting two for my daughter." She  lifted one of those tiny betta containers- you know the little 2 liter container divided in half? Rocking on my 15 year old heels, there wasn't much I could say. "Um, ma'am, all fish need five gallons minimum. Maybe you could divide a ten gal-" She cut me off. "I know what I'm doing. I had goldfish as a kid, they were fine in a smaller container!" She then grabbed two bettas and walked away.
 
 -seethe- I can't get over that. Walmart wouldn't stick a dog in a 2 ft x 2ft cage and let it sit in its own poop all day. I want to save a betta or five hundred but I don't want to promote the trade.
 
 So now, I'm not sure what to do. Should I buy from a reputable breeder and get a healthy halfmoon? Or should I go down to walmart and get a poor, sick betta and surprise him with a new home?

 

[snowflake311]

Its more the ignorant people that are the problem.  Most breeders keep bettas in 1 Gal Jars.  But this breeders know how to care for fish. 
 
Bettas are one the second most abused fish Goldfish being the first. 
 
I use to save walmart bettas as a hobby.  I have like 6 walmart rejects. 
 
Good job trying to educate the lady. That's all you can do. 

 

[Khanna]

I don't know what more I could have said, my age works against me in those sorts of situations.
Though I can see you point- at my local petsmart, goldfish are the first thing little kids can see- along with those itty bitty bowls.
I really want to go right now and see if that little betta is still alive.

 

[Meeresstille]

I know it will support the terrible treatment the poor Bettas get,and I know you're aware of it as well, but I could not fault you for bringing happiness to you and the Betta both!  

 

[Khanna]

Exactly, there's my problem. I know the bettas from bettaakapes will do fine- I'd assume you'd have to be pretty experienced in order to take a $30 blow to your wallet. And I know I'd just be paying for the next shipment.. but I think once I can scrape together five dollars I'll head down to walmart and save one.

 

[RCA]

I believe the only way to stop places like Walmart is through education.  Maybe writing to management may help, although it is unlikely as they are obviously in it for the profit, not the animals welfare and probably get the Bettas very cheaply.  I too can understand you wanting to save the Betta that looked at you, and one way to look at this is you gave one a chance.  He sounds like a lovely Betta.  In the US, who are the people who license pet stores, like Walmart?  What about the animal cruelty organisations, can you approach them with some education to see if they will assist?
 
I am lucky that near me there are four LFS's, so I can be selective.  However, there is one near me that is appalling, there are often lots of dead fish on the bottom, although recently they are removing them each day.  As it is also a Garden Centre, I was there yesterday with family and as usual the fish in there were emaciated and diseased.  It really hurts to see some unsuspecting person come in and buy fish, knowing they go into their tanks at home and infect their existing fish.  This happened to my friend, she lost the new ones within 12 hours then all her others, bar one that we managed to save.  This is why I quarantine, and this is even after purchasing from reputable LFS's.
 
Keep us posted on the outcome.

 

[Ny82]

That sounds like such a shame. We keep hearing about bettas sold in walmart-isn't that like asda here? Imagine asda and tesco selling fish, we're lucky they don't. As mentioned above, you'll be helping that one-but another will take its place. I know it's cruel but what can you do and where does it stop? In a way, you buying them encourages them to do it and they just to bring more in. Like the LFS I get my baby brine shrimp from-they often have them in vases. I was so tempted but someone reminded me that I take that one it will be replaced with another. I have learned that now and have started walking away which makes me sound like cruella but sometimes it's what you have to do. 
Good luck, let us know what happens. 

 

[techen]

Asda and tesco don't sell fish as it's much harder to get a license in the uk than it is in the us. Same as getting a gun in the us compared to the uk. Overall I think there's far worse things going on in the world than to worry about bettas. I think having them in cups is to save money and I don't believe it's walmarts fault it will be the lack of fish welfare laws that let them do it.

Anyhow what about the trees! Save the trees! :3

 

[Khanna]

 I did write an email to the management. I'm not sure how much good it will do, but I will keep you posted. I know Walmart can sell fish, but aside from that I can't think of any other supermarket that sells fish. Then you have petsmart, petco, the generic pet shops, etc. But there aren't any animal cruelty groups that encompass fish- at least not any that a quick google search yields. I also made a point to say in the email that their fish can infect other people's tanks, so thank you for your point.
 
Asda and tesco are both big supermarkets, so Walmart seems akin to them. Yes, that was part of my dilemna- I know it is funding the next shipment, and you do have a point- where does it stop?  And you don't sound cruel, it is understandable.
 
 Little things count! Other people can save the world; I'm far too nonconfrontational. I'll save the bettas in Walmart and that'll be my feat. Techen, you can be the environmental revolutionary

 

[Mamashack]

It's good to know that some of the next generation of fish-keepers have their heads on straight so well done Khanna for taking a stand and having a go even tho in the case of that know-it-all woman it didn't work. One day it will help so stick to your guns and buy the ones you want and can afford, but don't feel bad about the ones you can't help. You aren't responsible for their current condition, but you are wonderful for trying to help where you can!

 

[TallTree01]

Anyhow what about the trees! Save the trees! :3

Techen, will you marry me?

In all seriousness, the only ways to stop this cruel practice is better education. They need big posters with a heading ' what fish really need ' with all the fish they sell's requirements. There are no laws regarding the selling of fish. Only through generosity can a salesman decline a sale and lets face it, I can't see someone earning maybe 10-20$ an hour rejecting 5-6$.

 

[the_lock_man]

walmart-isn't that like asda here? 

 Wal-Mart own Asda.

 

[Wildbetta]

Walmart will not really care about your letter unfortunately.  The employees also are not allowed to give discounts on sick or dying fish or they face being fired -- not warned or slapped on the hand -- fired.  They get just as much money for the fish if it dies and they have to recoup the loss as they do when they sell it.  Walmart as a cooperation does not care.  
 
I do think it is good of you to save one (I have done it multiple times) but do understand that it will be replaced.  Fish are not looked at like other animals so there really is not a welfare for them unfortunately.  Educating people is about all you can do although it doesn't always sink in. 

 

[Khanna]

 It is awful that Walmart truly does not care. They think fish are disposable, unthinking, unfeeling things, and it's awful. In our culture, if an animal doesn't have fur, it is not a sentient being- and that's what we see day to day in places like this. I did my best, and whether they reply or not will be up to them.
 Regardless, I think I'll take your idea, TallTree. Security won't notice if I put up a few posters, right?

 

[Khanna]

 Oh, my goodness.
 
 A few minutes ago I got a call from the manager at my local walmart. He actually walked down there himself and checked it out and cleaned everything out- I can't believe this! He promised that it won't happen again (though the cynic in me says otherwise) I cannot believe they took into account what I wrote. Wow. I am truly impressed, and I hope that it opened their eyes to the treatment of these fish.