Rescueing Bettas?

[Malorey]

I was wondering what you thought of rescueing Bettas from say Wal-Mart, Petco, etc. All mine have come from those places.

See I am not really a newbie when it comes to Bettas. I just now found out the right tank sizes, but I have owned Bettas for 4 years. All coming from Wal-Mart except for 2. I usually get the sickly looking ones, but sometime there is a newer lively one in I just must take.

I have had Lazer, Miss Ghost, Casper, Link, MayMay, Brain, King, and about 8 others. Sadly not many lived very long. I had all my supplies and did my best, but sometimes you have those ones that just can't pull through after what they have gone though. But, at the same time the ones who names I have listed lived life to the fullest, and 3 are still alive now.

Like tonight, I went to Wal-Mart looking for fish stuff. (Which what I needed was not there, so we went to Aquahut.), and all had blue water. :C Which I had been told meant they were sick. Someone my friend knows worked there and she told her that. I never knew that though.

 

[Ryan_R]

It's a conundrum, to be sure. No right answer.... and you'll never win.

On the one hand, "saving" as many as possible is pretty righteous. On the other hand, you're feeding the corporate giants and "encouraging" repetition of the same behavior. They don't care why you buy them. They've got your money, and if you want to play "save the fish", they'll be glad to oblige.

Honestly, local fish stores aren't necessarily the best either. Running a fish store puts you in between a rock and a hard place with moral and business decisions.

This is the problem with all pet ownership, not just fish. Do what you can do within reason, and press on. We've got 5 cats and 2 dogs (maybe three by the end of the weekend!) for the same reason.

Personally, I avoid Wal-mart and the big stores out of principle... I like to support small businesses... plus, I guess it shields me from the sadness of lonely animals...

I dunno.

-Ryan

 

[ReMz]

Saving bettas..... do a search on this and you come up with a thousand threads. Part of this is due to all the "betta sites" out there that caution to not rescue fish.

I'll give you my opinion on this one. A lot of the time you will read "DONT BUY FROM THE CORPORATE MONSTERS.... THEY JUST KILL FISH". The big pet stores (wal-mart) buy in bulk at the cheapest prices you can imagine and if 50% of the fish die they couldn't care less. Sucks? yeah. can you influence them to not do it by not rescuing their fish? no. Don't forget that the people on this forum and other fish-oriented people barely even compare to the mass consumers that want a betta fish.... and know nothing about them.

I garuntee you that they calculate the percentage of lost bettas (as well as their other fish.... wal-mart has some pretty bad quality control for aquariums) and they are making a profit so it doesn't matter. Sometimes you can complain to a non-moronic manager and get results.... but usually it's pointless.

Save the fish. You are providing that fish with a good home and nursing it back to health. NOTHING is wrong with that. Anyone that has concerns about saving a fish from a petstore needs to re-evaluate their motives and status of well-being. As if saving a dying animal is now "incorrect". Doesn't matter who is at fault, you are doing a good thing. Those fish would die whether Wal-Mart made a profit or not..... and they could care less. Just be prepared to treat them properly and have a good home. This brings me to my next point.

Don't buy anymore bettas unless you can house them properly. IMO every betta you have should be in a 2 gallon tank or more with a heater and filter. They have a long life span (a few years) if you get them young. If you MUST keep them in smaller containers, a gallon is the LEAST i would EVER consider putting a betta in and the water should be changed every 3-5 days. I don't condone that, however.

If you are going to own a fish, buy the necessary equipment and do it right. If you are not willing to do that, then don't try to compromise by buying a "betta". They need the same filtration, size, and heating requirements as any other fish to thrive.

rant over

 

[ReMz]

It's a conundrum, to be sure. No right answer.... and you'll never win.

On the one hand, "saving" as many as possible is pretty righteous. On the other hand, you're feeding the corporate giants and "encouraging" repetition of the same behavior. They don't care why you buy them. They've got your money, and if you want to play "save the fish", they'll be glad to oblige.

Honestly, local fish stores aren't necessarily the best either. Running a fish store puts you in between a rock and a hard place with moral and business decisions.

This is the problem with all pet ownership, not just fish. Do what you can do within reason, and press on. We've got 5 cats and 2 dogs (maybe three by the end of the weekend!) for the same reason.

Personally, I avoid Wal-mart and the big stores out of principle... I like to support small businesses... plus, I guess it shields me from the sadness of lonely animals...

I dunno.

-Ryan

right on.

and that is just how it is. i just think it's... dare i say "hippie-like" to say that saving those fish keeps the "Big man" in business. People that know nothing about fish but have heard about betta fish keep the stores running.

 

[Dorkhedeos]

Think of it this way, if big chain stores are making negative profit from fish loss, wouldnt it make sense for the people in the fancy suits to just say, "Screw the fish department, make room for something else."

 

[newfishy]

I know you hear it alot...dont buy from the big stores, you are only contuning the cycle, but really the only way the cycle will break is for more local people to breed quality bettas....for 90% of people they are not going to spend 30 bucks to ship a fish, but if they could get a healthy pretty betta from a local breeder they would.

this alone is the biggest reason I am trying to raise bettas, to break the crap cycle and give fish a better life.

 

[shortymet55]

Whats the difference between the Bettas in the tiny containers at Walmart and the Bettas in the tiny containers at my multiple local fish stores? BTW The best Bettas I have seen around me are at Petsmart.

 

[Ryan_R]

right on.

and that is just how it is. i just think it's... dare i say "hippie-like" to say that saving those fish keeps the "Big man" in business. People that know nothing about fish but have heard about betta fish keep the stores running.

You're exactly right Hippie indeed! ... I kinda didn't want to broach that subject. To me it's another moral dilemma: The bulk of the fish keeping hobby/industry is mostly supported by folks who aren't necessarily taking the best care of their fish, even if they mean well.

Something doesn't sit "right" with me about that. I guess it then cascades into that whole question of "is it right to keep fish in glass cages?"... bla bla bla....

I dunno.

-Ryan

 

[Night61]

i had a quandry like this myself today, but it was aimed at a local pet store. these poor bettas were being kept in small bowls or these horried death traps called aqua rings. i ended up buying one betta insisting the man give the pour fish more water for transport. storm is currently chilling in a one gallon ( which much seems like a resort compared to his old prison) while his new five gallon filters thought for the day. still the fish thinks even the tempory holding tank is the greatest thing ever.

 

[newfishy]

and honestly I dont think 1 gallons...as a temporary thing are bad, esp if I get a fish that I will be giving away as soon as they are healthy enough to make the trip to a new home.

 

[ReMz]

and honestly I dont think 1 gallons...as a temporary thing are bad, esp if I get a fish that I will be giving away as soon as they are healthy enough to make the trip to a new home.

Even as a permanent tank I think they can get along fine. I've had betta's in 1 gallons that act like kings. Not the ideal home... but not "cruel" imo.

I just prefer to keep them in larger tanks because it is not only more fun for you to watch, but they have a great time swimming around and exploring.

right on.

and that is just how it is. i just think it's... dare i say "hippie-like" to say that saving those fish keeps the "Big man" in business. People that know nothing about fish but have heard about betta fish keep the stores running.

You're exactly right Hippie indeed! ... I kinda didn't want to broach that subject. To me it's another moral dilemma: The bulk of the fish keeping hobby/industry is mostly supported by folks who aren't necessarily taking the best care of their fish, even if they mean well.

Something doesn't sit "right" with me about that. I guess it then cascades into that whole question of "is it right to keep fish in glass cages?"... bla bla bla....

I dunno.

-Ryan

heh. ya well. whole different discussion. but if any of us truley had qualms with keeping fish in aquariums, we would not be members of this site eh?