Should I, or Shouldn't I

[RandomWiktor]

Ok. So I was so fed up after my dear little sealink died that I decided I was completely done with my fish hospice efforts. In addition to how heartbreaking the experience was, I am also finding that in order to keep my bettas in the large tanks I prefer for them, I have very high expenses. While I make room for them by saving up money from relatives, never going to movies, only using money for food and gas, etc., our family is a little tight right now, so I'm thinking it'd be in our best interest if I don't get any more fish. But, I'm getting a job this summer and will be putting all of the money I get towards the expenses of my (many) companion animals to help my parents out while my mom looks for a new job.
And yet...
Yesterday, I was out to get some plants to decorate my snail's tank with. The only open store is one I had previously taken a lot of bettas from; they're good about refunding deaths. While I was there, I saw a very sad looking betta with a few nasty looking cuts on his body. I thought something else was wrong and couldn't put my finger on it, until I realized that his entire dorsal fin was gone, with only a nub of scar tissue remaining. It looks like an old wound, something that won't grow back.
This fish probably isn't going to be bought. Who wants a ripped up betta without one of those beautiful fins that make them such nice decorations (heavy irritation here) ? This store has a bad habit of not cleaning their bettas often enough, so I know he's going to end up with all kinds of brutal infections in those cuts (if he hasn't already).
But, I am at the same time worried. If it wasn't for the fact that I really needed supplies and it was the only place open, I wouldn't have gotten anything there because I don't agree with how they keep their fish. Should I really sink more money into a betta that has good survival prospects, thus meaning I won't be getting my refund and this store will be getting even MORE money? I've complained to their manager time and time again, but are my threats not idle if I keep coming for the fish? I think so.
Even though I have an empty 5 gallon, all stocked up and ready for fish, I'm thinking of the time and money that goes in to these guys' care, and I'm leaning towards no. I'm also concerned about supporting this store (I feel BAD about buying those plants for my snail, even if the bill was only a whopping 5 dollars). But at the same time, I can't get this poor little guy out of my head. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I'm thinking "well, how can your parents complain about taking this one home if you just lost one? There wouldn't be any greater number of tanks. Besides, you'll be paying for it come this summer."

Bleh. I don't know. Advice anyone? Like, nice, structured advice, taking into account not just the fish but my situation and my qualms with this store?

 

[BettasRFriends]

In my humble opinion....dont. If you had bought that betta, the store would assume that putting them in those little dirty cups is fine as long as the money comes in. Most stores wont give a jack about what you say.

 

[annka5]

Sorry, but I agree with bettasRfreinds - if you buy fish from that store, then all that happens is that they see bettas as selling well, and so will stock more of them. It's a business; all you'll acheive is them stocking more bettas in terrible conditions.
If you can, I would say you should stop buying anyhting from that store and tell them why.

 

[BettaMomma]

I have been there - gone through what you're going through right now... I can safely say I know just exactly how you feel. Eeyore (the new guy that Grulla went and rescued from PetHell) was weighing VERY heavy on my mind, much like what you're going through right now. I even lost sleep over that little guy. I had no room for him, but she did so she took him in. He's a wonderful addition to her little brood, and he has so much personality - the little guy just needed to wind up with the right owner to feel like his purpose in life was actually a good one, and that he was appreciated just the way he is and not that he was taking up a tank where a "normal" fish could/should be. He's there now.

Granted, we can't save them all... but when they're weighing so heavy on your mind, what can you do?

Let me ask you this -
What have you been planning to put into the tank that's already setup with no one in it? Is there anything, besides the actual fish itself, that you will have to buy to get him nursed back to health right off? Since you already have a hospice setup, I'm assuming that you already have meds and food. - all the things that he would require to be an incredibly happy and healthy fish, right? Right? and water's free..... that's his number one basic requirement from you (besides food).

I don't have to go through and give you a big ol' speech about the rewards of rescuing fish, because you've done it to a much greater extent than I have so you already know. Honestly, (this is my personal opinion) I feel like you've been through enough rescues that didn't have such a happy ending and you really, really deserve to reward yourself with a fish that really needs an understanding and caring person like you to make his life wonderful, but you also need him to fill a space that all the ones that have come and gone have left.

Do what your heart tells you to do.
But do one thing, if you do decide to go and save him - please.
Let the manager know how disgusted you are that you had to make a special trip to come back to the store because you were so bothered by the fact that they kept this fish in such nasty conditions that you felt compelled to come back to save his life.

I know you'll make the right choice.

 

[FishyLoveBug]

I know its hard. The same thing happened to me a couple of days ago and I had to walk away. Finally I couldnt stand it anymore and rushed to the store only to find him gone. I keep telling myself he was adopted by someone who cares. Try to remeber there are people out there who do look for the sick ones.

 

[red_fish_blue_fish]

I am still nursing my betta's back to health from Wallmart...

I was the same way when I lived at home....lol. U cannot afford it when you are out on your own, so while you have the means...I would do it. Get him, and then don't shop there again.

 

[RandomWiktor]

Well, the initial expense - tank, gravel, heater, lights, plants, food, etc. is not what the "expense" is. I have all of those things. I am talking about the long term expense of keeping unhealthy/recovering fish - and lots of them. A big dechlorinator lasts me about a week because I have a 30 gallon, 10 gallon, and about 7 five gallons. And its not cheap. Filter cartridges are anywhere from 2-6 bucks a pop, and when you have to keep taking them out, throwing away carbon, etc. for medical treatment, it starts adding up on that many tanks. Then there's the meds itself; about 2 treatments worth of Maracyn for one of my 5 gallons puts me in the hole close to 10 dollars. Now imagine using not only a whole LOT of Maracyn, but anti-fungals, betta fix, maracyn, salts, ich cure, velvet cure, and so on. It adds up big time. I'd say each hospice fish, even if I already have a tank, probably costs me at least 20 bucks for the initial care, and as for the rest of its life care...? Eee.

I know to married adults with jobs who are self sufficient, this seems pretty trifling; a few bucks here and there. But take a lower middle class college student whose mom just lost her job who isn't going to be employed until this summer. Every little cent counts at that point.

As for talking to the store, good god I've talked a lot. I very seldom if ever shop there any more; only if I really, REALLY need something and nothing else carries it or is open. This would be another reason to stop my little "betta rescue" - afford the bettas I have better, and stop putting money into the industry. I even talked to the manager - in front of customers, holding up a dead fish - about their poor husbandry, telling him "I don't shop at Wallmart because they keep their fish in these conditions, but if this store is too, I might as well just go there for the convenience and lower prices!" and talking about how the fish had clearly been dead for days based on how its water looked, so obviously the fish hadn't been checked on/fed for days. You'd think a big scene like that would make them clean up their act, but no. People just don't give a damn about fish.

Rargh. I'm leaning towards "no" even though I would love to save this fish, because I don't think it is fair to the pets I currently have. I'm not talking just fish. My family has about 30 companion animals. It wouldn't be right for me to sink time and money into a new animal, thus taking time and money from animals I already have. That 20 bucks I have to spend on one hospice fish could feed both of my parrots for a month.

Yeah, I'm leaning towards no, even though it pains me. Anyone here live in Scranton/Dixon City PA and want to help a fish? lol.

 

[BettaMomma]

Aha. I completely understand where you're coming from.
It sounds like you've thought this completely through.

Regardless of what you do, I'm sure it will be the right thing for you.

OH, could you pm me your address, please?
One you'll be at for the next 2 weeks or so...

 

[BettaMomma]

Hold on. I originally had decided I was going to send you a care package with goodies for the hospice in it.

But, I had another thought.
If the only thing stopping you from getting this fish is finances, would you consider letting me "sponsor" him?? We have a complimentary problem - I want more rescues but don't have any place to put them. You have the room.

As long as you'd have a place to put him when you brought him home, would you consider that? I could go pick up salt, meds, dechlor and ship them to you.

Whattya think of that idea???

 

[RandomWiktor]

That is an amazingly kind gesture, BettaMomma! But, while money is the biggest issue, particularly for long-term care, I am a little concerned about the husbandry time too with more sickies with finals coming up. Though I'm sure I could find time by being on this dang computer less. Hmm.
So, the only other main obstacle is that I do have a feeling my parents will hang me if I get another fish (even though I fail to see how one more fish is an issue with them, especially since one just died and I'd be paying for everything with work and caring for them....). That, and I'd feel a little bad about having you put money towards my animals since you have so many little sickies of your own to care for!
There is finally the issue of not wanting to support this store financially, though who knows; by the time I make up my mind, he might be a hospice fish, not a rescue.

I'm thinking that what I may do is talk to my parents about allowing my to use some money my grandmother gave me for easter for this one last little guy. Espcially since I was going to be setting up a 2.5 for my snail; maybe they'd let me set up a five with the betta and snail. The other option is not telling them until I come home in 6 weeks, but that'd be sneaky and mean.

I don't know. I reckon this is something I just need to think over. I really do appreciate your desire to help this little guy though, and once I've talked to my parents, I'll get back to you asap. ^^

 

[BettaMomma]

Do let me know.
I would be MORE than happy to phone the store where you'd be getting him from, to see if they would consider just giving him to you. I can be pretty persuasive Of if you'd just like me to call there as a member of the general public and tell them that I spotted a very sick fish that disgusted me and that I would be contacting the ASPCA and PETA in their area to come check it out I would do that too... That generally seems to at least get them thinking.

Let me know what you decide. Whatever will be fine by me.
I have no issues whatsoever with supporting the little guy from afar..
I would require some pictures every now and then, of course. and a christmas card from him. lol

Heck, if I had the room, I would be supporting little Eeyore right now , but Grulla's got him instead (she's such a saint!!). Money's not really my biggest issue with fishes right now, it is just the lack of room...
I just landed a nice new position here at work with more pay, I'm getting a rather large tax refund this year and I ALWAYS keep an emergency fish/guinea pig fund around just in case.

Please do consider it, but do know that I do understand the amount of work that they require, also, so I would be supportive of your hospice even if you didn't get the little guy. I would still send you a little care package just because I think what you do is incredibly wonderful. If only god could put more people like you on earth.

 

[eudielynn]

I have been thinking about this for several hours now. It really is a tough situation. None of us want to see this fish die. But I do understand how you are limited as to what you can do. I have a dog (down now from three) and two cats that were rescues and of course my fishys. I also have two kids and a husband that is disabled, so I have to put them first. On the other hand, the thought of this little guy dying in those conditions and no one caring I am just grasping at straws here, but is there a friend or a relative that doesn't live in your household that could be talked into a new friend? Maybe you could loan them your empty tank? I also hate the idea of supporting a store that sells fish like this, but the alternative is that the fish die. There is no easy answer.

 

[BettaMomma]

Yeah.
And folks always say that we should not be spending our money at these stores by buying fish. In my opinion, the only thing that hurts is the fish, because then they keep right on suffering and dying in those conditions. I will keep right on taking in sick, injured and/or dying fish as long as I have the means to keep up with good health for them. For the time being, I have had to stop. However, that does not mean that I won't do what is necessary to make sure that every fish that I meet that needs emergency care won't at least have me approach an employee to plea for some treatment for the fish.

If that is all that I can do, so be it.

BUT... where we do hurt these places is to take these fish from them, and make them aware that we are ONLY buying these small money makers from them because we are disgusted with their fish keeping habits. And we buy NOTHING else from them, and make them FULLY aware of it.

I have let WalMart know time and again that they lost a big customer because of their fish. Not that they care, probably, but if they keep hearing about it and people raise a ruckus in some fashion, we're doing the best that we can in order to make them aware of how we feel.

 

[FishyLoveBug]

They dont have bar codes on them I say you steal the bugger.
Just kidding of course. Actually why dont you speak to the store manager and ask him since the fish is near death if he would be willing to just give it to you. A sick fish does him no good.... and you would like to provide it with a nice home. Also add that you will be buying all his medicine from that store in attempts to save him, then of course dont.
I am not evil I swear I just have no sympathy for people who do these kinds of things...

 

[3fsh]

This is a hard issue to deal with...

I've gotten to the point where I *talk* the employee manning the "fish area" into giving me the fish for free. It doesn't take much work to do this. Basically, you learn a bunch of fancy sounding disease names (which you probably already know) and *point out* all of these problems on the fish. (DO NOT use the common name for the disease... these sound too simple and they can easily comprehend them.) Anything at all which would indicate that the fish will die in the near future or will never be bought by anyone. Cuts, fuzz, bloat, missing fins, sunken stomach, etc, etc, etc... I've had so many fish given to me for free, it's hilarious. (BTW- This approach also works with small fry which will *obviously* be eaten by the parents who are in the tank with them. ) Honestly, I don't think meds should be an issue. IME, sick fish who are given clean water and a little bit of salt can sometimes heal on their own. If they aren't going to give you the fish for free, however, I would suggest not buying anything from their store unless it is an emergency. Anyone who will not give an obviously diseased/dying fish to someone for free who will take care of them does not deserve your business.