fishtroy

Ok, commonly referred to topic in this forum about bettas not being given enough space but I saw something the other day that left me ranting and raving about what people will do.
I was at a pet store. Picture this:
They have a large spare tank (They usually have fish for sale in it but they had sold out) about 80cm length and 50cm wide, totally set up with water, light, filter, heater, gravel ornaments etc. With no fish in, so guess what they did? They thought the tank needed a fish in it. So they put a fighter in it, Great we say! How wonderful for the fighter! NOT! They did indeed put a fighter in. The fighter was put in the tank INSIDE a cube shaped container, no bigger than 10cm on each side. It had airholes so he could breathe of course but he was closed inside the cube which they put on the bottom of this huge tank. So this little fighter is looking out at this gigantic tank with ornaments and swimming space beyond his wildest dreams and he is stuck inside a 10cm X 10cm clear plastic cube unable to get out and swim.
What is with the world?!! Let him out to swim! You have the tank what would it hurt them? I questioned the staff over the reasoning behind this, apparantly should someone wish to buy the fighter they did not want to have to exert the effort to net him from the big tank so kept him inside the cube. I was incredulous for the rest of the day, had I had money I would have bought him. But what is the world coming to?

Beth1965

I would have been tempted to steal the poor bugger.

iloveengl

That's disgusting. Laziness, especially considering how easy it is too catch bettas, is unforgivable.

uprightandlocked

This is terrible! That little guy needs to be able to get to the top of the tank to breathe. That is animal cruelty.

JaneAustenAddict

I would have been fuming too! It is utterly ridiculous the way people toss bettas around like pieces of garbage!

Did you point out that he needed to be at the top of the big tank to breathe? I think I might have said I wanted to buy him and then sneak him back on the shelf when they weren't looking.

Lucy

I could cry when I read things like this.

I agree, pure and simple.
I wonder if they even know what a labyrinth fish and that they need to get to the top.

fishtroy

Yes, anything to save him would have been tempting. But I think my dripping arm from having to put it in the tank to get him out might have been a give away.

fishtroy

I know and even asking them to let him out had no impact! I tried to give them a guilt trip by loudly talking to the betta while the sales people were in earshot, sympathising and saying that he could not breathe or swim. I decided that they must have a heart of stone, if they have one.

whisper

Poor thing. I'll bet if you went back and asked about him they would say he died. OF COURSE HE DIED YOU STUPID SALES PERSON, HE COULDN'T BREATH!!!!!

COBettaCouple

So many people have no respect for life and don't seem to have much in the way of a heart either.

Martinismommy

This kind of stuff makes me furious!