shih-tzu mom

I was looking for some amonia for cycling, a couple of tanks and of course went to a local pet store.This is a pet store that sells, kittens, puppies, birds and fish.They had a sale on betta's-$2.99 here in Canada that is a good price, so i decided to take a look. God never but from local pet shop.These poor little things did not look like our Betta's on here, well they looked sick. the colours were not the way they should be and they were dumping them into bags with no oxegin in it.I know when i purchase from Big Ale's they always put oxigin in the carrying bags lol. Also in this house of horrors a lot of dead fish, with no care, and this is the second store within a week that i have seen this. the answer i got ,when i questioned the manegment was we cut back on staff in that department. lol- so does that mean that these poor Betta's should not have the proper care? no-they should have and not be dumped and put on sale for $2.99 so they can make more money on sick fish and restock again at the expence of these poor Betta's.I wish i could take them all home but unfortunatelly i have 6-already. So what can be done about the cruelity to fish?bella

Blub

I really don't know how we (the fishkeeping community) are going to convince the general public about proper fish care, but the day we do will be one fo the happiest of my entire life.

shih-tzu mom

yes, it is criminal the way ,they are treated just to cut back staff . bella

SkyCrystal

It's rather sad. Most chain retailers sell sickly fish that are kept in bad conditions. I look at Petsmart and Petco a lot differently than I did when I didn't keep fish. I love to look at the fish, because they usually have a very wide variety. But I would never buy any fish from there. I can't help but feel sorry for the employees. Most of them don't know anything about fish, except for the fact that they eat food!

-SkyCrystal

04_si

its so true. the best ones are the little hole in the wall, mom and pop shops. the LFS i go to, ive been in there a bunch, the guy is SUPER knowledgeable, and his tanks always look really good. its basically the only place i buy from, but it is a small shop, so i still need to go to Big Als once in a while

Red1313

The more threads I read about this sort of thing the more I think about sending an email to the humane society just to see what their stance on it is. I know the the CFHA (I think that's the right abriviation) has a stand on marine animals though I think it's directed more towards mammals rather then fish.

GouramiGirl1221

SkyCrystal, I definitely agree with you. I've only been keeping fish a little over a month, but like you I've always enjoyed watching them. I went to Petsmart last weekend to get some stuff for my tank and took a look at the fish, and I wanted to shoot someone! The poor gouramis weren't the correct color, their fins were terribly feathered at the end, their eyes were cloudy, and they hardly swam at all. My favorite fish store actually sells all kinds of pets and "stuff" for them, but there is always at least one knowledgeable fish person there, and luckily if they don't normally carry the fish that I want, they can order virtually anything and don't charge me shipping .

shih-tzu mom

i use to enjoy going to local pet shop and look at everything and now i don't even want to go in for sale supplies lol. it is just to much, i started with Betta's a lot of years ago, and there was none of this . the fish looked and were healthy[sp] and people knew how to take care of them. It almost brings you to tears to see these beautiful babies in little cups and looking sick. and worst then that so many dead fish, that they just scoop and toss. lol. bella

MrsM3197

Interesting thought...I wonder what would need to happen for some of these horror houses to get a visit from PETA or maybe the ASPCA or whomever cares. I know I have seen things in shops that sickened me, many of you obviously have too. I think I'll do a little research today in between changing beds, sweeping floors, laundry it'll give me something to do during breaktimes, and a heck of a lot more amusing than housework, LOL!!!

MrsM3197

Hey Everybody,
I emailed the AWIC (Animal Welfare Information Center), and requested information specifically on fish about exactly what can be done and who a person would need to talk to so as to report pet shops that are keeping animals in obviously inhumane conditions. I left all my info...perhaps if I get lucky maybe I can talk to somebody soon. 'Course the email just went out, I don't have any answers yet...however I will post again if I get any good news. Have a great day everyone

Blub

Post again with any new, good or bad please! We could really muck up these Death chains animal cruelty if this works out.

pinkfloydpuffer

Thanks for doing that MrsM3197. We'll all be awaiting the response.

I don't see why it would be so hard for stores to just put bettas in even a 1 gallon container rather than the tiny things they keep them in. Really it would just take a little more space, but then they would probably have less deaths, and so they wouldn't need as many bettas.

Lucy

Thanks for taking the time to do that. Please keep us posted.

shih-tzu mom

Yes, thanks for doing this and i hope we can all help just a little bit, will make the difference.bella

shih-tzu mom

Yes, putting Betta's in a i-gallon bowl would mean someone would have to work to clean them, and you know what we are told "oh cutbacks in that department" lol. bella

pinkfloydpuffer

What about just like the plastic cups, but bigger? Really, it wouldn't take any more upkeep than the tiny ones...

Sorry, I think these things through alot, as it's my dream to have a fish store, and I'm getting my business degree now so I can!

Blub

I'm sure it would be a very good store for certain!

pinkfloydpuffer

Thanks! I hope to be able to sell people fish and actually give them good info and healthy fish

Red1313

PFP: I like that idea. I've considered it myself but since my real dream is to get into Vet I'll keep it in mind as a back-up plan. lol.

MrsM3197: With you checking out with the situation on your side of the border maybe I'll send that e-mail to see how things stand on my side.

pinkfloydpuffer

Thanks I don't know why people start fish stores if they know nothing about fish, and/or hire people who don't know anything about them.... It seems rather riddiculous to me.

Steen16

I keep hearing people talk about bettas in cups it must only be in some countrys cause my lfs keeps there bettas in optimal condition in divided 10g tanks.. and they grill you with questions no matter what fish you buy! thats what i want to see more of! it sucks to here about poor bettas in cups!! shocking to say the least!

pinkfloydpuffer

You found a great store! Lucky you!

I hope to be such a store owner

PetSmart

As far as petsmart goes, they're required to use the small cups. I personally disagree, but that is a company decision and it's very hard to get them to change. With other fish however, their upkeep is a reflection of the employees working there. Most petsmarts are staffed by 18-25 year olds who really don't keep fish as a hobby, and really just wanted to work in a petstore. The petsmart I work at typically has no sick fish except on shipment days. When we receive boxes with ~250 fish in it, there are sometimes some stressed. Easily fixed with the medical tanks set up in our back room however. I have educated many of my coworkers and we function as a good team to keep our tanks clean, disease free, and alive.

pinkfloydpuffer

I did once see at Petco that they had put one of their bettas in the show tanks, that made me happy.

Red1313

Petcetera sometimes has a Betta in an tank that's been emptied or is almost emptied.

Oh and by the way I did send an e-mail to the CFHS. However I also found this on the site and I'm not sure if this includes fish or not. http://cfhs.ca/info/companion_animals Read #6 regarding exotic pets.

cognizant

Not sure if this helps any but... the animal cruelty laws in the US do not cover fish. The animal cruelty laws in Germany do though. I checked this out a few days ago when I went into a pet store and discovered 30 of their 80 bettas dead.

shih-tzu mom

Pinkfloydpuffer, why not keep the Betta's in a 2.5 minnie bow that the stores are advertizing to sell lol at least they would have more room to swim, and be less stressed and people would buy the larger tank. i beleive it has a pump heater and light that is sold with it here in Canada. lol that way they are accompishing 2-sales a Betta and a decent size tank. bella [sp]

shih-tzu mom

Steen16, the cup's that they keep Betta's in here in Canada are less in size than a cup of coffee. so, that is why the complaints here. when you see these poor little babies they can hardly turn around, let alone swim.- that is inhumane, and a lot of these little cups are dirty and it's not like they sell them all fast. god knows how long that little Betta will stay in that cup, or wait for it's death, that is why i say little house of horrors. bella

pinkfloydpuffer

That would be a good idea Make them buy the betta with the tank, lol. But I would certainly not carry anything smaller than the 2.5 Minibow. So they couldn't even be tempted.

shih-tzu mom

Way, to go if the Betta was sold with tank, the Betta would have a better start lol.bella