Betta Rescue - More Harm Than Good?

Not to really stir the pot....but isn't buying from a reputable breeder still supporting the mass production of Bettas? The more people buy and have Bettas, the more other people will want to do the same. And the mass public will go to PetsMart and buy one for $3.99 and not order/buy from a breeder for many times that.

*Sort of* like those who buy puppies from responsible breeders make others want the same puppy.....but most people are likely to buy the cheap (puppymill) puppy out of the paper.

Zambize

 

I see what you are saying, Zambize.

I find myself mulling over your point, Zambize, and I can't find any part of that post that I am not agreeing with.

Probably half of the fish Dino and I keep in the fishhouse are things that are NOT currently endangered or extinct in the wild, so for us reproducing those that are not endangered or worse, I suppose that does make us, in a round about way, continue SOME of the sales that big-business gets.

I think the only arguement to be made with that mindset is that if we don't reproduce and sell those fish, striving for the healthiest stock we can provide, then the big business chain stores will sell more of the unhealthy and low quality stock.

Sadly it is a 'catch 22'.

 

Yes, you do make a good point there, I have to agree that much as I, or any other responsible breeder might not like it, I can't really argue against it. In the past, there used to be the fact that if you wanted a more unusual tail type or colour you would have to go to a breeder directly, so you couldn't really have people going 'ooh I love your halfmoon' and running down to the store to get one, but now most of the tail types are being mass produced, and a lot of the chain stores seem to carry them so that doesn't really hold anymore. It does end up being a rather ugly two-tiered system, and that goes for pretty much any domestic animal, with some breeding for the love of the animal, and the joy in producing healthy quality offspring, and others breeding huge numbers for profit without much regard to the well being of the animals.
It seems that as people get more serious into a hobby, be it fish, dogs, fancy rats, etc. they tend to buy more from breeders and less from stores, but you're right, the general public doesn't often consider these things to the same degree and is likely to get their pets from wherever it is economical and convenient. To some extent that is also totally understandable. If you just want a nice pet, most people aren't going to spent 40$ on one fish, or several thousand for a dog, when they can get one that to them will be just as good for much less.

 

I agree with CWC's and Dino's points and with their philosophy of breeding healthy fish in healthy environs. That costs $$$. I personally am willing to spend some extra dollars on a beloved fish, including reasonable but very careful shipping. Considering all the proper equipment, the dollars spent on the the fish itself are minimal, especially if it is only one betta.

I still think that for every Walmart, Petco, or Petsmart rescue from a cup, there's another one being bred by mass production, tortured and either dying or rescued. I salute all you brave enough to rescue a sick betta from a cup in a big chain store, and some people such as Karen have found some awesome bettas at PetCo. I suspect the particular store near her has a pretty special breeder connection, though.

I certainly don't want to start a flame war here, my most beloved of all Web sites. But I personally think it's better to buy from -- and support -- a responsible breeder. If you're in the U.S., there are many reputable breeders on Aquabid and eBay, and I'd personally buy from a U.S. breeder with high ratings rather than from a Thailand breeder, especially with the diseases that seem to be coming from Asia right now.

My betta, Candi, was born and raised in NYC. She has almost no chance of getting a contagious disease, since her parents were also raised by the breeder. Then, she was kept in a jar by herself starting at about 2 months old. She's now about seven months old. If she develops a disease, it's not from a contagious disease, other than something latent that could develop with bad water conditions, etc. I also know her exact age, about her parentage, etc. I couldn't have gotten this knowledge about my particular fish had I bought her at a local or chain store.

 

My betta, Candi, was born and raised in NYC.

Well that certainly explains her attitude!

 

Everyone here says that you should buy from a responsible breeder to support them which I fully understand. However the only difference between fish and other pets is fur. The real question is do you go to the SPCA and adopt the puppy whose history you don't know whose been in a kennel with other strange dogs with unknown histories or do you go to the breeder? Do you take the risk and take in the stray cat on the street, do you buy a kitten from the people next door who refuse to spay they're cat and can't get rid of the kittens or do you go to the responsible breeder? In either case it's not the animals fault that they were born as part of the wrong litter, or batch of fry.

 

The problem is that in supporting the large chain stores it's more akin to supporting the puppy mills than the SPCA or even a backyard breeder.
But yes, it is never the animal's fault where or how they are born. Every fish in the store wasting away in a small cup is just as deserving as a good home in which they will be well cared for as the a best of show winner. It's really a choice everyone has to make for themselves, and no one can tell someone else that they are wrong to provide a home for a betta that was otherwise doomed to a slow and painful death, or that it is wrong to boycott such stores and only get fish from responsible breeders. Unfortunately in the world we live in it's almost always the animals that pay for whatever choices people make.

 

The difference with fur pets and fin pets is that veterinary medicine is more advanced by leaps and bounds for the fur pets more so than the fin pets. You take a dog into the vet and 9 times out of 10 they can do blood work to find out what's wrong. Are you then going to spend that same 50-100 dollars on a betta to have blood work done or are you just going to let it die and go buy another?

So why not get the higher quality, more healthy, and better chance to survive fin pet?

 

Here my two cents on the matter. There are a ton of travesties and horrible situations all over the world. Not everything is easy for us to swallow, and I condone and appluade those people who try and make a difference in what ever way they feel is right. There are countless situations when someone's good efforts only resulted in horrible outcomes. If you want to step back and think broad for a minute, how do you propose we feed all the sick and starving people of the world? If we save every human life, this planet would choke on the population, much like an overstocked fish tank (think polution, raw materials, disease, food).

Some situations just don't have a good outcome. This betta situation is one of those. I doubt that fish will ever get the same respect that other animals do (which is saying a lot considering what other animals go through). All we can do as respectful pet owners is make our pets lives as enjoyable and healthy as we possibly can. I am encouraged by communities like this one who get together and try and solve all the problems with our pets, all the while celebrating their company and uniqness. As for breeders, as long as they are in it for the right reasons then they are the best bet for someone looking for a good fish. As for the poor guys and gals in the cups they are probably best ignored until something causes a change. It will likely take some kind of media action/hype to get anything done and I just don't see Bettas as marketable material to masses.

 

I am so bad... I was at PetSmart buying some supplies for my 29 gallon tank and stumbled across the betta section. Of course I had to leaf through the jars to see what was there. I saw a beautiful green striped female who was only in 1" of water and had to "save" her. Now she is in a plastic double breeder box in my community tank that has a male betta in it. I'm not really sure what I'm going to do with her.... the options are to section her off in my breeder tank or put her in the 29 gallon with an angel and some gouramis. Any suggestions as to which would be the most humane place for her?

Thanks!

-Ransom

 

I went to a store not that long ago where they kept bettas in tiny bags with barely any water! its disgusting I said something to the manager too XD and I think sorority tanks r a nice thing to do but instead of petco or petsmart try grocery store s to save them cuz I noticed they get treated even WORSE there!

 

I am so bad... I was at PetSmart buying some supplies for my 29 gallon tank and stumbled across the betta section. Of course I had to leaf through the jars to see what was there. I saw a beautiful green striped female who was only in 1" of water and had to "save" her. Now she is in a plastic double breeder box in my community tank that has a male betta in it. I'm not really sure what I'm going to do with her.... the options are to section her off in my breeder tank or put her in the 29 gallon with an angel and some gouramis. Any suggestions as to which would be the most humane place for her?

Thanks!

-Ransom

It was very kind of you to rescue her, but angels and bettas don't belong together I'm afraid. :-\ I guess of the two options the breeder box would be the better bet...

 

I will probably get flamed for this, but

as long as people keep buying bettas from places that sell them in cups,

stores are going to sell them in cups.

...true

 

Hello!!!!! I have heard many betta rescue stories that people love to share, I have started this thread to encourage (wow self :rolleyes people to share there stories (and they don't have to be about bettas!)

 

Ok, here goes!!
I responded to an ad on Craigslist where the person was selling a Goldfish. It was pouring down that night and quite cold.... by So Cal standards!!! I called up my oldest son to see if he would come with me because it was in a bit of a seedy part of town, it was nighttime and my hubby was still at work. We got there and the apartment was all in darkness. I looked down at the door-mat and there was a tiny plastic bowl, half-full of the dirtiest, filthy water I have ever seen in a tank (bowl in this case). I put my $5 under the mat as instructed and took my new Goldfish home. When we got home I found out that her tank-mate was a common pleco baby!!!!! The water was freezing and so dirty I hadn't noticed her bowl-buddy!!
We got the Goldfish into a clean quarantine tank and the pleco into a warm, filtered clean emergency tank and then sat and scratched our heads!!!
Next day I took the little Goldfish too my friend at the LFS who has a gigantic indoor pond and asked if he would take the little guy. No problem. Actually I can still pick her out of a whole mass of goldfish and koi (I think). I still have the little Pleco. Her name is Pleco-Bello, she is now about 5" long and will be going into my 125 gallon tank I am getting as soon as we move this summer. I would have loved to have kept Goldie, but I know she is happier in a huge pond where she is safe from predators and has lots of Goldfish friends. That was sort of the start of me beginning to rescue Goldfish and Betta fish (and any other fish I can help) off ads on Craigslist. I love it!!!

 

The poor pleco and gold fish!!!!! The pleco must have been really unhappy in there because of the freezing water. I am so happy for his gold fish friend to! I used to have a pond in my backyard (small) and we had five little goldies in it.

 

Hello!!!!! I have heard many betta rescue stories that people love to share, I have started this thread to encourage (wow self :rolleyes people to share there stories (and they don't have to be about bettas!)

You want to be careful with the "r" word. Too many people have made posts about rescues, when they really were just purchases.

Hope you get some true rescue stories.

 

Here ya go...

 

When my brother and I were in maybe elementary school, we found a 10 gallon tank half full by the side of the road full of fish, totally abandoned. I don't remember what fish they were, but we took the tank and put them in our own 10 gal

 

Okay, here goes.
My neighbors are simply awful to their animals. They constantly buy their children pets, and when the kids get bored with the animal, they abandon them. Anyway, I was outside with my dog when I noticed a walmart sack filled with water near their garbage can. I thought it must've just fallen out, so I went over to throw it away, but when I picked it up I was horrified. Inside the bag I found a listless male betta. I quickly went to knock on the door, but when I asked my neighbor she simply said " My kids don't want it anymore. You can take it, or throw it away, I don't care." It honestly made me sick. Anyway, I took the little Betta home, and within a few days of care, his condition improved ten-fold. Today, the Betta, whom I've named Blaze, fits right in with my minagerie of other fish rescues/unwanted's.

 

When my brother and I were in maybe elementary school, we found a 10 gallon tank half full by the side of the road full of fish, totally abandoned. I don't remember what fish they were, but we took the tank and put them in our own 10 gal

Okay, here goes.
My neighbors are simply awful to their animals. They constantly buy their children pets, and when the kids get bored with the animal, they abandon them. Anyway, I was outside with my dog when I noticed a walmart sack filled with water near their garbage can. I thought it must've just fallen out, so I went over to throw it away, but when I picked it up I was horrified. Inside the bag I found a listless male betta. I quickly went to knock on the door, but when I asked my neighbor she simply said " My kids don't want it anymore. You can take it, or throw it away, I don't care." It honestly made me sick. Anyway, I took the little Betta home, and within a few days of care, his condition improved ten-fold. Today, the Betta, whom I've named Blaze, fits right in with my minagerie of other fish rescues/unwanted's.

Wow. Just.... wow.

 

my sentiments exactly.... :'(

 

It honestly makes me sick to see fish, or any animal treated like this. I am just thankful that I, and so many other people, are willing to take abandoned animals into their homes. <3

 

Over the years, I've rescued several pets............

Rescue #1
Last summer I picked up a 55G, but was warned I had to take the fish as well. This tank was stocked with a 20inch and a 18 inch common pleco, two 4-6 inch clown loaches and a half dead silver dollar.

I had been warned that they had been unable to care for the tank....but was not prepared for what I saw. Tank had about 6 inches of water and very dark brown and stunk so bad it made me gag! Filter and heater were turned off too. I asked how long, and they said they turned off the filter and heater since they were no longer in the water and were doing no good. Thinking about it still makes me shake my head....why not fill up the tank!?!?

Rehomed the plecos, much too much waste for a 55G. Clown loaches seem to be in good shape. But the Silver Dollar had almost lost all its fins. Even today, he has most of his tail, one pectoral fin and about half its dorsal fin. analfins still non-existent.

Rescue #2
Friends had started a couple of small fish tanks, but decided they didn't want them. I didn't know it, but they had unplugged everything and left the tank with about 2 inches of water. Had stopped feeding the fish hoping they'd die. After 4-6 weeks, they finally asked me if I would take them, tanks and all. Of course I did. I figured I could rehome the fish once healthy.

I ended up with 2 tanks (5G Hex and 12G Eclipse). Oh my god!!!! The 5G hex had 3 half dead ADF and 2 dead bettas and the 12G had a 2 inch common pleco, 1 glass catfish and 3 blackskirt tetras....among many dead, unidentifiable fish. From the looks of things, I'd say they were eating the dead bodies trying to stay alive.

Believe me, these friends got a very long lecture from me!

There have been many other rescues. Over the years, this is how I've acquired nearly all my tanks. The only tank I purchased new was the 90G. And I recently purchased the 125G and rehomed it's fish.

I do not understand how someone can have such a lack of concern for the life of another living creature.

Non-fish rescues include......
*15 month puppy abandoned and almost starved to death when rescued at 10-12 weeks of age. Vet estimated she had been on her own for at least a month

*Budgies that do not trust humans. Untamed and scared to death when we attempt to clean their cage due to the utter neglect from previous owners.

*Rabbit that is horrified to be outdoors. I have no idea what brought this on; but my daughter is caring for him in the house.

 

I "adopted" (at least that's what they wrote down on the tag) a firemouth from my local petsmart because he apparently had killed all his tank mates and they were going to "get rid of it".

There is apparently an ongoing problem with people putting multiple bettas in one cup at my local walmart store and I have to fix them every week I go in there. The most I have found is six.

 

SIX?! That is a lot....

 

There is apparently an ongoing problem with people putting multiple bettas in one cup at my local walmart store and I have to fix them every week I go in there. The most I have found is six.

That is disgusting. I'd report them to the authorities, were I you. A fine will encourage them to do their job properly.

 

my sister-in-law kept her betta in a 2-cup fishbowl for eighteen months. no heater, no filter, no dechlorinater, and a water change about once a month. I mentioned he was sick every time I visited, and mentioned more water changes and some medication for his deteriorating health would help him.
The last time I was over, I mentioned he was sick, and she told me she was sick of dealing with him, was disappointed her cat hadn't killed him yet, and was going to flush him down the toilet... unless I wanted to take him.
So, I took him, his bowl, his betta-food, and his meds(which she had bought- and overdosed) home. His head and body were liver-brown, one eye was blind, and his fins were clamped into faded blue wrinkled ropes with the beard that is supposed to come out when he flare burned completely into crumpled black tissue behind his gill-covers. I questioned whether or not I should put him down rather than try to revive him.
That was mid-October of last year. Now his body is an iridescent plum/lilac purple with royal blue and cherry-red fins. He resides in a 2.5gal. aquarium (I know, not ideal, but he should be upgraded to 5gal. soon), and spends much of his time searching for and trying to destroy "pest" snails. his fins are becoming less wrinkled, although one ray on his dorsal fin is burned into a curly-Q, his beard has grown back, and I think his eye is regaining some sight.
I can re-post pics if necessary, but I already posted them in these threads:
this one, introducing him:

This one shows the true color of his scales, and the issue in it has since been resolved(i.e., the pits in his head are no longer there) :

he still has difficulty eating his food as he can't see where it is very well, but I do try to put his food where he can see it and use my finger to poke it out of obscure places.

 

he still has difficulty eating his food as he can't see where it is very well, but I do try to put his food where he can see it and use my finger to poke it out of obscure places.

I would have thought fish would be able to "smell out" food, because of little particles that wash off it. Not so?

 

I would have thought fish would be able to "smell out" food, because of little particles that wash off it. Not so?

he knows when it is in the tank, but he relies mostly on eye-sight for actually "catching" it. He has an easier time eating it if it is moving. Some species of fish might cope with his difficulty better, as not all fish rely on the same senses to find and catch food. All I know is, if he is supposed to be able to tell the exact location of his food by smell, that function is either deformed or burned out.

 

That's really sad! I can't believe she didn't put dechlorinater in the water!!! I hope she doesn't go get another betta and treat him the same.... But hay, he's alive and beautiful so that makes all the difference.

 

That's really sad! I can't believe she didn't put dechlorinater in the water!!! I hope she doesn't go get another betta and treat him the same.... But hay, he's alive and beautiful so that makes all the difference.

I asked her what a water-change for him involved, and she said getting out a cup of water and letting it sit for 1hr. I've heard a few stories of the torture he went through, and seriously if I found out she wanted another fish I would either try to talk her out of it or see if I could get her to give it proper care. Failing that, I would talk to my brother(her husband) and see if he could dissuade her.
She now has a cat, and is highly unlikely to get any more fish. The fish thing was so she could have a "small, low-maintenance" pet while she was in college.

 

Oh Wow, I just choked up reading about your rescue Gemstone. I just don't understand neglecting anything that lives. I am just so happy that you have him now and he is safe and loved. Emperor surely is a deserving name given his past trauma.

 

MEAN people do horrible things

I wanted a Super Delta Betta so I went to a store where I knew they had them. They had some GORGEOUS male bettas all in their individual cup, and then they had a 6 gal tank FULL of females, and then I realized there was a male in there too! the females had nipped his fins to half their original size and were still nipping at the poor thing and attacking him all at the same time, his condition was HORRIBLE and his colors were dull.

I went there looking for a great looking betta and ended up leaving with this poor horrible fish (he really looked AWFUL). I bought him a 5 gal tank with filter and heater and he now happily shares his tank with 6 neon tetras. He is absolutely GORGEOUS now!!!! (still needs a lot of new regrowth, but is getting better) I have some pics I took a month ago in my profile, new pics will be posted soon, feel free to look!

BTW, he is my first fish ever and I LOVE him.

 

BTW, he is my first fish ever and I LOVE him.

Ditto for me ;D

 

I wanted a Super Delta Betta so I went to a store where I knew they had them. They had some GORGEOUS male bettas all in their individual cup, and then they had a 6 gal tank FULL of females, and then I realized there was a male in there too! the females had nipped his fins to half their original size and were still nipping at the poor thing and attacking him all at the same time, his condition was HORRIBLE and his colors were dull.

I went there looking for a great looking betta and ended up leaving with this poor horrible fish (he really looked AWFUL). I bought him a 5 gal tank with filter and heater and he now happily shares his tank with 6 neon tetras. He is absolutely GORGEOUS now!!!! (still needs a lot of new regrowth, but is getting better) I have some pics I took a month ago in my profile, new pics will be posted soon, feel free to look!

BTW, he is my first fish ever and I LOVE him.

wow I went to your pic and he is very pretty! good save =]

I was at walmart once just looking at the fish with my daughter. I spotted a blue betta in a tank of bala sharks and something else. all of his fins nipped off, and I knew if I didn't take him he stood no chance.

I asked the person how he got in there, and she said people would come by and dump some of the bettas out into the tanks, to see how long they'd last. don't know how she knew that.

well he was able to regrow some of his fins, but developed dropsy and did't make it. =[ I tried

 

wow I went to your pic and he is very pretty! good save =]

I was at walmart once just looking at the fish with my daughter. I spotted a blue betta in a tank of bala sharks and something else. all of his fins nipped off, and I knew if I didn't take him he stood no chance.

I asked the person how he got in there, and she said people would come by and dump some of the bettas out into the tanks, to see how long they'd last. don't know how she knew that.

well he was able to regrow some of his fins, but developed dropsy and did't make it. =[ I tried

wow sorry he didnt make it but you had a good heart saving him. I bet he was happy that he had a good home before he passed

 

thanks =\ I lost him about a year ago...and I think he was happy. at least he passed away with me, instead of in that tank, or sick and suffering in a dirty little cup (they were going to put him in a cup, after they got him out of the shark tank).

I knew that someone who was wanting a betta, wouldn't want one with his fins all chewed off....and the girl hinted that they would've probably just dumped him since he most likely wouldn't sell. so he would have certainly died due to neglect, and improper care. at least I gave him a chance.

 

I don't know if its just me, but prefer owning rescued bettas, hands down. Not only does it make you feel good knowing you saved a life, but they also seem to have great personalities, once they've learned to trust you of course..

 

I don't know if its just me, but prefer owning rescued bettas, hands down. Not only does it make you feel good knowing you saved a life, but they also seem to have great personalities, once they've learned to trust you of course..

I agree!!!! my betta is SO active and playfull, as soon as I go into the room he swims up and starts looking at me I have noticed that since they are not very social fish they become very close to their owners and the people that surround them. It has happened to me several times that I find him observing me or others that are in the room. He is amazing and I feel so lucky to have him!