Devil on my shoulder . . .

[Cooperman411]

I have an elderly betta that I got on Reddit r/Aquaswap who needed to be re-homed due to an expensive shrimp-eating habit. I don't need another project BUT I saw the most personality filled solid white betta today. Looked like he had blue eyeshadow above each eye. But I don't wanna support Petco. But I want that fish. But I'm fighting MTS. But I have a 7 and a 10 gallon tank that could be ready to go in no time. But . . . The struggle is real. Try and talk me in or out of this!

 

[Fishnturtleguy933]

Pro, you enjoy the beta and are prepared to give him a better home than any box store can provide any animal.
Con, another tank in the house and petco/petsmart keeps abusing fish.

The reality, box stores are going nowhere and that fish will be better off in your care.
With supply chain issues, box stores are the only place that carry most of whats needed in my area. I can't get my cats food or litter at the grocery store behind my house anymore and now have to go to petco to find these things which is out of the way. It's like this in a lot of places so for the time being, they're here to stay. I say save the fish and enjoy it whilst you can. I've seen a few box stores near me have the same betas for 3 weeks with a few dead in the cups by the end. They just replace the dead even if no one buys. They have the money to do it. Keep in mind this is just my experience.

 

[MyFishAddiction]

If LFS or isn't an option, then try amazon or other online sites. then get from petco, if you dont buy from them, someone else will

 

[OutsideFoodBlob]

Talking you in. You went home and thought about it. If fish is there when you go back, let it be yours. As long as you can support gramps betta and their shrimp habit, why not?
You’re not getting a new fish every week, right? Right?!?! Lol.

 

[Rose of Sharon]

I say get him if he's still there, and give him a good home! You know what you are doing, so not a novice!

Post a pic if/when you get him!

 

[Cooperman411]

First off - thank you for the replies.

Another question - if the spouse doesn't say you can't have another tank, that means you CAN have another tank, right?

I'm going to set up the spare 7 gallon tonight. Will put some filter media, Milo's floating log (it's been completely ignored since day one), some plants & moss balls, and one of the 4 betta hammocks leaves from his tank and add some starter bacteria. And if this there tomorrow, I'll post a pic once he's settled into his new home. If not, I'll just have this sad 7 gallon tank sitting in my office and will start watching Aquaswap for another betta in need of a new home.

(Side Rant: Every LFS in the area has bettas in cups that are even SMALLER than the Petco Tupperware. I could start a whole tread, but as much as I think Petco/Petsmart are cruel places, I have yet to find a clean, well organized LFS where I want to spend my time and money. If anyone knows of an LFS int he LA/Long Beach/OC area that is clean, well lit, and seems like they really care about their fish, please let me know.)

 

[Fishnturtleguy933]

lol i mean, if she didn't say no? And how much more can 1 7 or 10 gallon tank really put on the bills? Unfortunately I'm in the northeast corner of the country and can't help there.
Best of luck to you, hope he's still there when you go.

 

[Cooperman411]

Got a job interview (via Zoom) at 11a.m. I'll go back after that. If he's there, 1. It was meant to be. and 2. It'll be a good omen for that job interview. LOL

I feel like a kid obsessed with a new toy. The only difference is I have a car and my own money.

 

[Fishnturtleguy933]

Got a job interview (via Zoom) at 11a.m. I'll go back after that. If he's there, 1. It was meant to be. and 2. It'll be a good omen for that job interview. LOL

I feel like a kid obsessed with a new toy. The only difference is I have a car and my own money.

This is how i feel every time i walk into one of the 3 lfs i go to. Lol

 

[MacZ]

(Side Rant: Every LFS in the area has bettas in cups that are even SMALLER than the Petco Tupperware. I could start a whole tread, but as much as I think Petco/Petsmart are cruel places, I have yet to find a clean, well organized LFS where I want to spend my time and money. If anyone knows of an LFS int he LA/Long Beach/OC area that is clean, well lit, and seems like they really care about their fish, please let me know.)

This shouldn't be a SIDE rant, this should be your main rant.

I'll put it bluntly: "Rescueing" Fish from any store that has subpar husbandry is fueling the fire. Instead renounce and boycott these stores and support groups that are commited to making the holding conditions in the trade better. You have a big problem with lack of regulations where they are needed.

Getting that fish would be an act of selfishness and ego boosting. Don't give in to it if you care as much for the animals as your quote above tells me.

 

[Cooperman411]

This shouldn't be a SIDE rant, this should be your main rant.

I'll put it bluntly: "Rescueing" Fish from any store that has subpar husbandry is fueling the fire. Instead renounce and boycott these stores and support groups that are commited to making the holding conditions in the trade better. You have a big problem with lack of regulations where they are needed.

Getting that fish would be an act of selfishness and ego boosting. Don't give in to it if you care as much for the animals as your quote above tells me.

Darf ich fragen wo in Deutschland? Ich war Austauschschüler in Kiel und ich bin oft in Hamburg, Freunde u. Familie zu besuchen. Mein Avatar-Foto zeigt mich in der alten Speicherstadt von Hamburg.

1. I didn't mean to imply that I thought I was "rescuing" this fish. I simply saw a betta with personality + that was an amazing color and was tempted.
2. The betta I currently have IS a rescue. His owner could no longer keep him so I spared him living in a small tank or being returned to an LFS.
3. If all of us would take the hundreds if not thousands of US$/€, etc. we spend on this hobby and donated it to wetlands and reef preservation funds, instead of "selfishly" keeping fish in our homes that have no business being there, that would be the best outcome.
4. My city councilwoman lives in my building. I will talk to her about the state of bettas-in-cups and see if she's willing to introduce any regulation forbidding it in the city limits. I will get back to you on this. Wish me luck!
5. Thanks for your point. It is appreciated. I like having my ideas/opinions challenged.

Ich war in Aquariengeschäften in Großbritannien und Deutschland. Sie sind schön im Vergleich zu den schrecklichen Bedingungen, die man in den meisten US-Geschäften findet. Ich weiß, dass es in jeder größeren Stadt einen tollen Laden gibt, aber in Los Angeles habe ich noch keinen gefunden.

 

[MacZ]

In der alten Hauptstadt am Rhein, und nur als Hinweis: Lass uns besser auf Englisch schreiben, die Mods sehen es nicht so gern wenn man andere Sprachen benutzt. Aber eins noch: Ich bin öfter im Norden, ich habe viele Leute in Hamburg und Bremen.

1. I didn't mean to imply that I thought I was "rescuing" this fish. I simply saw a betta with personality + that was an amazing color and was tempted.

Oh, that was rather towards people reading here and some of those talking you IN to buying it.

2. The betta I currently have IS a rescue. His owner could no longer keep him so I spared him living in a small tank or being returned to an LFS.

This is the kind of rescue I like. I'm just against people calling buying a fish that is kept horribly in a store "rescueing". I'm sure you know just as well as I do, that this only shows up as a sale in the stores books, and a sale means more orders, means more fish getting the short end of the stick.

3. If all of us would take the hundreds if not thousands of US$/€, etc. we spend on this hobby and donated it to wetlands and reef preservation funds, instead of "selfishly" keeping fish in our homes that have no business being there, that would be the best outcome.

Good point and I agree. For now it's best to invest in either tankbred fish or sustainable collection (Project Piaba is only one such project). But the fish we keep should then definitely be kept appropriately (Poking at some people that don't care and throw together what's colourful, no matter what.)

4. My city councilwoman lives in my building. I will talk to her about the state of bettas-in-cups and see if she's willing to introduce any regulation forbidding it in the city limits. I will get back to you on this. Wish me luck!

If I had any way of supporting this, I would! All the best fo this endeavour! I'm working on getting all store clerks here to take the exam of competence for Aquaria and Terraria. Right now regulations say at least one employee has to take the exam, but what if that person is on vacation or sick? We're at 80% here in town, hopefully we get to 100%

5. Thanks for your point. It is appreciated. I like having my ideas/opinions challenged.

You're welcome. I have one of these days where I seem to be stuck on that whole topic.

Ich war in Aquariengeschäften in Großbritannien und Deutschland. Sie sind schön im Vergleich zu den schrecklichen Bedingungen, die man in den meisten US-Geschäften findet. Ich weiß, dass es in jeder größeren Stadt einen tollen Laden gibt, aber in Los Angeles habe ich noch keinen gefunden.

Unglaublich, dass es ausgerechnet in DER Stadt nichts dergleichen gibt.
Unbelievable they don't have that in THIS city of all places.

 

[Cooperman411]

I'm ready to go either way. And like I said, if he's not there, I'll keep scouring Reddit r/Aquaswap for true "rescue" bettas. And when poor Milo passes on to that great bug-filled and predator-free rice-patty in the sky, I'll rescue again.

The 7 Gallon:

Last night we got a new faucet and in the packaging there was a thin sheet of black foam rubber that just happened to be the same size as the back of the 7 gallon. I taped it on the back and now it has a black background hiding the cords, heater, etc. Since it's textured hopefully it won't have much of a mirror effect. I moved over the floating log, added a very soft fake Amazon sword, 3 marimo moss balls, anacharis and a bunch of aponogeton bulbs (as they grow the fake sword will go), and one of the 4 leaf-hammocks from the other tank. Also put about 1/3 of the bio-filter media and another 3rd of the filter floss from the other tank in the filter. That spot gets lots of natural light so hopefully the fact that the built in light is won't be a problem. Also, the lamp has a grow-light in it. I'll aim that at the tank as the plants grow.

Here's my betta Milo and his in-home-care-assistant Patricia the Nerite. If he's not hiding behind the filter, or relaxing on a moss-ball, he's been lounging in the anacharis a lot the past few weeks.

His fins weren't jagged at all a year ago. And instead of the white fringe, it was cellophane. His body was also a lot more red and less white. And his ability to get his food has declined greatly. He has to lunge a few times to get a worm or a pellet. Fortunately he scans the bottom of the tank for the one's he misses and it keeps him busy.

 

[Cooperman411]

Ok, I hate to disappoint MacZ, but . . .





He's tiny! And after being trapped in a little 2 cup Tupperware for who-knows-how-long he zoomed around the tank non-stop. As he was released from the temp acclimation plastic bag, he went for the anacharis, tore off a leaf, and tried to eat it. I opened the top and he made a bee-line for me! I dropped in some food and he ate it like he had me well trained.

I also tested the water from his cup. I was surprised that the ammonia was 0! That Petco does a water change daily for each betta. Not that that excuses anything, but that may explain why he was in as good of shape as he is - and the other bettas there always look healthy. The glo-bettas always look half dead, but . . .

So I'm thinking of the name Spectre - a ghost or spectral being - but with the British/James Bond movie spelling.

 

[MacZ]

Well, at least I can't say I didn't try.

 

[SkyMac]

He's gorgeous! I'm sure he'll live a long, happy life with you. Any plans on getting him a snail buddy as well?

 

[Cooperman411]

He's gorgeous! I'm sure he'll live a long, happy life with you. Any plans on getting him a snail buddy as well?

Check out the rock next to the anacharis. A little Zebra nerite. I thought about getting a mystery snail but am afraid that might get too large. As it's a new tank I gave it an extra dose of starter bacteria and some Bacter AE which generally produces a great biofilm within 24 hours.

 

[SkyMac]

Oh! I see it.

Yeah, that'd be pretty big in there. I have two in one tank (full blown mystery on where one came from- I've been dutiful about removing clutches when they appear) And one in another, but those are both 10 gallon tanks. Tempted to throw the mysteriously appearing mystery snail in one of my other tanks to be sure they both have plenty of room- and don't breed. Not trying to have snail babies.

 

[Fishnturtleguy933]

Looks awesome! With how horrendous the box stores are near me, I'm surprised and happy to hear they are taking care of their fish in other parts of the country.

 

[Cooperman411]

Changed his name to Kelpie. I realized "Sceptre" were the bad guys in that movie. Kelpie is a Scottish sea spirit.

 

[MacZ]

Kelpie is a Scottish sea spirit.

That tricks wanderers in the water to drown and eat them...

 

[Cooperman411]

Just a quick update. Scroll up for the "baby" photos from early Feb vs. now. He's turning a bit pink. We'll see if it gets any darker:

 

[LizStreithorst]

What a beautiful fish. I'm glad you got him instead of someone who would have to tried to keep him in a small bowl. He's having a great life with you.

 

[Cooperman411]

What a beautiful fish. I'm glad you got him instead of someone who would have to tried to keep him in a small bowl. He's having a great life with you.

Thank you very much! And I'm glad I got him too. Finally got him moved into his 10 gallon and he's been exploring every angle like an explorer in a newly discovered jungle for days now.