Rescue A Betta?

The only places that sell fish near me are PetSmart and PetCo. I always see the bettas and feel like I should rescue one. I have seen a lot of before and after pics and feel like I should take one in. What do y'all think?

 

If you WANT a betta, then get one. Who cares if they come from Petco or Petsmart. I think a lot of fish could use a good home, not just bettas.

 

If you want to, I say go ahead. A lot of bettas and just pets in general honestly would appreciate being saved.

 

You could try searching online for people not wanting their bettas anymore, might get a free fish and help the person by taking it off their hands.
But if you find one you really want at one of those stores then sure, grab it before someone else does.

 

Hope you're doing well! I think this is a great idea, but you may want to consider a couple of things before you jump into it...But first, when you say "rescue" do you mean you just want to "rescue" it from the store? Or are you seeking out one that specifically looks as though it needs help? (Like a sick/damaged one)

If you are thinking of getting one that looks to be in ill condition (I have done this before more than once), here are the considerations, not in any particular order:

-Are you prepared with the necessary equipment (for example, a tank--not a bowl, a heater, etc.), medications (if needed), and a basic understanding of how to treat the most common illnesses? No one is ever 100% sure/prepared the first time, but I'm not saying these things to discourage you. The key is being as ready and informed as you can be. It doesn't have to be perfect. Am I making sense?

It's just that taking in a sick betta can be time consuming and sometimes stressful. It's a great thing to do, don't get me wrong. And, when it works out, you feel AMAZING and like everything was worth it.

But just be aware that sometimes, no matter what you do, there is always a chance that it wont. Even then, the way I look at is, is that at least it (if it dies) it died at home with you in a place where it was loved, rather than in a cold cup at the store alone.


***I hope this post isn't like....a downer. Haha, after I re-read it, I kind of thought that but I'm not changing it because everything I said is true (as I see it) and this is a decision to be taken seriously. So.....good luck! I hope you get a great little friend <3

You could try searching online for people not wanting their bettas anymore, might get a free fish and help the person by taking it off their hands.
But if you find one you really want at one of those stores then sure, grab it before someone else does.

By the way, this is great advice to help someone out by taking it off their hands. I agree.

 

The only places that sell fish near me are PetSmart and PetCo. I always see the bettas and feel like I should rescue one. I have seen a lot of before and after pics and feel like I should take one in. What do y'all think?

Yes yes yes. Bettas are awesome they just suffer in those little cups. I got my male veiltail from Petco and got him a to Gallon tank set up with heater filter plants and his favorite toy his floating log. They are playful and friendly also loyal if you take care of them. Extremely smart but not a community fish. Unless you get a several females at least 4 and out them in a 20 gallon. Bettas don't get the appriciation they deserve

Hope you're doing well! I think this is a great idea, but you may want to consider a couple of things before you jump into it...But first, when you say "rescue" do you mean you just want to "rescue" it from the store? Or are you seeking out one that specifically looks as though it needs help? (Like a sick/damaged one)

If you are thinking of getting one that looks to be in ill condition (I have done this before more than once), here are the considerations, not in any particular order:

-Are you prepared with the necessary equipment (for example, a tank--not a bowl, a heater, etc.), medications (if needed), and a basic understanding of how to treat the most common illnesses? No one is ever 100% sure/prepared the first time, but I'm not saying these things to discourage you. The key is being as ready and informed as you can be. It doesn't have to be perfect. Am I making sense?

It's just that taking in a sick betta can be time consuming and sometimes stressful. It's a great thing to do, don't get me wrong. And, when it works out, you feel AMAZING and like everything was worth it.

But just be aware that sometimes, no matter what you do, there is always a chance that it wont. Even then, the way I look at is, is that at least it (if it dies) it died at home with you in a place where it was loved, rather than in a cold cup at the store alone.


***I hope this post isn't like....a downer. Haha, after I re-read it, I kind of thought that but I'm not changing it because everything I said is true (as I see it) and this is a decision to be taken seriously. So.....good luck! I hope you get a great little friend <3


By the way, this is great advice to help someone out by taking it off their hands. I agree.

Fish are a great hobby but aren't the cheapest and you have to be responsible to make sure you taking and tending to their tank/needs a well maintained tank is a happy fish

 

The only places that sell fish near me are PetSmart and PetCo. I always see the bettas and feel like I should rescue one. I have seen a lot of before and after pics and feel like I should take one in. What do y'all think?

I'm in a group on Facebook called betta rescue and adoption co-op USA where people re-home bettas all the time. there are a lot of different reasons people are rehoming them, and you can often get a perfectly healthy betta shipped to you for free through this group

 

Fish are a great hobby but aren't the cheapest and you have to be responsible to make sure you taking and tending to their tank/needs a well maintained tank is a happy fish

Exactly

 

Exactly

My pet peeve is someone that buys a fish and think it's easy and they little to no maitnence and then the fish dies because of unknowledgeable/u responsible fish owners. I look at it as if you can buy a fish you should be able to provide the habitat they need since there not in there natural settings. You have to duplicate it as close as you can. Which isn't easy but so gratifying

 

My pet peeve is someone that buys a fish and think it's easy and they little to no maitnence and then the fish dies because of unknowledgeable/u responsible fish owners. I look at it as if you can buy a fish you should be able to provide the habitat they need since there not in there natural settings. You have to duplicate it as close as you can. Which isn't easy but so gratifying

I totally agree, but at the same time I feel like that's how most people start. Not on purpose, it's just that we don't know what we don't know...ya know? haha...I feel like store employees play a big role right here, as well. Because people go into the store looking for guidance and get someone to "help" them that ends up being just passively stupid and uninformative.

Great example that happened TODAY: I was at petco getting some meds for my betta, talking to the employee casually and she said, "When someone comes in the store looking for a fish that's, like, no work and easy, I just point them to the bettas cause you can just throw them in a bowl and leave them."

She went on about how they don't actually need heaters (or something like that, cause I'd stopped listening at this point to pick my jaw up off the floor).

I was like, If someone comes in here looking for a fish that's "no work" and "easy", point them to the door! Or at least help them realize how fun fish can be....Anyway, safe to say that was the end of our conversation.

But, yeah, don't rely on employees to educate you. Information is the best gift that you can give yourself...and your betta

 

I totally agree, but at the same time I feel like that's how most people start. Not on purpose, it's just that we don't know what we don't know...ya know? haha...I feel like store employees play a big role right here, as well. Because people go into the store looking for guidance and get someone to "help" them that ends up being just passively stupid and uninformative.

Great example that happened TODAY: I was at petco getting some meds for my betta, talking to the employee casually and she said, "When someone comes in the store looking for a fish that's, like, no work and easy, I just point them to the bettas cause you can just throw them in a bowl and leave them."

She went on about how they don't actually need heaters (or something like that, cause I'd stopped listening at this point to pick my jaw up off the floor).

I was like, If someone comes in here looking for a fish that's "no work" and "easy", point them to the door! Or at least help them realize how fun fish can be....Anyway, safe to say that was the end of our conversation.

But, yeah, don't rely on employees to educate you. Information is the best gift that you can give yourself...and your betta

I will admit I didn't think fish were so much maitneence at first and i got a betta from Petco. my local.pet store fish girl had three and she gave me some alright tips and heaters, filters and water changes. But I also do extra research and this forum is one of the best. Because you can never go off one person's opinion .....I can't believe she said they don't need heaters or filters. Bettas love there tank between 78-80 and a filter helps with water and they like a constant slow water flow

 

Sorry to say but "Rescuing" bettas in fact means "Keeping the trade go on and on" Every "rescued" fish will be replaced.
If you want to buy fish okay, but let "rescuing" not be the reason, cause it isn't.

To be honest : Buying fish from shops that keep them in a way they cause the urge to be rescued isn't a good idea to me.

 

I will admit I didn't think fish were so much maitneence at first and i got a betta from Petco. my local.pet store fish girl had three and she gave me some alright tips and heaters, filters and water changes. But I also do extra research and this forum is one of the best. Because you can never go off one person's opinion .....I can't believe she said they don't need heaters or filters. Bettas love there tank between 78-80 and a filter helps with water and they like a constant slow water flow

When I started, I was the same way. No clue what I was getting myself into, haha. My friend said, "Hey, you like animals...We got a fish at my work. Some chick dropped it off. It needs to go. Want it? It's a goldfish."
I was like....why not? How hard could that be? (oh, the irony.)

Six months later: I have 6 fish tanks now......XD All filled with different fishies, it's like something I never saw coming. Sometimes I sit in my room and look around and think "what the heck happened here?" hahaha

Sorry to say but "Rescuing" bettas in fact means "Keeping the trade go on and on" Every "rescued" fish will be replaced.
If you want to buy fish okay, but let "rescuing" not be the reason, cause it isn't.

To be honest : Buying fish from shops that keep them in a way they cause the urge to be rescued isn't a good idea to me.

Good point, I've considered this many times. The problem comes when I'm in the fish store to buy something for fish I already own, and one catches my eye....Then the urge to save it overwhelms me. But I get what your saying.

 

That's how marketingstrategy sometimes works.
In earlier days there was market in Belgium where puppies and kittens were sold.
Everyone would "rescue" these after having seen those tiny little adorable creatures.

 

When I started, I was the same way. No clue what I was getting myself into, haha. My friend said, "Hey, you like animals...We got a fish at my work. Some chick dropped it off. It needs to go. Want it? It's a goldfish."
I was like....why not? How hard could that be? (oh, the irony.)

Six months later: I have 6 fish tanks now......XD All filled with different fishies, it's like something I never saw coming. Sometimes I sit in my room and look around and think "what the heck happened here?" hahaha


Good point, I've considered this many times. The problem comes when I'm in the fish store to buy something for fish I already own, and one catches my eye....Then the urge to save it overwhelms me. But I get what your saying.

Yea I thought I was just gonna buy the tank heater fish food and fish and he's be good to go. But joining this forum I learned how much attention andiney the cost. I expected to spend 100-200 and now I'm close to 500 for tuna(my betta) but it's worth every penny when I see how happy and grateful he is. He eats brine shrips right out of my fingers. I can see my self with a1 or two more tanks in the next few months. I wanna get his some friendly buddies like snails or ghost shrimp. And maybe start a cychlid tank. Inuse to have an Oscar that I could feed hot dogs too. They are also awesome