Saving Petsmart Betta?

PIC ATTATCHED......Today I went to buy things from PetSmart I originally needed but of course saw the bettas. There was a male there and the date on his cup was June 21st, it's September 19th today. So he's been in the cup for MONTHS really? Ok. I didn't see any other ones with a June date. So I thought if I'm going to pick one pick this one cause it's the nice thing to do. I got him a 5.5 gallon glass tank with a heater, filter, live large plant. I feed my other betta flakes, pellets and frozen brine shrimp. That's what I'd be giving this little guy too. I set him up and he seems alright. Keeping temp at 80 degrees Fahrenheit. He's not that energetic and when I tried to feed him frozen shrimp he literally didn't want it. I acclimated him and tried feeding him an hour later as well. Might just be stressed though. Has been curious but definitely not acting "normal" which is what I kind of expected since he probably hasn't gotten the best care hense he's been in a cup for a long while.

Either way I'm just trying to give him a life out of a cup. Is it possible to help this fella or will he by pet store industry die?

I would eventually upgrade him to a 10 gallon like my other betta that is doing extremely well, also from PetSmart.

Any input I see welcome thanks!

 

Hello! Welcome!
Great job for saving the little guy! He'll be so much happier. Don't forget to get some piccies of the tank!

 

Mercy buying isn’t a good thing. Although you’re saving that one you’re just increasing the demand and the more orders that shop will put in for more, which will lead to more fish sitting around in cups for months. Best to not buy anything from shops that do not house fish properly, that way they will either step up their game or stop ordering them in

 

Good job. I am an animal rescuer myself and did the same thing even tho I’m always saying to adopt don’t shop! Sad plain female betta sitting motionless in her cup is now the queen of a 30 gallon kingdom and happy as can be. I agree to support your lfs but mine which I like sadly sells betta cubes and bowls too.. the big box betta market wouldn’t collapse if you refrained from saving that fish, so be happy that you made a difference for that guy. Hope he’s feeling better soon.

 

Good job! Rescuing him! Give him a few days and then he'll eat

 

Mercy buying isn’t a good thing. Although you’re saving that one you’re just increasing the demand and the more orders that shop will put in for more, which will lead to more fish sitting around in cups for months. Best to not buy anything from shops that do not house fish properly, that way they will either step up their game or stop ordering them in

I wanted to react the same way, though I completely understand why the OP did this.
There are lately a lot of "rescue-threads" from Walmart, Petthis and Petthat.
Doing so keeps the trade going on for ever.
There will definitely be more tomorrow. Even with a date of septembre 19 on a cup would be a shame to me. No fish should be treated this way. Sorry to say but think the only way this will stop is to not buy bettas at all and not buy fish at all at the stores that sell in this way.
BTW : As said earlier a respectable LFS in the UK did sell them this way too (a real shame, which make me think differently about the shop)

That said : I hope this fish will make it and will blossom being kept by the OP.

 

I understand your guys opinions and would like to share mine but I don't want to hijack the OP's thread

 

BTW : As said earlier a respectable LFS in the UK did sell them this way too (a real shame, which make me think differently about the shop)

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Was that recently? My understanding is that it is not legal to keep fish in those conditions in the UK.

 

October 2016 I visited the (worldfamous) shop where they were sold in tiny "chinese lamps". It broke my heart.

Was that recently? My understanding is that it is not legal to keep fish in those conditions in the UK.

 

October 2016 I visited the (worldfamous) shop where they were sold in tiny "chinese lamps". It broke my heart.

That is awful! I've personally never seen them sold in cups here, but I'm sure there are some that do it.

 

I understand your guys opinions and would like to share mine but I don't want to hijack the OP's thread

You're right. Appologies OP.
Was thinking about starting a thread about this topic some days ago (before this one). Will do so this afternoon.

 

Definitely a new hobby of mine. For sure will start to find a buyer out here that doesn't do this and isn't a corporation and so on! Just wanted some advice as to care for him. As many things for example the dairy industry, it's all animal abuse and we could all stop buying milk products, etc. I understand it's all messed up. I was in to buy my other betta a 20 gallon tank upgrade but saw him and still wanted to help him. Thanks for the replies!!

 

Congrats on the new fish rescue . I think ur doing just fine . I think ur prolly right and he just needs to adjust to his new home. appropriate water changes should be enough unless u start to notice fin rot. From ur pic I don’t see anything obvious but I am no expert . As far as him not eating I’m wondering if he’s just not use to frozen food and brine . I would bet they weren’t feeding that at petsmart . I would get him some betta pellets until he gets accustomed to the new food. Good luck and congrats again .

 

Congrats on the new fish rescue . I think ur doing just fine . I think ur prolly right and he just needs to adjust to his new home. appropriate water changes should be enough unless u start to notice fin rot. From ur pic I don’t see anything obvious but I am no expert . As far as him not eating I’m wondering if he’s just not use to frozen food and brine . I would bet they weren’t feeding that at petsmart . I would get him some betta pellets until he gets accustomed to the new food. Good luck and congrats again .

So I came back home from work and he came back! I fed him and he's eating just fine and has percked up. Thank god. I just bought some aquarium salt too if I need to proceed to that kind of treatment. But he's swimming around and doing SO much better already. His fins aren't perfect but I put in an antibacterial. I have hope haha.

 

You did an amazing thing, you gave a fish a second chance at life. As others have said he will need to ajust more and should eat in a few days if not a week. Completley normal. Don't worry about him starving they can go a couple weeks without food. Get him a marimo moss ball, they help water quality and provide a toy for the betta to push around.

 

I just skimmed through this thread on my lunch break but I might have not read it if you already confirmed, but is your tank cycled?

 

That's my next betta idea. Asking the manger what fish has been there the longest. Once saw the same clamped fin veiltail betta in the back of the shelf for 3months.

 

That's going to be a GREAT looking fish soon enough, good for you!