So I Took A Fish From Church...

Ok, I didn’t REALLY steal him. I made people aware I was taking him. Whether or not it was the correct people is iffy. Regardless I’ll own up to it if asked.

So he was living in a filthy bowl with a dead plant in it. I’d seen the bowl and plant before but never realized until today there was a FISH in it!! The bowl had maybe 2 inches of dirty water, some jewel like stones and the dead plant.

So I removed the plant, cleaned the bowl and stones and added clean water treated with Prime. Unfortunately he is going to have to stay in the bowl at least until tomorrow when I can grab one of those 5 gallon deals and a heater.

I was so worried about getting him out of the filth I didn’t take a before picture but I have one of him in the bowl after I cleaned it and one of him in the cup I put him in to clean his bowl. Luckily I saved the cup Walter came in and the cup the Marimo ball came in.

He also jumped while I was trying to get him out of the bowl and almost went down the drain in the sink! So I learned to stop up the sink any time you are doing anything with a fish near it. Because he jumped that time I covered his bowl with a plastic mesh thing.

He seems to be in pretty good shape despite his living conditions and escape attempt. He is actively swimming in the bowl and seems okay.

I’ve attached two pics. One of him in the cup I held him in while I cleaned and one of him in the bowl after I cleaned it.

I promise he will be out of the bowl ASAP.

 

Good job rescuing him! Can't wait to see his major upgrade, be sure to post pictures. He's probably very stressed from that ordeal so keep him comfortable until then.

 

Lol. I'm not sure what to say. Do you know who bought him, or possibly how long he'd been there? Could you set him up in his new tank at the church? That way it'd be more borrowing than stealing because you did technically steal him if you didn't ask the person who bought him and his bowl.

 

Ehhhhh. . .

 

I know the bowl with the dead plant has been at church at least the past three Sundays. I’m assuming he was in there the entire time.

I am going to make some phone calls and see who he belonged to. There was just hardly anyone left there when I noticed him.

 

Welcome
So you made it clear you were taking him because of his conditions I don't believe for one minute they'll ask for him back and if they do remind them it's one of Gods creatures and deserves the right conditions and they have a duty of care to the fish, I think you made the right move

 

richie.p that's an amazing idea. Pretty smart too.

 

In the bible it reads: Thou shall not steal a fishy... smh you sinned

 

I hope you find out who bought the fish and talk to them to see if they want it back. Nice of you to want to give it a better environment but not good to steal.

 

is this clickbait???

lol good luck with reviving the fish. A lot of us have bettas on here (myself included) let us know if you have any questions

 

Ok so I got the pastors wife on the phone. I am no longer harboring a stolen fish and I’m not going to ****.

So it turns out that there was a dinner and the bowl with the plant was a centerpiece on the main table. Pastors wife thought it was so pretty so she saved it and put it in the office (which is where I saw it the past few times). It just kind of got shoved aside and forgotten about including the fact there was a live fish in it.

He is mine to keep free and clear.

Whew!

I would also like to add while I am all for saving fish I don’t recommend stealing or almost kind of stealing them. I thought I was going to have a heart attack....but at least the fish would have been alive I guess.

 

Ok so I got the pastors wife on the phone. I am no longer harboring a stolen fish and I’m not going to .

So it turns out that there was a dinner and the bowl with the plant was a centerpiece on the main table. Pastors wife thought it was so pretty so she saved it and put it in the office (which is where I saw it the past few times). It just kind of got shoved aside and forgotten about including the fact there was a live fish in it.

He is mine to keep free and clear.

Whew!

That’s so great! Good job on finding out if you could have it.

 

Well done you it could have died otherwise I'm glad they saw sence, collection box could hit you hard next week

 

The water was so dirty if I hadn’t looked really closely because I thought I saw something move I wouldn’t have even known there was a fish in there either.

She felt really bad about forgetting about him and was glad I was willing to give him a good home.

I’ve named him Clarence Carter. I figured it sounds like a good southern pastor name and he needed one since he’s been attending church the past few weeks.

 

I really hate that they use bettas for centerpieces at receptions. Just think of all the ones that weren't taken home. They probably ended up in the trash

 

I really hate that they use bettas for centerpieces at receptions. Just think of all the ones that weren't taken home. They probably ended up in the trash

ya I agree- why aren't fish protected by some sort of cruelty laws?

at my highscool when I was in gr10 the seniors prank was to leave goldfish all over the school with was super weird - now I wouldve taken one home

and OP I'm so happy for you and the fisho. Post update pics as it happens

 

Good to hear! Sounds like a happy ending looking forward to updates on him.

 

ya I agree- why aren't fish protected by some sort of cruelty laws?

That would make things very complicated. In a lot of ways, it would even hurt our hobby, instead of helping it.

 

That would make things very complicated. In a lot of ways, it would even hurt our hobby, instead of helping it.

I would have to agree with you.

 

That would make things very complicated. In a lot of ways, it would even hurt our hobby, instead of helping it.

Yea. Way too many gray areas.

 

At least you made it clear you were taking the betta. So long as no one has opposed I say heck with it. Bible says we are supposed to take proper care of the animals, be they fish are livestock.

 

I would have to belive you did the right thing in gods eyes. The pastors wife should be sitting in the confessional asking for forgiveness about now.

 

As a church goer myself, I would have done the exact thing and even thrown a bible or ten at anyone that tried to stop me

I hope you'll keep us updated with (insert name here)'s progress by the way... the title of the thread gets A++ for humour

 

As a church goer myself, I would have done the exact thing and even thrown a bible or ten at anyone that tried to stop me

I hope you'll keep us updated with (insert name here)'s progress by the way... the title of the thread gets A++ for humour

I wasn’t even trying to be funny. It’s what really happened! LOL My kids are already making jokes about it.
Kid #1 “Hey remember that time mama stole that fish from church?”
Kid #2 “Yeah! She thought the Lord was going to strike her dead for being a thief?”
Then they laugh until they have tears

So the update on Clarence Carter is that he seems okay. I checked him several times during the night. He was resting. I plan on offering him some breakfast in a little while. Then I’m off to find him a proper tank. I feel awful with him in that bowl.

He is a very handsome guy and really does seem to be in decent shape despite his ordeal.

 

THIS made me laugh and smile both of which I severely needed today, good luck with Clarence Carter!

 

All the best of luck with Mr. (or should that be the Rev.?) Clarence Carter. Amazing that he survived!

 

Thank y’all.

So a quick update is that he ate breakfast. I gave him two Omega One betta buffet pellets and he ate both of them and begged for more. So at least he has his appetite. That’s a good sign.

Also I think it should be the Rev. Clarence Carter. That is a great name!

I had a chance to check him over some this morning. He does appear to have some very slight fin rot. Clean water will clear that up hopefully. I am going to order some Indian Almond Leaves. I’ve been reading about them and wanted to get some for Walter. I think they will be especially beneficial for the Rev. Clarence Carter.

 

I always ask myself, "What would Jesus do?"

 

He would have said! you should have checked the font there may be more that side than the side you found the one

 

Good for you rescuing him! Someone who'll let a fish rot in a dirty bowl doesn't deserve to keep them. I have a stolen cat, rescued after a junkie neighbour got evicted and could nonlonger care for him (there's a bit more to the story, but it's all bad), so I took him in. No regrets.

 

Be sure to grab a heater for Rev. Clarence. Bettas do like warmer (78-80) water. With his having finrot, I wouldn't want it to be exacerbated by battling with being cold as well.