Starting a "Betta Rescue"

Hey guys!

First just a quick update on my bettas. The one with fin rot has significantly improved and is more colorful and active than ever, and his fins are almost all the way grown back. For the one who blew out his tail, the wound is closed and I can actually see a very small part of the fin starting to grow back

Alright, now down to business. Yes, I know, this is like the thousandth time but I'm thinking of doing a "betta rescue" of sorts in the 55 gallon. I would split it six ways with those home made dividers, so like nine gallons each. I really don't have the money, time, or space right now to start experimenting with different fish right now anyways, and I have a recent new obsession with "rescuing" bettas from pet stores or off of craigslist.

My plan was this:
Once the 55 is all up and cycled, I will move my two males that are currently in 2.5 gallons into their sections of the new tank. Then my idea was to use the old 2.5 gallons to quarantine new bettas and treat them for disease or anything if necessary. And after all six are moved in, the 2.5's will be used if any of the males get sick and/or need to be separated.

Is this a good idea? Any suggestions?

Lastly, does anyone have any cute betta rescue stories?

 

That's a perfect idea! I am obsessed over bettas lol I got three

 

That's a perfect idea! I am obsessed over bettas lol I got three

Lol I have three too. They are my little babies ;D

 

Lol I have three too. They are my little babies ;D

Feel the same way about mine too lol

 

I appreciate your sentiments but imo "rescuing" Bettas from Lfs & pet stores that sell them in cups only sends a message to the stores that it's ok to sell them that way, you buy one, it makes room for them to get more in.
Until people stop buying Bettas in cups, stores will continue to keep them that way.
If you want to rescue some Bettas, look for sites where people are wanting to rehome them as they can't look after them anymore

 

I am not trying to argue but I think op is doing the right thing by getting them out of that nasty place I understand what you are saying but hey the bettas get a better life with her

 

I agree with Coradee. I think if you are going to rescue Bettas, you should find ones that people are wanting to rehome because they can't take care of them. Just buying them from the pet store isn't really rescuing them as another betta is going to be taking its place soon enough. And no one has enough space in their home (unless they are secretly millionaires) to purchase every single betta in every single pet store in their area.

If you Rehome the bettas you aren't supporting the betta trade by purchasing them from the store. Now, I say this, but of course I admit I bought mine from Wal-mart. However, my intent wasn't to rescue him but because I really wanted my betta (and he's quite the handsome fella).

 

Tabbycat Coradee

I agree that buying the bettas is not helping the situation as a whole, but to be honest I don't think that pet stores as a whole will stop selling bettas, or if so then it won't be for many years. And if we protest, that's not going to help in the moment. So what, we boycott, and then let the thousands of bettas in stores suffer? I agree the way they keep them is completely inhumane, but really I don't think anything will happen soon. All I want to do is save four little guys and give them a nice, permanent home.

 

I see both sides buying them from the cup does help give the little guys a better home so I have done that a few times. But in buying them in shows the stores they sell so they buy more keeping the cycle going. I don't know what the best answer is.

But I have rescued a few in my day. I have set up a few divided tanks in my past, It never fails something gets in the tank and wipes them all out. My last divided tank was a 30 long I had divided into 8 sections it was going great quarantined the fish for 2 months. With in a week one got sick and I lost them all in less then 24 hours. I haven't done a divided sense. I really want to but don't want to risk the fish.

I guess my thoughts are if you can make it work and make the fish happy go for it. Good luck

 

Do you have pics of your 2 current boys? xx


xx

 

Do you have pics of your 2 current boys? xx

Hehe OF COURSE I do

That's a really bad and old pic, but that's Milkshake



And this is Henry. He will NEVER stay still for pics, so I just took one where he is nestled under his rock. He is the smallest betta I have ever seen, and he's adorable! ;D

And then of course there is Jasper in my avatar. He lives happily in a 20 gallon all by himself XD

 

Wow gorgeous boys! I love the colors on jasper. The purple on milkshake is stunning too! And Henry is adorable & pretty as well.


xx

 

Hey guys, I have recently caught the betta bug... According to the doctors, there is no cure.
I am going to start a betta rescue.
Some of you know how I split a 20L for 6 bettas. 4 of my 5 are in their now(jelly is not suited to live in a divided tank) and I have 2 more on the way that will be added after a month in QT. That leaves me with 2 empty 2.5 gallons 1 empty 7.5 an empty 1.5 I may have an empty 10 gallon(I might be rehoming my roaches) and 1 empty fluval chi. I plan on getting some of the clear Rubbermaid containers and 2 more of these but with only the middle divider
(

And looking at thrift stores, craigslist, yard sales, and anywhere else I can get tanks.

The plan:
Post an ad on Craigslist/other websites like it/flyers and the like saying that I will take any unwanted bettas and tanks just contact me at my rescues email(insert email here)

Go to local LFS/LPS and talk to the employees that know me well. Point out that one of the fish looks horrible and will probably not survive. Say I will take it off your hands and medicate it if I can get it for 1/2 off or for free.

Start a website

Once I get some replies saying they want a fish I will email them a sheet with questions like what is your fish keeping experience?, do you have any other tanks? Ex. to fill out to prove that they will take care of it and give it a good home.

The bettas will be adopted at a fee of 5-7 dollars by themselves NOT including shipping( no shipping of they are local) There will be an option saying that for X amount, you can buy a 3 gallon critter keeper(or something like it) gravel, 1 silk plant, a sponge filter and a homemade betta hammock as well. I will also require pictures of the setup(or if they are buying the option then I don't)

Send out care sheets with the packages/give them with the betta.

What do you guys think? Any changes I should make?

 

I've no suggestions but want to wish you good luck.

 

Thanks
It will be a while before I get this going but I am excited.

 

You seem to be quite enterprising young man. Good luck to you, don't forget to keep us posted.

 

Er,let's go with woman.
I will definitely kelp you posted

 

OOOOOOOOOPPPPPSS! Please accept my apology. Both of my feet stuck in my mouth . I am truly sorry.

 

Jomolager It's fine, anybody could have made that mistake

 

guppybreeder, you are as gracious as you are competent with all those tools you use to implement your ideas. Your Dad did a great job raising you. (I would say " parents," but you only mentioned him in your posts, and my feet are still stuck in my mouth.)lol.

 

Very interesting project. Do keep us posted on how it goes, and I wish you every success!

 

@, you are as gracious as you are competent with all those tools you use to implement your ideas. Your Dad did a great job raising you. (I would say " parents," but you only mentioned him in your posts, and my feet are still stuck in my mouth.)lol.

Jomolager, to start, take your feet out of your mouth. My dad always tells me that there are people who think of an idea and wait for someone else to do it, and people who think of an idea, put the work in and make it happen. I try to be the latter but it is not always possible. My mom is the one that actually fueled me wanting to do this. She saw a betta in one of the cups at a local pet store and told me how she felt bad for it knowing it would probably die(it had a bad fungal infection and popeye). I started thinking of how I could save the poor bettas. I came up with the idea of a betta rescue and have done a lot of research on betta rescues. I have decided I will only purchase bettas from the stores at half price or get them from people who don't want them anymore.I plan on posting flyers at the local grocery stores and pet stores later today.
Thank you for them compliment. It means a lot to me that someone thinks that about me.

 

This is so exciting! Can't wait to see it all come into action.. where will you put all the tanks?

 

My books and model horses don't need shelves... Our floor is pretty level and I have room for a 10 gallon on my desk with my baby guppies on it.

 

my advice is to make sure you can take care of it before buying it. make sure you have the correct medical supplies if needed and don't over do it. if you have 10 compartments don't get 11 bettas because you think you have space. other than that go for it.

 

I know. I have Epsom salt, aquarium salt, jungle ick cure, and betta fix(probably won't use it)
I am actually asking for their tank to be included in the flyer I made. If anyone wants to see it, let me know.

 

I would love to see it.

 

 

One idea that might work with LFS is to see if they would let you bring the Betta home for free, get him back in good shape, then return him for store credit.

The shop would have nothing to lose if the fish likely wouldn't make it anyway, and they will regain their profit on the fish after it's returned. Store credit for 30-50% of their profit = win/win.

 

I wish that would work. The closest LFS is 2.5 hours away. The rest are pet stores.

 

I like this plan. I might consider doing something like that.

 

You should try it

 

You are one remarkable young lady. Your parents are doing a great job.

I don't know how old you are, I hope you won't get offended by my sharing the following news story, I think it might give you some ideas. This 10 year old kid posted his petition on the White House website and got a letter from the President. I love what he is doing for goldfish, just as I love what you are trying to do for Goldies.. Good luck

 

Thank you
Wow! That's awesome! I don't mind you sharing
I posted some of the flyers at two grocery stores and 3 pet stores. I plan on asking my science teacher if she will let me hang one on her door Monday also.

I will be 15 in February.

 

Keep us posted

 

I will!
My sister agreed to let me use her dresser to hold a few tanks.

 

You're a girl after my own heart! Awesome idea, hope it all goes great

 

I hope it works out too.
I plan on setting up tanks and starting to cycle the tanks tomorrow.

 

has anyone contacted you at all?

 

I really hope this works out! I would love to see more things like this. I'd almost like to do something like this in my area too, now that I have my own apartment and more than enough room for it. But hey, if this gets off the ground I'd be more than interested in adopting some new babies. Keep me informed!!