So I'm reading on the WA based forum and I notice the same guy I bought shrimp from was trying to sell his two 2.5gal betta tanks to someone and he had said he wanted ten bucks for each one so I sent him an email saying I might be interested because I'm a hard core betta lover. I'll always make room for a betta in need. So we get to talking and he sends me some pictures. So the first thing I notice is that the tanks don't have hoods, the second thing I notice is that the tanks don't have heaters. Most people that are knowledgeable enough to know betta should not be in bowls are usually knowledgeable enough to know that bettas are a tropical fish and need heat. Now this guy is not a beginner fish keeper, he's got discus and an african cichlid tank. So I told him if I bought both tanks for $20 I would also have to buy heaters and lights and all in all for these two tiny setups it would cost me around $70 including tax to get the bettas setup the way they're supposed to be. I told him I'd buy the bettas but I refused to buy the tanks and he's like well I'd prefer to sell everything as a set and bettas do fine without heaters/lights. Nothing pisses me off more then people who under value a bettas(and this goes for goldfish too) worth and keeps them in less then ideal conditions. I told him if he changed his mind I'd be willing to buy the fish. So he messages me back and he's like well I guess I can sell you the fish. He's like one of the bettas doesn't look very good, it was a rescue six months ago and then he sent me a pic of his "prized" betta which was a very beautiful betta. Anyways I agreed to give him $10 bucks, which is way too much in my opinion despite his claims of spending $25 on his nice looking betta. I had my mom pick them up for me cause his house was on her way home from work and when she got home she was not happy. My mom got her first betta this year and treasures him so she's not to happy when she see's bettas kept improperly by their owners. She said the tanks were completely dark and caked in algae(left by a window), unlike the rest of his tanks that were heated, lighted, and very clean. The prized betta had a couple of real plants in his tank and the other one had one small plastic plant in his tank(no other decor). When I saw the "rescued" betta I was stunned for a lack of a better word. He was very listless and his fins were in appalling condition. So then the guy sent me a text and he's like "the rescue betta has just started to grow it's fins back". Seriously? After six months! Gee golly I wonder why?!?!?! NO HEAT! STRESS FROM LACK OF HIDING PLACES! And I betcha this poor betta did not have a very good diet either, I mean after all betta are disposable right? They're a dime a dozen so why waste money taking care of them the way they should be taken care of right? Any betta owner knows that bettas, if taken care of properly, are not listless fish as in the past it was so commonly believed. When they are adequately cared for they are very active fish, granted some more them others, but listless is not an appropriate character trait that can be applied to bettas. I'm glad I paid the money for these bettas because at least now I can give that one a shot at a healthy life. Their in a breeder box(separated) in one of the aquariums until I can move some fish around to accommodate them tomorrow. At least they'll be warm for the night and they got a dinner of frozen blood worms. Poor poor fish and angry angry me!
Proud and responsible betta owners chime in:thumbsup:
Proud and responsible betta owners chime in:thumbsup:
