Why is it that people think buying a "sad, lonely" betta at the LFS, or two, or five, means that you are rescueing them? They're just going to order more because suddenly you bought five and now there's a huge empty space on the shelf.
And I know you could say that by buying them, you can save those few fish, but overall it just leads to greater harm, because any that are purchased will be replaced. If you want something done, you have to speak up. If you buy bettas in bowls, the owner or manager is going to think you're okay with that. By speaking up and saying that you will only buy bettas that are kept in better conditions, and you get your friends and family and neighbors to say it too, then something *might* change.
Money spent on something is money in support of that thing. Not spending your money, and letting everyone know why, is a much more motivating factor.
I was looking up local Doberman rescues and decided to see if there were any fish rescues out there, and I found a site for betta rescue:
Also - feeder guppies probably constitute a greater risk to the betta than a peaceful community tank. Feeder guppies often carry diseases like fungus, ich, or columnaris, and they die like it's their job, fouling up the water and causing ammonia spikes. Plus - who's out there rescuing the feeder guppies? Don't all fish have the right to a long and happy life? Why are feeder guppies so undeserving of the rescuer's compassion?
I'm going to go start the FGRC. . . . right after my bichir gets his lunch.
And I know you could say that by buying them, you can save those few fish, but overall it just leads to greater harm, because any that are purchased will be replaced. If you want something done, you have to speak up. If you buy bettas in bowls, the owner or manager is going to think you're okay with that. By speaking up and saying that you will only buy bettas that are kept in better conditions, and you get your friends and family and neighbors to say it too, then something *might* change.
Money spent on something is money in support of that thing. Not spending your money, and letting everyone know why, is a much more motivating factor.
I was looking up local Doberman rescues and decided to see if there were any fish rescues out there, and I found a site for betta rescue:
Sounds like impulse control problems, with "betta rescue" as a justification. The "rescuer" doesn't even realize that the abusive and cruel "food coloring" in the bowls is - surprise!- medication. Food coloring + betta = not being able to see the fish's coloration = not making a sale to normal people. Medication + betta = healthy betta = better life for betta!Have you ever seen Bettas at the pet store living in those TINY containers sitting on a shelf on top of each other and beside each other, with dirty water and they are practically sitting in their own feces? Flaring with anger? Or maybe they weren’t flaring with anger; maybe they were too weak to flare or didn’t have enough room to even stretch their fins fully. And some even have water that was died with food coloring? That’s unacceptable and if you ask BBRC (Breawna's Betta Rescue Centr [sic]), abuse & neglect. That’s where BBRC comes in. “We go to the pet store weekly, and if we see a needy Betta, we buy him and bring him home. There is no way we let them live like that – it’s just plain unacceptable” says Breawna, owner of BBRC. “Another thing we do is accept emails from people who need homes for their Bettas, they can ship their Betta(s) to us and we will house them in a filtered temporary home”
This definitely doesn't make sense. Most people who have kept bettas in community tanks can tell you that often they do just fine. As with any fish, tankmates have to be a consideration, but it doesn't make sense to disallow placing the betta in with other peaceful fish in what might be a substantially larger tank.BBRC Bettas cannot be housed with any other fish besides small feeder guppies which they might eat.
Also - feeder guppies probably constitute a greater risk to the betta than a peaceful community tank. Feeder guppies often carry diseases like fungus, ich, or columnaris, and they die like it's their job, fouling up the water and causing ammonia spikes. Plus - who's out there rescuing the feeder guppies? Don't all fish have the right to a long and happy life? Why are feeder guppies so undeserving of the rescuer's compassion?
I'm going to go start the FGRC. . . . right after my bichir gets his lunch.