I'm angry - Lumpy's story

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svtcontour

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Aug 6, 2004
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I was at this big chain store which has no place selling pets or fish or anything but they do. Anyway after buying my tools and clothes and things I went and saw a fish department which for the most part wasnt horribly bad until I saw the bettas. OMG. it was terrible. They were in the smallest cups I've ever seen Bettas held and the water was filthy - dirtiest water I've ever seen. One was dead and fuzzy even.

Anyway I felt so bad that I went and picked up an 8" round vase and one of the ones that was alive but in the dirtiest cup. I didnt care about colours or anything, it was about getting the poor critter out of there. No picking blue or red or what ever. Just saving a little life. I know I shouldnt buy because once its sold, another will take its place but I couldnt help it.

I brought it home and took pics of its old cup and water for you guys as well as its new home. I'm going to go to write the big chain store an email telling them that I'm upset and they need to clean up their act or I'll post photos on my website of the poor fishy in terrible conditions (cup I bought him in with the name of the store and the dirt in it etc...). I'm sure this will cause some tiny probs for them if I make a huge enough stink.

Anyway I'm so angry that they treat bettas so poorly just becuase they CAN breath air. At least Lumpy is happy right now. Just eating a small freezedried earthworm :) He's called lumpy because close to his tail and under the skin, there are several raised bumps, either a birth defect or broken bones that healed incorrectly..not sure. He can swim though.

http://powerthings.com/pics/lumpys_worth1.jpg - This is what lump is worth
http://powerthings.com/pics/lumpys_old_home_1.jpg - Lumpy's old home
http://powerthings.com/pics/lumpys_old_home_2.jpg - Lumpy's old home
http://powerthings.com/pics/lumpys_old_home_3.jpg - Lumpy's old home
http://powerthings.com/pics/lumpys_newhome_1.jpg - Lumpy's new home
http://powerthings.com/pics/lumpys_newhome_2.jpg - Lumpy's new home
http://powerthings.com/pics/lumpys_newhome_3.jpg - Lumpy's new home

Anyway can someone tell me if Lumpy's new home at 8" round is sorta ok for a while? I'd like to find a similar shaped bowl at maybe 12" round - maybe 1 gallon or 1.5 gallon. It would still look nice on a desk too. I dont know if the two bamboo sticks do anything for water quality but I figure it cant do any harm plus he'll have things to hide in and play around with :)
 
You should post pictures of him when he's happy and healthy again, I suspect you'll have a very pretty betta on your hands then :)
 
I'm guessing wallmart, they always sell bettas like that. At least it doesn't appear yours was in blue water. Ya, that's right, our Wallmarts keep bettas in blue water, to make them look "pretty".
 
The blue water is actually an anti-baterial named methylene blue (that right?). I guess it has the "pretty effect" but it's really just there to keep the fish alive longer. I'm suprised and appaled by the store contour bought from, their fish don't even get the pretense of care.
 
nice thing to do- but i dont think that complaining to the store will do anything more than get you a coupon in the mail.

most stores don't get much of a prophit from the fish section (from what ive heard at least)
so this section is low priority- however if you raised a fit about an abused dog or cat or bird or any other mammal- then youve got a story to tell!
 
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Oh my god, you gotta be kidding. They put dye in the water to make the filth look more attractive? Poor bettas not only have to deal with natural crap in their water but chemicals too :( I'm going to post some pics of lumpy soon. Hes already more happy.
 
by the way... what conditions are required for the store to keep there fish at?

my guess is that there arn't many or any rules regarding this, but I was just curious
 
svtcontour said:
Oh my god, you gotta be kidding. They put dye in the water to make the filth look more attractive? Poor bettas not only have to deal with natural crap in their water but chemicals too :( I'm going to post some pics of lumpy soon. Hes already more happy.
Click to expand...
No, it's not a dye, it's antibacterial. Semi-attempt at human (¬¬) conditions.
 
I have to admit that we keep our bettas in small bowls as well at the store.

The one thing I can say in our defence is that we change the water 3 times weekly and it is very very rare that we lose any.

I honestly think that it is 5 in the last 18 months since we opened.

As bad as the bowls are though. You should see how bettas are shipped to the stores. You all would be on the floor in discust.

It is a bag that is 3 X 3 inches with just enough water to keep the fish wet. It is heat sealed to keep the air in and the average time for them to be in this bag is 5 - 7 days before they are shipped to the store.

Some stores I know of and have personally seen actually keep the fish in those bags until sold.

After seeing this. As bad as walmart's cups are nothing compared to that bag.
 
I guess the cup is nowhere near as bad. Still I feel sorry for them because they might be in the cups for a long while no? I mean do people buy them after a couple days or can they sit there for months?

Anyway at least mine is happy and about right now. Sorry for the poor pics. I turned off the flash so not too blind him :) I cant take pics so they all turned out very red and low in colour detail.

http://powerthings.com/pics/lumpybetter.jpg
http://powerthings.com/pics/lumpybetter2.jpg
 
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