My wally-world rescue betta

[petluvr]

I actually contacted wal mart about the deplorable conditions of the tanks in my local store, I sent them pics and all. Guess what????? They no longer carry live fish. So yes one person can make a difference. As far as not buying them because they will just restock IMO that's the same as saying why rescue a dog or a cat it just engourages people to abandone them IMO of course Why not call the "forum/site" BETTADISE....

 

[cam191919]

i hear a lot of people claiming that bettas are replaced whether you buy them or they die but i am told by employees that this isnt the case. the one near me is stopping live fish soon because more die than they sell. its all taken down in inventory and they see a net loss so they stop buying them. i say that if you are in a chain store, dont buy a betta to rescue it rather buy it because you want it. dont force yourself to adopt an animal out of pity which may be too far gone at that point... better it dies in the store than in your house. i would never buy beat up or sick ones either since they are already stressed out. i guess everyone is entitled to their view, i just add the facts from workers. the more they sell, the more they order. the more that dont sell or die, the less they order. its a big business like any other, based on supply and demand... and profit.

hmmmm, never thought that.

 

[Hooked Newbie]

jaysen.... thanks for getting it!

If we, the educated and caring fishkeepers of the land (ok drama time), only choose to purchase bettas (or anyother fish) from those that keep them in respectable conditions we can make an impact on the industry. Be forewarned though, better fish come with a higher price generally. Drive business to the quality independents, breeders, etc. and educate the people you come into contact with and see what happens. Be disciplined enough to avoid there buy x, get x free sales. The "Marts" would not stock livestock in my perfect little world. /rant over.

 

[petluvr]

Rant duely noted

 

[fish guru]

wow petluver that is great news! But I do not think adopting dogs will encourage more ppl to abandon dogs. I'm just saying that the more they sell the more bettas are going to b replaced due to higher demands. Just my opinion but I think that the well being of thousands of bettas are better than just a couple that ppl rescue out of pity.

 

[jaysen]

wow petluver that is great news! But I do not think adopting dogs will encourage more ppl to abandon dogs. I'm just saying that the more they sell the more bettas are going to b replaced due to higher demands. Just my opinion but I think that the well being of thousands of bettas are better than just a couple that ppl rescue out of pity.

:iagree: adoption is different for many reasons. first, it is usually free so there is no supply and demand...or profit. second, it is based on what it recieves and not what they order... so if everyone wanted a husky puppy.... too bad, what you see is what you get. third, they are usually nonprofit organizations. many people will adopt to help animals rather than support the cruel treatment of breeding facilities, but nobody will adopt a sick dog that looks like it is about to die. this is especially the case if you have other dogs that can also be affected. stopping to buy animals from stores that treat them badly would impact these stores, especially sick bettas. peta wont get involved because they are as corrupt as the kill shelters and only look for ways to get attention and donations... and fish mistreatment doesnt usually get it. dont believe me? watch the penn and teller special on them.

 

[AshK]

wow petluver that is great news! But I do not think adopting dogs will encourage more ppl to abandon dogs. I'm just saying that the more they sell the more bettas are going to b replaced due to higher demands. Just my opinion but I think that the well being of thousands of bettas are better than just a couple that ppl rescue out of pity.

Hey I really respect your views, but like I said earlier, I want our site to get to the root of the problem. Like I've already stated in this thread, I view the problem as the terrible industry standards that are associated with bettas: it's fine to keep them in tiny cups, it's fine not to have them in a heated environment, it's fine to breed them in mass quantities. None of this stuff is right, and needs changed. Also what I've communicated, our website will be a means of "uniting" all the people out there who currently feel this way. We can use our leverage to try and make a difference. (Look at what PETA is doing--they stop animal testing, better animal rights, etc.) Rescuing bettas might be a portion of our website, but it's not going to be the main adgenda. In the long run, saving a few bettas here and there will not help bettas as a whole.

 

[petluvr]

:iagree:

 

[Carla G]

I think that there are a couple of things that can be done that will be effective eventually.

Every time you see a betta in a cup, demand to talk to the manager of the store. Give him a lecture on animal cruelty and how bettas should be kept. Keep it up till he gets the message. Check back in a few days. If you see bettas in cups, go see the manager again. etc.

Last time I was in N America, the local Walmart got real sick of hearing from me!

Do the same for those stupid little betta houses with no filter or heat. And for fish bowls, I ponds etc.

Write a letter to the SPCA outlining what you have found at your local store. Send the store a copy. If it's a chain, send the head office a copy.

Write a letter to your member of parliament outlining what you have found at your local store and request some laws with teeth for cruelty to animals. Send the store a copy. If it's a chain, send the head office a copy.

If enough people do this, sooner or later it will have an impact.

Another tack you could take is the education route. Co-ordinate with schools and kindergartens. Run a "how to care for your fish workshop". Initiate a science project of a fishtank in the classroom with a specific biotype (science remember) so students can observe how it all works together, and how to make an ecologically balanced environment. And how to keep the fish healthy with the proper filtration, clean water etc.

Those are kids that won't be whining at Mom for a fishbowl. They'll be demanding at least a 15 gallon tank with an Eheim filter. Mom will just love you! :devil:

You might even print up some suggested letters on your website that people can copy and paste. That would take a lot of the effort out of getting people to participate.

Just some suggestions. I appreciate your efforts. Something needs to be done.

 

[Eupterus]

BTW, what is the best way for a store to handle selling male bettas?.