TraceBruno Posted September 17, 2006 Report Share Posted September 17, 2006 I'm not sure if this topic has been discussed before but this has question has been playing on my mind for a while and I know it can create a hot topic so here goes! LFS Bettas - to rescue or not? I went to one LFS recently that had a variety of bettas in stock - VTs, CTs, SDs and some "HM". "Premium" Bettas were going at $34.95, ie. selected CTs, a couple of pineapples and a few metallics. Some of them were in "decent" condition, some looked utterly malnutritioned, or what I call a Mischa Barton fish My dilemma was whether to buy and save a fish that looked like he was on the brink although he didn't fit into my breeding plans? On one hand, I'd save it from a certain death (don't think he would have sold looking like THAT), on the other hand, I don't want the LFS to think that they can sell a fish EVEN whilst it's looking like that. It just pains me to see it so skinny, it's like wanting to feed Nicole Ritchie (using a Lilli expression here!). Perhaps it's just my Asian heritage.. wanting to make sure everything is well fed and "prosperous"? What does one do in this situation? Has anyone else had the same dilemma? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boughetto Posted September 17, 2006 Report Share Posted September 17, 2006 i think u got urself a paradox there.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess Posted September 17, 2006 Report Share Posted September 17, 2006 It's a hard one. I, for one will not support LFS that don't keep their stock in good health. I don't buy them, they don't get my cash at all. But you want to help out any fish that is living in poor conditions! I just hope someone will buy them and give them a better home ASAP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckie Posted September 17, 2006 Report Share Posted September 17, 2006 If I found a betta in sub-optimal conditions that would be perfect for a breeding plan I'd consider it, but these days that would be unlikely as I can obtain the stock I am interested in online. I am thinking back to when I saw my first ever DT in real life, in a LFS. I agree with Jess, you shouldn't give such retailers your money. Then again they tend not to know better, as almost all LFS's keep bettas in similar conditions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boughetto Posted September 17, 2006 Report Share Posted September 17, 2006 i think to the LFS bettas are just bettas...they dont really care of their tail or anything else...and i think they dont know much about bettas anyway imo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Celeste84 Posted September 17, 2006 Report Share Posted September 17, 2006 i've never really had that problem before, my LFS keeps ALL their bettas in tip top health and makes sure they're well fed and in barracks they can swim around in the only time i've had to rescue a fish was with a little guy sent to them as a girl. his fins were shredded and he had pop eye when he arrived at the store. they asked me to take him and i did. he turned out to be a copper lace HM that i got for $3 took a bit to nurse him back, but he was worth it, and i know that danny and the crew up there would never ever do that to a fish themselves. they ask for photos of him regularly LOL so yes, i'd "rescue" fish off my LFS as i know they do their best to keep them healthy and happy - it's just a case of them not knowing quite as much about bettas if they get a sick fish, in which case they'd virtually give them to someone who has a good interest in the fish some place the time to nurse them back to health. but i'd never rescue a fish from any other store as i won't shop anywhere else. the little "girl" i rescued: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Figure_8 Posted September 17, 2006 Report Share Posted September 17, 2006 I have a feeling I saw the same fish the other day... The problem with buying fish kept in those conditions is that you are perpetuating the circle. So long as their fish continue to sell, they will continue to keep buying more in and treating them the same way. You may rescue one, but next week there will be another 150 sitting on their shelf waiting for someone else to rescue them. I know it sounds harsh, but I no longer buy bettas out of pity in hopes that others will do the same and the fish won't sell and this will either lead to the lfs rethinking their current conditions or buying the fish in all together. If however the fish was a one-off thing in a lfs - ie all other fish were healthy like in celestes case then yes I'd consider it as it's hardly the fault of the lfs if they end up with one sick fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ren Posted September 20, 2006 Report Share Posted September 20, 2006 this might seem stupid but why not bring some food to the shop and drop some in:P ive seen heaps of fish in similar situation - my lfs's generally keep the bettas in OK/GOOD condition its the discus i always see in poor cond. just feel so sorry for them if the fish shop workers wont care for them who will? $35 a betta is pretty expensive though i couldnt afford to "save" any at that price! (me=poor) and yeah the shop will think they can sell them at that price and in such poor condition so it sets a dangerous precedent! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckie Posted September 20, 2006 Report Share Posted September 20, 2006 feeding them would not solve the ammonia issue though, it would make it worse :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Figure_8 Posted September 20, 2006 Report Share Posted September 20, 2006 I agree with Lilli on that one.. feeding them would probably only add to things. Especially since the staff would be unaware of it and its quite likely that the fish are being underfed to keep the ammonia levels down becuase they don't have enough time/staff to do constant waterchanges. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callatya Posted September 20, 2006 Report Share Posted September 20, 2006 setting aside the issue of perpetuating the cycle, I think its mighty dangerous. I've done it in the past. I bought a lovely little opaque girl from a place that had piles and piles of take away containers full of bettas in not much water. She killed off over $300 worth of stock and bought a lot of heartache. I didn't QT her, but even if I had she was an asymptomatic carrier. Looked fine while fish all around her were dying. As much as i'd like to save them all, I also have a responsibility to those already in my care. I need to keep the risks for them as low as possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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