What I did Last Week

[Impolite]

I posted this in chat, but I want to show people who don't always look at the chat to see it to, and to inspire! I thought it could fit in this category some how... Ha.

here it is:

Last week, after countless trys to try to get them to change the diet in store, I took it a step further and contacted PetSmart via the website.
Theyd been feeding the bettas only bloodworms, and I'd tried and tried to explain why not to.
Anyways, yesterday (sunday august 7th, 5:30ish pm) I got a call. New manager baby :)
Apparently, my letter was so good I got the old one fired, and that a lot of changes will be taking place.
I wonder if he knows I'm sixteen.

Heres a copy of the letter I wrote:

Comments:
During my visits to PetSmart, I always take a stop and look at bettas,
which is my favorite fish. I am highly upset with not only the
conditions they have, but the food they are fed. I know since it's
always busy there because people are always quitting, they can't always
change the water, but I know they do when they can. But my main concern
is their eating habits. Betta splendens are carnivorous tropical fish,
which means they need a high protein source of something with meat, and
they need tropical water temperatures. With what they are being bed,
which is freeze-dried bloodworms, they are not only losing color, but
losing weight too. They aren't as vibrant as they should be after at
least a week of being in the store. I've talked to many employees and
they also see the freeze dried bloodworms as a problem. Freeze dried
bloodworms should be used as a treat only, and it says specifically on
the bottle they come in too. There is nearly no nutritional value they
can get fro
m it, unlike pellets. I used to purchase betta splendens before the
bloodworms were fed, and they were always big and healthy, but now
they're pale and nearly dead when you get them. Their diet is keeping
them from being sold, when simply they could change their diet and
people would be attracted to them. No one wants a pale blue betta with
no emotion, doesn't flare, nor make bubble nests. Pellets will solve
this problem, and I hope you will look into this. I will again buy
betta's if I can see they are in good health, otherwise I may see it
necessary to report it. No animal should be abused. It's not like you're
going to feed your child a piece of lettuce twice a week and hope they
survive. Also, for the cups, you can live in a closet but you won't be
happy. Bettas are the same way.
I would be willing to even donate food, frozen food as well as pellets.
I honestly would like to see them go to good homes instead of rot inside
a cup that hasn't been cleaned since the day they arrived. Thank you.



So, Bruce, the new guy, told me that I can call him back whenever and that he'll make sure I'm satisfied.

Remeber, all it takes is a voice to change some of these fishes lives! Just try it!
I had a cause and I took action! I advise you to do the same.
I'd do it for walmart, but they treat theirs kind of ok.

[Jirothebetta]

XD thats AWESOME! I love when people get real results!

[Amphibianite]

wonderful news. absolutely wonderful.

[dramaqueen]

That was a very nice letter you wrote. Good job getting things changed at that store.

[Aven]

You got the old manager fired??? I'm sorry but I cannot agree with the comments of praise you are receiving. He may have family, or pets he must attend to. In this time of economic downturn, losing a job may mean losing everything. Im sure you had good intentions, but thats very wrong imho.

[Littlebittyfish]

Her intentions weren't to get anyone fired, but to simply have them change a silly policy about feeding bettas only freeze driedbloodworms. If someone got fired over a letter, there must have been previous incidents in that store with that manager.I am only hoping that they are not telling you what you want to hear and continuing to feed freeze dried bloodworms.

[Moonaar]

Quick question can you feed a betta frozen bloodworms or is there no difference between dried and frozen?

*sorry if its not the best place to ask this*

[Impolite]

Originally Posted by Moonaar

Quick question can you feed a betta frozen bloodworms or is there no difference between dried and frozen?

*sorry if its not the best place to ask this*

frozen is fine, it still has blood and guts and all that good stuff.
but frozen is terrible. I'd still mix in some pellets though with the frozen bloodworms

[Littlebittyfish]

From what I have read...Freeze dried foods in general hold in most of the nutrients and such...The only problem I have ran into with feeding freeze dried is that they're ...dried..so when fed they absorb/expand in the belly and can cause constipation and swim bladder problems in sensitive fish... I now feed frozen, and my minions of bettas love them.

[scootshoot]

Originally Posted by Littlebittyfish

Her intentions weren't to get anyone fired, but to simply have them change a silly policy about feeding bettas only freeze driedbloodworms. If someone got fired over a letter, there must have been previous incidents in that store with that manager.I am only hoping that they are not telling you what you want to hear and continuing to feed freeze dried bloodworms.

Yea, there were obviously a buildup of issues concerning this manager to get him canned. No corporation replaces a manager over a single letter,