I agree that when you're getting a betta from a pet store you really aren't 'saving it' since you're supporting the business but you can make a difference by writing letters and complaining. But some people can't afford to get on aquabid and buy these fancy bred bettas...
I agree with not buying a betta from Walmart. It does save that fish, but think about the many more that take its place.
In fact, I don't support Walmart's fish section at all! I just went to one next to my college (about 30 minutes ago), and I was appalled at what I saw!
Picture one: Yes, that's some sort of fungus. It's black. I don't know what it is, but something that big can't just grow overnight.
Picture two: I'm pretty sure those fish aren't supposed to be green...and I'm sure they're supposed to be breathing too.
The rest of the tanks had algae and dead crabs. The betta fish weren't doing so well either...dirty cups..and the water odor smelled foul. I actually gagged walking by the sink.
If you don't buy certain products at a large chain store like Walmart or Petco/Petsmart, then they usually order less and less stock or stop buying the product all together because they lose money on it. The less fish you buy, the less fish they order to torture.
Interesting Miharu...so really the whole by buying a fish you're contributing to the problem should be dismissed.
I think in a way yes. Big stores like that don't want to lose money, they don't want to give items away for free, because then they are losing money, if a fish dies they don't lose money, they are compensated and given back whatever they spent on that fish.
If a fish dies on the shelf, it makes room for another fish, just like it would if you bought the fish, and the store doesn't suffer so because they're not losing money so they don't care if the fish dies. I don't think you're contributing to the problem by buying the fish, but I also don't think you can call it a rescue unless you get the betta for free, I hope that makes sense! haha
I agree with not buying a betta from Walmart. It does save that fish, but think about the many more that take its place.
In fact, I don't support Walmart's fish section at all! I just went to one next to my college (about 30 minutes ago), and I was appalled at what I saw!
Picture one: Yes, that's some sort of fungus. It's black. I don't know what it is, but something that big can't just grow overnight.
Picture two: I'm pretty sure those fish aren't supposed to be green...and I'm sure they're supposed to be breathing too.
The rest of the tanks had algae and dead crabs. The betta fish weren't doing so well either...dirty cups..and the water odor smelled foul. I actually gagged walking by the sink.
If you don't buy certain products at a large chain store like Walmart or Petco/Petsmart, then they usually order less and less stock or stop buying the product all together because they lose money on it. The less fish you buy, the less fish they order to torture.
thats horrible!! there was a petstore that just opened up near me (forgot the name of it) and after a week or 2, some tanks had 2 inches of white mush above the substrate. mold? fungus? not sure. dead fish? everwhere. i complained. but didnt workout since the manager whore a sleeveless undershirt and covered with tattoos. had to go to the register person, who I also had to hunt down, to ask who was the manager!!! He just shrugged 0_0 im like?!?! ?!0_0?! WHA?!!! i came back the next daywith my camera and took pics of the tanks. He was very upset and demanded to know why i was taking pics, even tried to snatch the camera from me. I said Oh youll find out soon enough. I did nothing however... but after 2 or so weeks, they closed down...
Last edited by Blaxicanlatino; 12-08-2010 at 05:39 PM.
I'm rather impressed with the Wal-marts in my area. I went to one recently and stopped by the fish tanks and all of the tanks were empty. We tracked down the pet associate and he said they had to remove all of their fish because of issues with their water hardness. He said he didn't know if/when they would start carrying fish again.
It's good to see that they would forgo sales when faced with unhealthy tanks.
I'm rather impressed with the Wal-marts in my area. I went to one recently and stopped by the fish tanks and all of the tanks were empty. We tracked down the pet associate and he said they had to remove all of their fish because of issues with their water hardness. He said he didn't know if/when they would start carrying fish again.
It's good to see that they would forgo sales when faced with unhealthy tanks.
i dont have a problem with bettas in cups so long as they are maintained. i understand it is impossible to keep store bettas in the appropriate tanks because it is far to expensive and impractical. my objection to walmart and similar stores treatment of the fish is not the size of the cups, but the lack of maintainence of said cups.
I'm rather impressed with the Wal-marts in my area. I went to one recently and stopped by the fish tanks and all of the tanks were empty. We tracked down the pet associate and he said they had to remove all of their fish because of issues with their water hardness. He said he didn't know if/when they would start carrying fish again.
It's good to see that they would forgo sales when faced with unhealthy tanks.
I feel so stuipid but what exactly is water hardness? 0_0
i dont have a problem with bettas in cups so long as they are maintained. i understand it is impossible to keep store bettas in the appropriate tanks because it is far to expensive and impractical. my objection to walmart and similar stores treatment of the fish is not the size of the cups, but the lack of maintainence of said cups.
i agree! i think of cups as a holding place until bettas can find their new, nice home. i know, not all people will take good care of their bettas, but i like to think they do. but when i go to a store, and the water quality is bad, it's wrong, because technically, that is a product, and stores are supposed to maintain the quality of their products. by allowing the bettas to get to such a horrible point is extreeemely irresponsible, by the fish care-taker, and the management, who should be making sure that their employees are taking care of their responsibilities that they are being paid to do.
oh! on a nicer note, one of my local walmartshas officially stopped selling bettas!!! (sadly, this isn't the one where soda had been poured into the cup, i think that one's still selling them....)
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