Betta Rescue Center

[BWBettas]

I'm in the process of building a massive shelving unit in my spare room. For what you may ask?? Bettas in need of loving homes. My LFS always has bettas in stock with dodgy tank mates even though they have empty tanks there aswell.. So im doing my bit for them. Buying them and giving them the love they need and if someone likes them enough ill sell and deliver them to them at cost So let the fun begin...


Bret

 

[RandomWiktor]

Neat ^^ I actually am working on the webpage for my "betta rescue." It is going to be called A "Betta" Place. I will have info on proper betta husbandry, tips on curing common illnesses, photos and stories of all of my rescues to date, a "**** list" of local stores with poor husbandry practice, links to reputable breeders, etc. I will not be collecting donations or supplies simply because I am doing this small scale and privately; it is more to educate people about the plight of Betta splendens.

 

[diademhill]

I'm in the process of building a massive shelving unit in my spare room. For what you may ask?? Bettas in need of loving homes. My LFS always has bettas in stock with dodgy tank mates even though they have empty tanks there aswell.. So im doing my bit for them. Buying them and giving them the love they need and if someone likes them enough ill sell and deliver them to them at cost So let the fun begin...


Bret

If people keep buying the Bettas from unsuitable tanks the store is going to keep getting more stock in.
All you are doing is perpetuating the trade.

I know you mean well but this is not going to save fish.

You could try offering a third of the price for any that have been nipped - let them know their practice is costing money & they may stop it. (Take an umbella for the falling pig dung though)

 

[Betta_Lovex3]

Way to go you! Oh how it would be nice to rescue bettas. Rescuing Sebastian was fun....He has torn fins, and his water had a piece of green fuzzy food in it! (At least I think it was food.) He was a little guy full of life, who just needed a nice roomy tank, and now he is much happier. Everyday after his tank gets cleaned, he builds a new bubblenest that takes up the whole right wall of his tank! Heh, sorry for the long story, but great for you to rescue the little cuties!

 

[Betta_luver]

But it would make a difference to that little VT who could have gone to some stupid 2-year-old.

Think of the Star Fish Poem:

THE STARFISH POEM

Once upon a time there was a wise man

who used to go to the ocean

to do his writing.

He had a habit of walking

on the beach

before he began his work.

One day he was walking along

the shore.

As he looked down the beach,

he saw a human

figure moving like a dancer.

He smiled to himself to think

of someone who would

dance to the day.

So he began to walk faster

to catch up.

As he got closer, he saw

that it was a young man

and the young man wasn't dancing,

but instead he was reaching

down to the shore,

picking up something

and very gently throwing it

into the ocean.

As he got closer he called out,

"Good morning! What are you doing?"

The young man paused,

looked up and replied,

"Throwing starfish in the ocean."

"I guess I should have asked,

why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?"

"The sun is up and the tide is going out.

And if I don't throw them in they'll die."

"But, young man, don't you realize that

there are miles and miles of beach

and starfish all along it.

You can't possibly make a difference!"

The young man listened politely.

Then bent down, picked up another starfish

and threw it into the sea,

past the breaking waves and said-

"It made a difference for that one."

 

[BWBettas]

Exactly what Betta_luver said... It would make a difference to that little torn, beaten VT that will not get purchased becausehe is not "pretty" enough to be sold? I like to think that i can sell these on to people who would like them.. then i can go and rescue more of them a never ending cycle...

Bret

 

[wuvmybetta]

So let the fun begin...

I don't expect that you'll find this too much fun. If anything it can become frustrating and heartbreaking over time,not to mention costly. Some of the neediest bettas are very, very sick by the time you find them in the stores, so having a supply of meds and nutritious foods on hand would be a good thing.

I also firmly believe that quite often new betta enthusiast can find themselves overwhelmed with their new group of rescues. Taking care of large numbers of fish in individual homes can be quite time consuming and it takes a long time to get it down pat without growing tired and or bored with the situation. I suggest that you go about this slow and thoughtfully. It's hardly fair to the fish if they go from suffering in one place, to suffering in another. Maybe one or two rescues at a time, work them in to your daily routine and consider taking on another. Rescuing fish, especially fish that require individual care, is really no different than taking in any other sort of foster animal. You really have to stick with a number that you can afford to take care of and house properly.

Sorry,but I had to bring a dark cloud of reality to your sunny master plan as I've seen people go through this time and time again. Eventually you come to realize that you just can't save them all, but you can make a difference in the lives of those you can/do save. Good luck and remember, slow with great thought.

 

[Taridan]

very well said, Wuvmybetta

 

[bunniebabe13]

Just to add my experience in....
I do private rabbit rescue. If at all possible when you get in more than 3 at a time... try to see if you can get some people to 'foster" for you...... it helps alot.... always take the worst off (if you have th emost experience) first. really anything NEW over 3 animals (fish or any other critter) is alot to handle.... becaus eyou have your own PLUS the extra care those newbies need...

Just some food for thought

 

[RandomWiktor]

I should add to what Wuv said from personal experience.
If you do not have experience treating diseases, having a "fish rescue" is very expensive, emotionally and financially. I did a simultaneous fish "hospice" - to give dying fish a peaceful death in a home - and a fish "rescue." I used the bodies of the deceased hospice fish to get refunds on both the deceased and the living rescues so that I would not be financially supporting the industry. This also decreased the costs of getting the bettas. However, medications, aquariums, filters, water additives (blackwater, aq salt, dechlor, etc), ended up churning out a MASSIVE bill every month. What's more, dealing with sick fish is massively time consuming. When you have diseases like columnaris or severe finrot, which require a great deal of frequent cleaning, the hours really add up. With my current 9 bettas, it takes about 4 hours to clean all of the tanks (I do 100% water changes as I had huge issues with filters). If I ever decided to go "large scale" with rescue, I don't think I'd have had time for school or a social life! Even now, I have to carefully schedule my cleanings around my 20 cred in college. This is why I have stopped doing the hospice and refuse to have more than 9 bettas at any one time; my plate is full as it is.

So, if you are going to rescue, that is fine; it is your own agenda and you have every right to do it. However, you need to very carefully consider your budget, your time, how many fish you can take at a time, etc. before plunging in to such a project. I wish you good luck in your endeavors, but let me give the voice of experience: keep it small to see what you can handle.

 

[grahamsokel]

well thats a big change in plans
Good luck with your plans but be ready for lots of expenses,rescuers of any animals will tell you it always costs a fortune .I do chinchilla rescue and i must have spent over £700 out of my own pocket in the last year on equipment,vets bills,food etc.etc.etc. but i would never stop as its so rewarding

 

[ILM]

Just from the 3 or 4 lfs near me, I'd run out of room for rescued fish within a few weeks. And as others have said, stores are only interested in making a sale--if you buy out all their sick fish, they just more fish in, you buy them, they get in more, endless cycle. You'll have all these fish that need love and attention and you'll soon find yourself having to research the kindest way of euthanating. Your idea is heartfelt and, in a perfect world, it ought to be enough--but this world isn't nice to animals (and fish). I know, you're going to have to make the attempt. Like a lot of us. Just know, no matter what everyone here says, we're hoping the best for you and the fishes.

 

[BWBettas]

Oh i know its very costly, but luckily i invested in some Methylene Blue, Disease Clear, Revitilisor Tonic, Ammo-Lock, Maracyn 1 & 2 and i can buy cups of salt from the lfs. From the start i had limited myself to 10 bettas at a time... Sorry i thought i said that but obviously i had not

Bret

 

[wuvmybetta]

Well 10 is very do-able Good on you for taking in needy fish. I was picturing you sitting there in tears, with like 50 ,wondering what you had done.

By the way, is the betta situation as bad over there as it is here in the US? Here they're pretty much disposable shelf items

 

[smurfyy_2k3]

to most lfs yes but, mine recently started building real betta barracks with decent 2 gallon tanks and everything