Ember
Fish Fanatic
There's been a lot of discussion of the fish keeping ethics of walmarts and other pet stores. Here's yet another thread.
I didn't jump in on the other one because it just seemed a bit aggressive from the getgo. I do understand the point but just to be devil's advocate (maybe to justify my own rescueing urges).
{Please note that the following is only a theory. I have no evidence of this}.
As much as I believe in supporting lfs's that treat their fish better, to be honest I always see at least one (usually more) dead fish in one (or more) of their aquariums - not bettas necessarily. A lot of these tanks seem way over stocked with neons or cats or whatever. Isn't that a little unethical?
Plus, who's to say these stores don't have a bit of betta mortality also. The lfs's are just better and quicker to "clean up" their unhealthy looking fish. In fact, I wouldn't doubt that they don't think twice about dumping a sick fish quicker than say a Petco or Walmart would. The aquarium stores don't want you to see any sign of unhealthy fish whereas a Petco or Walmart just lets them waste away and die before they bother getting rid of it. Even though these stores care for their bettas better, I've seen them handle those cups a lot rougher than I would've liked.
From my dealings with them, it just seems the people in a fish store are less sensitive about the issues of fish death than the "average" person. With the quantity of fish they handle, they are dealing with a lot of fish illnesses and deaths constantly. Picture the amount of feeder fish they deal with on a daily basis. I would think that alone would desensitize you a bit! (Obviously food for another fish to live is much different than outright fish neglect. Don't get me wrong, I do understand the difference). It's just that even the lfs seem more callous than I would like but I have to remember it's just every day work to them.
I will say though, the last time I went to the lfs he told me that they used to sell hundreds of bettas every week when they carried them in the Peace Lily Vases. I'm assuming it was for weddings and other party decorations. Along with the vases and plant, each purchase was a lot more than a single betta so they definitely made a lot of profit from them. But the lfs guy said they stopped carrying them because they know it's not an ethical way to keep a betta and they didn't want to encourage it. I'm sure they are losing hundreds upon hundreds of dollars every week by not doing this. It's hard enough for a small local shop to make profit. I definitely like them more because of this sacrifice. I'm proud to give them my business.
I will never stop my rescues but now I'll occasionally let myself indulge in a special betta from this lfs. They definitely get the best bettas I've ever seen in a store (and I go into every fish and pet store I pass by just to look at their bettas).
In conclusion, there isn't really a conclusion.
If you feel good about rescuing a betta and providing a luxurious life for a guy who was destined to die; or enlightening others on proper betta treatment. Then do it as often as you possibly can! So what if you can't save the world? Every life you enrich, enriches your own........even if it's just one "measly" betta. :wink: Do it for yourself if nothing else. You deserve it!
And on the other note, if you find an ethical business owner, do your best to keep him/her in business. Even if it means making a double trip to buy all your supplies (for that rescue betta) from the "ethical" store.
How's that for straddling the line?
I didn't jump in on the other one because it just seemed a bit aggressive from the getgo. I do understand the point but just to be devil's advocate (maybe to justify my own rescueing urges).
{Please note that the following is only a theory. I have no evidence of this}.
As much as I believe in supporting lfs's that treat their fish better, to be honest I always see at least one (usually more) dead fish in one (or more) of their aquariums - not bettas necessarily. A lot of these tanks seem way over stocked with neons or cats or whatever. Isn't that a little unethical?
Plus, who's to say these stores don't have a bit of betta mortality also. The lfs's are just better and quicker to "clean up" their unhealthy looking fish. In fact, I wouldn't doubt that they don't think twice about dumping a sick fish quicker than say a Petco or Walmart would. The aquarium stores don't want you to see any sign of unhealthy fish whereas a Petco or Walmart just lets them waste away and die before they bother getting rid of it. Even though these stores care for their bettas better, I've seen them handle those cups a lot rougher than I would've liked.
From my dealings with them, it just seems the people in a fish store are less sensitive about the issues of fish death than the "average" person. With the quantity of fish they handle, they are dealing with a lot of fish illnesses and deaths constantly. Picture the amount of feeder fish they deal with on a daily basis. I would think that alone would desensitize you a bit! (Obviously food for another fish to live is much different than outright fish neglect. Don't get me wrong, I do understand the difference). It's just that even the lfs seem more callous than I would like but I have to remember it's just every day work to them.
I will say though, the last time I went to the lfs he told me that they used to sell hundreds of bettas every week when they carried them in the Peace Lily Vases. I'm assuming it was for weddings and other party decorations. Along with the vases and plant, each purchase was a lot more than a single betta so they definitely made a lot of profit from them. But the lfs guy said they stopped carrying them because they know it's not an ethical way to keep a betta and they didn't want to encourage it. I'm sure they are losing hundreds upon hundreds of dollars every week by not doing this. It's hard enough for a small local shop to make profit. I definitely like them more because of this sacrifice. I'm proud to give them my business.
I will never stop my rescues but now I'll occasionally let myself indulge in a special betta from this lfs. They definitely get the best bettas I've ever seen in a store (and I go into every fish and pet store I pass by just to look at their bettas).
In conclusion, there isn't really a conclusion.
If you feel good about rescuing a betta and providing a luxurious life for a guy who was destined to die; or enlightening others on proper betta treatment. Then do it as often as you possibly can! So what if you can't save the world? Every life you enrich, enriches your own........even if it's just one "measly" betta. :wink: Do it for yourself if nothing else. You deserve it!
And on the other note, if you find an ethical business owner, do your best to keep him/her in business. Even if it means making a double trip to buy all your supplies (for that rescue betta) from the "ethical" store.
How's that for straddling the line?
