wackystarfish
Fishaholic
ok, here is how the past days went! Sorry for the rant!
I visited World of water, Blackpool. I was looking around at the fish, which were in o.k condition for a large chain store. Yesterday i had phoned to find out if they had any bettas in, which they said they had, and the guy made a point of saying, 'Yeah i've even separated them so they don't fight and everything' So i thought, ok... i guess that's good... However, i got there and was looking around for AGES for them, until i found them. On top of a shelf where the work bench is where they bag the fish. They were in a terrible state. They were in a long divided tank, in cubes of about 3cm by 3cm. The long tank was filtered by a sump, which had an inlet on the right and outlet pipe on the left. The current was so strong the bettas were sticking to the side of the glass. Also, there was a betta floating in the sump being blown about by the current which had lost the ability to swim properly. The tanks were unheated and dark. One of the bettas had visible dropsy, and they all had significant fin damage.
I was shocked and horrified by this so, at once i got a member of staff. Here is how the conversation went:
''Hey how can i help you?''
''First of all, are these bettas in quarantine?''
''No, they are for sale''
''Right. Ok then, i think i need to point out alot of things that are going wrong here.''
Looking confused''Oh, what would that be?''
''Well, to start with, bettas don't like current, need heated tanks, and all of these are either ill or in dreadful condition. You have them in cramped tanks, when they need about 2.5 Gallons each.''
''Well erm, i am not really responsible for this department, however i can fetch you someone who is...''
''OK thats fine''
''Hi how can i help you?''
'' explains everything AGAIN
''Look, im a marine biologist. I know all about bettas. If bettas are kept in tanks any bigger than this then they will die. Its maby something you will understand as you get older and more into the hobby. Also, bettas live in fast moving rivers in the wild so they enjoy the current.''
''I still think you are wrong.''
''Well, even if it isnt that, it saves space in the shop.''
I point to the sump with the poorly betta
'' oh that one is ill probably from shipping. ''
'' Look, i dont know who you are trying to kid, but i think you are totally wrong on this. You could at least treat the tank with some meds''
At this i was told how wrong i was again, then went home and thought, they can stuff it!
BUT my freind who had been doing his work experience said, when i asked him about the bettas that the marine biologist probably knows what hes doing
has the world gone mad??!! i also asked about the betta in the sump, and he said,
'Oh i was told to fish it out and give it to the lionfish after you left. Its the same with the dead mice and the snakes.'
At that, i phoned up that night, and said numerous swearwords and got very, very angry. 
Im now banned for a year. My freind says they have my name in the staff room XD.
Was i right or wrong about this whole deal?
Thanks, Finlay
I visited World of water, Blackpool. I was looking around at the fish, which were in o.k condition for a large chain store. Yesterday i had phoned to find out if they had any bettas in, which they said they had, and the guy made a point of saying, 'Yeah i've even separated them so they don't fight and everything' So i thought, ok... i guess that's good... However, i got there and was looking around for AGES for them, until i found them. On top of a shelf where the work bench is where they bag the fish. They were in a terrible state. They were in a long divided tank, in cubes of about 3cm by 3cm. The long tank was filtered by a sump, which had an inlet on the right and outlet pipe on the left. The current was so strong the bettas were sticking to the side of the glass. Also, there was a betta floating in the sump being blown about by the current which had lost the ability to swim properly. The tanks were unheated and dark. One of the bettas had visible dropsy, and they all had significant fin damage.
I was shocked and horrified by this so, at once i got a member of staff. Here is how the conversation went:
''Hey how can i help you?''
''First of all, are these bettas in quarantine?''
''No, they are for sale''
''Right. Ok then, i think i need to point out alot of things that are going wrong here.''
Looking confused''Oh, what would that be?''
''Well, to start with, bettas don't like current, need heated tanks, and all of these are either ill or in dreadful condition. You have them in cramped tanks, when they need about 2.5 Gallons each.''
''Well erm, i am not really responsible for this department, however i can fetch you someone who is...''
''OK thats fine''
''Hi how can i help you?''
'' explains everything AGAIN
''Look, im a marine biologist. I know all about bettas. If bettas are kept in tanks any bigger than this then they will die. Its maby something you will understand as you get older and more into the hobby. Also, bettas live in fast moving rivers in the wild so they enjoy the current.''
''I still think you are wrong.''
''Well, even if it isnt that, it saves space in the shop.''
I point to the sump with the poorly betta
'' oh that one is ill probably from shipping. ''
'' Look, i dont know who you are trying to kid, but i think you are totally wrong on this. You could at least treat the tank with some meds''
At this i was told how wrong i was again, then went home and thought, they can stuff it!
BUT my freind who had been doing his work experience said, when i asked him about the bettas that the marine biologist probably knows what hes doing
has the world gone mad??!! i also asked about the betta in the sump, and he said,'Oh i was told to fish it out and give it to the lionfish after you left. Its the same with the dead mice and the snakes.'
At that, i phoned up that night, and said numerous swearwords and got very, very angry. Im now banned for a year. My freind says they have my name in the staff room XD.Was i right or wrong about this whole deal?
Thanks, Finlay
, i would report world of water to the RSPCA, trust me, they will pay them a visit if not they will send the local council around to check on it.
Looking back i was probably a bit too angry lol! Im just an angry person though 
