Petstore Horror

[little_mermaid]

The first store I went to was dedicated to just fish...and yeah, they did have some nice selections of items and fish and what-not, but the poor Bettas were all in dirty water and the small little containers were about half full They did not look attractive nor healthy at all. And then I went to a petstore and I saw this male Betta dying in his container...poor fellow was very sick. His body was all twisted up and he looked like he was spewing his insides out *sorry to be graphic but I almost got sick in the store I was very close to walking out, but I needed a few items.* I just couldn't help but feel sorry for him. I was tempted to bring him home with me, but I don't have another filtered tank to put him in. Besides, I am having to learn so much about fish keeping that I never knew before, and I am trying to keep my little female Betta healthy. Anyways, I wish there was a better way for Bettas to be "stored" until they're bought.


** Excuse my grammar I know there are a lot of "buts" in there; but it's late and I'm tired and I don't feel like fixing my sentence structures

 

[ReMz]

Just a heads up. These topics pop up a lot with members that haven't been around here long. "OMG I can't believe they keep bettas like that!"... "OMG CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS TANK??!?!?!?!"

Some people *cough* Not to name anyone *cough* get annoyed when they see this over and over and over. It does suck and we are all aware of it.

Best I've seen so far is a LFS here that keeps the bettas in 20 gallon tanks in breeding traps next to eachother. Some of the lucky guys get the entire 20gal to themselves while they swim around and taunt all the other guys in the breeding traps. I try to shop there whenever I can because they take really good care of their fish.... just a bit more expensive than Petsmart.

 

[helterskelter]

The simple answer is to not buy from that shop again, put you money in a shop that worth it!

Never rescue these fish, i know it's difficult but if you buy it then give them money to buy more, if they get stuck with crap fish then they will stop buying that type in as they dont sell and they dont look good.

 

[Athena]

Just something to bear in mind when you see things like this - a sick fish in an LFS does not always mean that it is down to the bad fishkeeping habits of the LFS itself - they often rescue sick fish from customers who haven't a clue how to look after fish properly and usually the fish is in dire conditions before that person thinks to seek help and as a last resort takes it to the LFS.

Athena

 

[chesterscot]

as far as i know pets@home will not take fish in, either fry for selling or adult fish
scot

 

[modaz]

OMG OMG OMG!!!!! I can feel 5teady making his way he can prob smell it already BIG BIG COUGH, by nice 5teady

yes i agree with helter

 

[missigfunk]

This is a little off topic, but my LFS said that they don't buy bettas to sell until they are about 18 months old because otherwise they are too small and nobody wants them.

Are other countries like this? I live in Aussie.

 

[Syphoniera]

Yeah, I'm in Canada, and the owner of the LFS I go to kept complaining about being sent small ones, but they sold very fast except for a few with problems - which gave me a great excuse for more bettas.
But lots of us prefer the little ones.
Otherwise, that LFS is good about getting various non-VT bettas in, which sucks because I'm out of room for males...

 

[little_mermaid]

Whoopies! Sorry for opening up a can of worms! I was just so disturbed!

 

[ReMz]

Just something to bear in mind when you see things like this - a sick fish in an LFS does not always mean that it is down to the bad fishkeeping habits of the LFS itself - they often rescue sick fish from customers who haven't a clue how to look after fish properly and usually the fish is in dire conditions before that person thinks to seek help and as a last resort takes it to the LFS.

Athena

yeah...... but if they are selling fish that are in that state, they are not a very responsible fish store either.

Whoopies! Sorry for opening up a can of worms! I was just so disturbed!

You didn't know. It's all good



oh 5ssssssssssssssteady? where are you?

 

[Kudoo]

Missiguk, 18 months old - seriously? Most fighters are close to the death at this age, if not dead already. Doesn't sound like a very smart LFS to me.

 

[Dan-25]

I think helter skelter said it all really

 

[blaxicanlatino]

Hey thats life. It sucks but most petstores just dont have good employees. THeres a petstore by me called pet-o-rama and they put a crowntail betta in a tank with neon tetras... he didnt have a tail anymore lets put it that way. And had a dead betta in those cups for 3 days and nobody did nothing about it.

 

[Athena]

Just something to bear in mind when you see things like this - a sick fish in an LFS does not always mean that it is down to the bad fishkeeping habits of the LFS itself - they often rescue sick fish from customers who haven't a clue how to look after fish properly and usually the fish is in dire conditions before that person thinks to seek help and as a last resort takes it to the LFS.

Athena

yeah...... but if they are selling fish that are in that state, they are not a very responsible fish store either.

Yes, ReMz, I agree - but in a lot of cases when you see a sick fish in a tank within your LFS it doesn't necessarily mean it is for sale. They are often in quarantine for a few weeks. This is what my LFS does, anyway - have even asked one time if I could buy a certain fish (chocolate gourami) that was in quarantine (had a bacterial infection but I was prepared to take the risk and nurse it) and was told no they wouldn't sell until the fish was healthy again. Unless you make enquiries with store manager when you see a sick fish in a tank, you wouldn't know for sure if it is in quarantine (unless the shop labels it as such) and someone might assume that the sick fish was actually for sale.

I know - some LFS's are better and more responsible than others - but I still think if anyone is concerned they should always check with someone before assuming the worst.

Just my thoughts - Athena

 

[little_mermaid]

Just something to bear in mind when you see things like this - a sick fish in an LFS does not always mean that it is down to the bad fishkeeping habits of the LFS itself - they often rescue sick fish from customers who haven't a clue how to look after fish properly and usually the fish is in dire conditions before that person thinks to seek help and as a last resort takes it to the LFS.

Athena

yeah...... but if they are selling fish that are in that state, they are not a very responsible fish store either.

Yes, ReMz, I agree - but in a lot of cases when you see a sick fish in a tank within your LFS it doesn't necessarily mean it is for sale. They are often in quarantine for a few weeks. This is what my LFS does, anyway - have even asked one time if I could buy a certain fish (chocolate gourami) that was in quarantine (had a bacterial infection but I was prepared to take the risk and nurse it) and was told no they wouldn't sell until the fish was healthy again. Unless you make enquiries with store manager when you see a sick fish in a tank, you wouldn't know for sure if it is in quarantine (unless the shop labels it as such) and someone might assume that the sick fish was actually for sale.

I know - some LFS's are better and more responsible than others - but I still think if anyone is concerned they should always check with someone before assuming the worst.

Just my thoughts - Athena

Yeah I agree...but the least they could do is take the poor, sick fish off the display shelf! I do see where you are coming from though!