What are my odds?

[BettaMomma]

For who the hell knows what reason, I just went to WalMart. OKay, well I thought MAYBE they'd have some BettaMax. I still don't know if they have any - I got too consumed by one of the bettas in one of the DEATHTRAP cups.

He obviously was dying. His belly was so bloated his tummy was showing signs of beginning to crack right open. He had stringy white poo hanging off of him. I told one kid who was working there, just hanging out in the fish section and asked him to look at it. There was another girl that was in the same aisle, adn they were obviously just chitchatting. They made a joke about him having been overfed, laughed and just disappeared.

Well, of COURSE my first instinct was to put him in my cart, pick up a 2 gallon tank and a heater and head for home. I didn't, though - and the reason I didn't makes me feel like the most HORRIBLY evil person on the planet. I was pretty sure he would die, and then I would have to suffer. I WOULD SUFFER...?? I can only imagine the horror he's going thru right now.

SO - I don't want ANY speeches on "you shouldn't rescue bettas from places like that"... I'm in NO mood for that. I simply wanna know what everyone thinks my chances are if I go pick him up in the morning (it's sunday evening 8 pm) and start dosing him up on Maracyn Two immediately? I am completely consumed by this poor fish that's hanging out in that little cup waiting for one of 3 things to happen:
1) Me to come back and rescue him
2) Someone from WalMart to decide to figure out what to do with him and MAYBE medicate him (doubtful)
3) Death

What to do...

 

[SMSBrunetteGirl]

For who the hell knows what reason, I just went to WalMart. OKay, well I thought MAYBE they'd have some BettaMax. I still don't know if they have any - I got too consumed by one of the bettas in one of the DEATHTRAP cups.

He obviously was dying. His belly was so bloated his tummy was showing signs of beginning to crack right open. He had stringy white poo hanging off of him. I told one kid who was working there, just hanging out in the fish section and asked him to look at it. There was another girl that was in the same aisle, adn they were obviously just chitchatting. They made a joke about him having been overfed, laughed and just disappeared.

Well, of COURSE my first instinct was to put him in my cart, pick up a 2 gallon tank and a heater and head for home. I didn't, though - and the reason I didn't makes me feel like the most HORRIBLY evil person on the planet. I was pretty sure he would die, and then I would have to suffer. I WOULD SUFFER...?? I can only imagine the horror he's going thru right now.

SO - I don't want ANY speeches on "you shouldn't rescue bettas from places like that"... I'm in NO mood for that. I simply wanna know what everyone thinks my chances are if I go pick him up in the morning (it's sunday evening 8 pm) and start dosing him up on Maracyn Two immediately? I am completely consumed by this poor fish that's hanging out in that little cup waiting for one of 3 things to happen:
1) Me to come back and rescue him
2) Someone from WalMart to decide to figure out what to do with him and MAYBE medicate him (doubtful)
3) Death

What to do...

Poor guy God I got a question,whenever I hear these sad Betta stories,the employee whoever it is always laughs and goes off or something!

 

[SMSBrunetteGirl]

And correct me if I`m wrong and I hope I am,he sounds like he`s in an advanced stage or so,very bad condition hope he survives

 

[BettaMomma]

I'm pretty sure he's probably too far gone.
I had originally thought "Well, at least I can take him home and give him a nice big place to swim around and 'somewhat' have a nice place to DIE".

I just couldn't do it - the heartbreak would be too much, but sitting here knowing he's rotting away in that cup is HEARTWRENCHING.

 

[BettaMomma]

I think i've decided that I will call over to WM tomorow and speak to a manager.
I might ask what their course of action would be with him - if they'll just let him die anyway, I'll go get him, move Amos to his new tank (after I get the bacterial gravel introduced) and see if I can't get the poor dying guy into Amos' old tank.

Man, I know I'm just setting myself up for heartbreak here - WHY do I do it?

 

[Raechal]

I think i've decided that I will call over to WM tomorow and speak to a manager.
I might ask what their course of action would be with him - if they'll just let him die anyway, I'll go get him, move Amos to his new tank (after I get the bacterial gravel introduced) and see if I can't get the poor dying guy into Amos' old tank.

Man, I know I'm just setting myself up for heartbreak here - WHY do I do it?

Because you obviously love bettas. I have the same problem. Fortunately my walmart doesn't sell fish. But a walmart about 20 minutes does. I have never been and never want to go. I've heard stories.. I think what you are doing is a good thing to a point. I mean...it is kind of like people who "collect" animals. Just make sure you have room for them and don't end up just throwing them into jars on the coffee table.

It is hard to see that dying betta and not bring it home. I hope he pulls through.

 

[BettaMomma]

Although I can see myself becoming a betta "collector", I would stop at the point where I wouldn't have the means to give him a good home. My standards are to have a nice place to keep a tank, and have at LEAST a 2 gallon tank with a heater for each one, AND I will only take another one home if see that he/she is in complete duress and is obviously very sick.

This little guy is really on my mind. I'm feeling really guilty for not having picked him up. I can't imagine how horrid of a night he's going to have.

 

[yeeviabetta]

Just go and get him tomorrow. If he is still there, get him. If you two have fate, you going to be together no matter what.

 

[newfishies]

i say take him home, at worse case scenario, he has a nice comfortable place for his last days/hours, then you get the refund...best case scenario, you save his life, when no one at walmart will do anything and just let him die!!

 

[BettaMomma]

If he does have advanced dropsy (Which i'm pretty sure he does), what are the odds that he even CAN survive?

 

[Raechal]

Although I can see myself becoming a betta "collector", I would stop at the point where I wouldn't have the means to give him a good home. My standards are to have a nice place to keep a tank, and have at LEAST a 2 gallon tank with a heater for each one, AND I will only take another one home if see that he/she is in complete duress and is obviously very sick.

This little guy is really on my mind. I'm feeling really guilty for not having picked him up. I can't imagine how horrid of a night he's going to have.

Hey...walmart is open 24/7 go get him now!

 

[GrullaQuarters]

If you know the thought of this guy would bother you, I'd go get him....

It's Sunday night, but isn't Walmart open till at least 10? West side Madison walmart? I was just in there today....but I don't normally look at the fish....after hearing so much about "walmart fish," I figured I'd be askin' for trouble...since I haven't got a quarantine tank......

Hey, if ya got the little bugger and gave him more space, and he did die, you could at least tell yourself he died more comfortably. I can't imagine they really add fresh water into those little cups....possibly sick from ammonia buildup or something? I don't know...don't know much about bettas...but can't imagine that cup is too healthy...

 

[BettaMomma]

That particular WM isn't open 24 hours. (Already considered that). Angie - it's the Eastside one..
Also, the tank I'd be putting him in is at work - and that means that Amos would have to be moved first, which ALSO means I have to get to my lfs to get that bacteria seeded gravel.

I'm just hoping that the kid that was there had disappeared to either get someone to take care of the fish or he told someone else about it. (HIGHLY doubtful) but I am wishful thinking. I'm not sure what I will do, but either way I'm going to be talking to a manager over there to tell them about it, if I don't have the heart to go in and bring him with me.

I HATE WALMART.
I REALLY, REALLY DO.

 

[Raechal]

You could go get him tomorrow and move Amos and just stick him in the tank without the gravel maybe? Then just keep up on water changes until you have the time to get the gravel too?

 

[BettaMomma]

Does anyone know if dropsy is beatable once it's to this stage?
I've heard it's highly unlikely.
He might not even still be alive tomorrow.