Support Free Republic.
Posted on 10/15/2013 2:05:54 PM PDT by JoeProBono
"My friend was shopping there last night, and saw some of the Bettas weren't doing too well,and asked an employee if the fish were ok. The employee said the bettas aren't fed, but it's common for them to die.
WHAT??? they purposely and intentionally don't feed their betta fish, so when they get shipped in those plastic containers, they stay there!"
You can tell a lot about a store by the way they treat their prisoners.
I thought I was reading about hand guns at first...
I think I saw this on a Seinfeld.
Did they decide the food is more expensive than the fish?
Go Fish !!!
:)
Not to defend Walmart or the practice, but what is the industry standard? I have seen Betas in those containers in many places. Did you take action like calling the ASPCA or (GASP)PETA? or just share your outrage here?
Hugh & Feries !!
I’ve seen food in the beta containers.
We had a betta three years or more years and never used a whole 2oz can of fish food to feed him during that time.
We had a betta three years or more years and never used a whole 2oz can of fish food to feed him during that time.
It’s not too easy to sell a dead fish. I call BS.
I’m not disputing or arguing, just asked a question because over the years Ive seen these fish confined to miniscule containers and have often wondered do they place them in tanks at night and re package them in the morning or what?
(Joe, you be psychic?...give me today's Mega Millions numbers?)
Parrot fish?
They would stay in the little “cups.” Bettas aren’t terribly successful in larger tanks.
I have a betta named Mako. Do you feed yours live food? I never feed anything else. Siamese Fighting Fish thrive on it.
Bettas are perfectly happy in very small containers. They originally lived in shallow mud puddles in Thailand (hence the name, Siamese fighting fish). They’re lung breathers, not gill breathers, so as long as they’re able to surface and get some air they’re okay.
However, it’s generally advisable to feed them every other day, so the thought of not feeding them for perhaps days or weeks at a time is a bit disturbing. OTOH, perhaps the staffer that said that was just pulling the busy-body’s leg by saying oh,no, of course they never feed them! (Ive been known to do that ... when people ask STUPID questions about our twin sons, I often make up the most outlandish thing I can think of just to see if I can get the nosey parker to believe it! LOL!) So I would inquire about Walmart’s actual official policy regarding bettas rather than just believe some blog or email.
they aren’t dead, just resting
They would stay in the little “cups.” Bettas aren’t terribly successful in larger tanks.
I know they are aggressive, but I do recall years ago they had tanks with dividers so the fish had room to swim but no contact. Well I was never a fish person though I enjoy watching them I still don’t like animals treated badly.
I’ve heard they don’t play well with others.
I bought a Beta from Walmart once and have a couple Betas. I hate how Walmart keeps them in those tiny cups, and I hope it is not true that they don’t feed them. That’s cruelty right there. My Betas ate their food, and I had them in a small fish tank. They both swam around the whole thing. They each lived a couple years.
The males need to be kept separate. Females can live together.
Cat seems to like his new pal...
(preferably with tarter sauce...I'm sure)
Reminds me of this classic...
We tried putting ours (just one) in a 15 gallon tank, maybe? It sat under a rock the whole time it was in the tank, lost his fins. Put him back in his little “cup” home and he recovered beautifully.
The used to not have holes for the fish to get air exchange. They have finally changed that.
Betas are confined in separate containers because they’re fighting fish and they’ll kill one another if they’re together. We had one and he’d even attack his own reflection.
They don’t put them in tanks at night because it would take an entire room to do so (in order to keep them apart).
Nice! Big tip coming your way.
You can actually keep several males in one large tank. They make special dividers to keep them apart.
If you ever get the chance to give your betta live food, give it a try. You will be amazed at how much he loves it. Bettas, more than most fish, really excel on live food. Pet stores sell brine shrimp. I give mine mosquito larvae/wrigglers. You should see him stalk, attack & devour his prey. He puts on quite a show.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.