Should I Rescue A Betta?

[00:00:02] Welcome to this episode of The Aquarists Edge, a podcast for home aquarists just like you.

[00:00:09] Learn more about how to keep a thriving aquarium and discover ideas and tips to give your aquarium the edge.

[00:00:15] And now, over to our host, Arthur Preston.

[00:00:20] Hi everybody, welcome back.

[00:00:23] Today we're going to take a look at something that perhaps you have faced as a fish keeper.

[00:00:28] You walk into a fish shop, you see a betta fish in a little jar, maybe a small container or plastic container sitting on a shelf.

[00:00:36] And you wonder, should I take this betta home? Do I need to rescue this betta?

[00:00:42] I think it's something we've all faced at some point or another.

[00:00:45] And I have to say, even here within my city of Cape Town, I've been to a couple of fish shops, some of them quite well known.

[00:00:52] And seen a variety of bettas stacked in tiny plastic jars.

[00:00:58] And the temptation is always to go, oh man, I need to rescue these fish.

[00:01:03] But that question and that issue has actually sparked much debate within the fish keeping community.

[00:01:09] And so today I'm going to unpack both sides of the argument.

[00:01:12] I'm going to share a quote from an African scientist.

[00:01:16] And yeah, just give you some food for thought, I guess.

[00:01:21] So, let's get into it.

[00:01:23] Lots of fish keepers feel a strong urge to rescue bettas from poor conditions.

[00:01:28] These fish are often seen in tiny cups filled with contaminated water.

[00:01:32] You have no idea when that water gets changed.

[00:01:35] Some of them are obviously suffering from various health issues.

[00:01:39] And when you see a fish like this,

[00:01:42] any ethically minded fish keeper has a strong sense of compassion.

[00:01:46] And you want to step in and rescue that animal.

[00:01:51] When you purchase a fish like that from the fish shop,

[00:01:54] there is an argument to you may that you are providing immediate relief to that animal in distress.

[00:01:59] It can save the fish from potential death or prolonged suffering.

[00:02:03] For example, it's said that many bettas that are shipped to the United States

[00:02:08] face high mortality rates during transport.

[00:02:10] It is said that up to 1,000 out of every 100,000 may not survive.

[00:02:16] So rescuing one of those fish can mean the difference between life and death.

[00:02:21] There are many success stories within the fish keeping community

[00:02:24] where individuals have rescued bettas and transformed their lives.

[00:02:27] A cursory glance through aquarium-themed Instagram accounts

[00:02:32] and online social media platforms are filled with before and after photographs,

[00:02:37] showing how little love and care can turn a distressed fish

[00:02:40] into a vibrant, healthy companion.

[00:02:45] On the other side of the coin,

[00:02:47] purchasing bettas from pet shops can inadvertently support

[00:02:49] the very industry that mistreats them.

[00:02:52] When you buy a fish like this out of pity,

[00:02:55] it creates demand for more fish for more bettas,

[00:02:58] encouraging those fish keeping shops to continue these harmful practices.

[00:03:03] I read an article recently about ethical concerns about rescue bettas

[00:03:07] that said that buying these fish reinforces the cycle

[00:03:10] where sellers profit from neglect

[00:03:12] and are likely to replace saltfish with new ones

[00:03:16] kept under similar conditions.

[00:03:19] Betters that are rescued from poor environments

[00:03:21] often come with health issues

[00:03:23] that can be challenging for the average fish keeper at home to address.

[00:03:26] Many may suffer from disease or stress-related problems

[00:03:30] that require extensive care and resources.

[00:03:35] Treatments for common ailments such as fin rot

[00:03:37] or swim bladder disease can add up quickly.

[00:03:40] And on top of that,

[00:03:42] some fish keepers may not be prepared

[00:03:43] for the emotional toll of trying to rehabilitate to compromise fish,

[00:03:48] particularly if the fish eventually dies.

[00:03:52] Rehabilitating a betta can require a long-term commitment

[00:03:55] and specialized knowledge.

[00:03:57] And not every fish keeper has the expertise needed

[00:03:59] to nurse an injured or sick fish back to help them.

[00:04:03] It has been said that buying a betta

[00:04:05] is not really an act of rescue.

[00:04:07] It is funding ongoing exploitation within the pet trade.

[00:04:11] And so this raises the ethical question

[00:04:13] about whether rescuing a single fish

[00:04:15] is worth perpetuating an industry

[00:04:17] that profits from their suffering.

[00:04:20] So then you may be wondering,

[00:04:22] well, what is the alternative?

[00:04:23] What can be done?

[00:04:25] So instead of purchasing bettas from pet shops,

[00:04:27] there are several alternate ways

[00:04:29] to help improve the welfare of these amazing fish.

[00:04:34] Firstly, purchase your betta from a reputable breeder.

[00:04:38] Someone who prioritizes animal welfare.

[00:04:40] There are plenty of local breeders,

[00:04:42] certainly here in South Africa,

[00:04:44] who do a phenomenal job.

[00:04:45] These are people who truly understand the welfare

[00:04:47] and the upkeep of bettas.

[00:04:49] They feed them well.

[00:04:50] They look after them well.

[00:04:51] They breed them ethically.

[00:04:53] They transport them ethically.

[00:04:54] Support these people.

[00:04:56] If you don't know where to find them,

[00:04:57] ask in a local fish keeping group.

[00:05:00] Reach out to people that you may know

[00:05:01] who are in the aquarium trade.

[00:05:03] Ask them.

[00:05:05] Ask them to give you the names

[00:05:07] and the contact details of ethical breeders.

[00:05:09] Do an online search

[00:05:10] and you'll find these people.

[00:05:12] You can also raise awareness

[00:05:14] of a proper betta care

[00:05:15] and engage on social media

[00:05:18] about your concerns

[00:05:20] around keeping of bettas

[00:05:22] in these tiny little containers.

[00:05:25] You can also speak to the pet store owners.

[00:05:29] Some of them are not going to like the feedback,

[00:05:32] but it may simply be a case of ignorance,

[00:05:34] particularly if that shop

[00:05:36] is not an aquarium specialist shop.

[00:05:39] I guess what really upsets me

[00:05:40] is when I go into a store

[00:05:42] that advertises itself

[00:05:43] as an aquarium specialist store

[00:05:46] and you see fish that are kept

[00:05:49] in these tiny little containers.

[00:05:51] You know that the people

[00:05:52] who run that store should know better

[00:05:53] and yet they persist with this practice.

[00:05:58] So engage with the store management.

[00:06:00] Write them emails.

[00:06:02] Put reviews on Google.

[00:06:05] Put a bit of pressure on them

[00:06:06] to change their practice.

[00:06:09] Dr. Houssa Meyer,

[00:06:10] if I'm saying that correctly,

[00:06:12] from the Stag Sprite Veterinary Clinic

[00:06:14] here in South Africa,

[00:06:16] says the welfare of aquatic animals

[00:06:17] is often overlooked,

[00:06:19] particularly in the pet trade.

[00:06:22] It's crucial for fish keepers

[00:06:23] to understand that purchasing fish

[00:06:26] from poor conditions

[00:06:27] may inadvertently support unethical practices.

[00:06:30] And the aquatic vet,

[00:06:32] Dr. Marlene van der Merve,

[00:06:34] says fish are sentient beings

[00:06:35] that require appropriate care

[00:06:37] and environments to thrive.

[00:06:39] When we see them in distress,

[00:06:41] our instinct may be to rescue them,

[00:06:43] but we must also think

[00:06:44] about the systemic issues

[00:06:45] that allow such neglect to occur.

[00:06:48] So in conclusion,

[00:06:50] while the impulse to rescue bettors

[00:06:52] from poor conditions

[00:06:52] is understandable,

[00:06:54] it's crucial to consider

[00:06:55] the broader implications

[00:06:56] of such actions,

[00:06:58] by purchasing so-called rescue bettors,

[00:07:01] consumers may unintentionally

[00:07:03] perpetuate the cycle of neglect

[00:07:05] and poor care

[00:07:05] that these fish often endure.

[00:07:08] So instead of buying from pet shops,

[00:07:10] consider supporting ethical breeders

[00:07:12] who are local to your area,

[00:07:15] who are local to your country.

[00:07:17] Your choice can make a significant impact

[00:07:20] on the welfare

[00:07:21] of these beautiful and stunning fish.

[00:07:24] That's it for this episode

[00:07:25] of the Aquaris Sedge.

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[00:07:36] Until next time,

[00:07:37] keep learning and discovering

[00:07:39] and keep finding your Aquaris Sedge

[00:07:41] in this captivating

[00:07:42] and fascinating hobby.