I went to Petsmart today - and saw 23 RED bettas. They all looked alike - dark red. Only one was different, and his head was pineapple colored, but he was red too. Not one other color was left - just red. It's so sad to me that just because a betta is born red that he should rot on the shelf.

UUGH. Rant on red over now, but...

I was about to leave when I spotted a little boy shoved way in the back who was REALLY struggling to get up for air. He obviously has some swim bladder issues, as you can see from the photos. *sigh* Needless to say...


...he's acclimating right now. I just got him a 1/2 gallon betta keeper and filled it about 3/4 of the way full - and put 2 medium sized sprigs of cabomba in there for him to rest on. He can barely move around so he obviously does not need a huge area to swim right now - that could just make him tired and weak.

I decided to bring him home because he met my criteria - either: 1 ) nobody else would buy him cuz he looks like a crippled little fish or 2) nobody would buy him cuz he's red or 3) someone would buy him and not know how to make special arrangements for him because of his inability to get up for air, and make his life hell.

His name is Mr. Krabbs because it's so totally ironic that with as debilitated as he really is, he still is such a little sweetheart and wriggles his way over to see me no matter how hard it is. :wub:

he is adorable@@@ good luuck with the little fello

hope he makes it now, at least he is in good hands now.

:dance: BettaMomma makes another save. I'm know he will be very and well loved in his new home. He is very pretty!

Haha!
Actually, these pictures make him look VERY pathetic but he's really perky and sweet.
He wiggles around his little tank.
I just wish he would figure out that if he slid up on top of his cabomba plant he could just park himself there and wouldn't have to struggle so far up for air.

He also has a very bent dorsal - it looks like an upside down L. I think it's broken. Uugh. What the hell do they do to these poor fish before they get to the stores....

Well, I'm off to thaw out some bloodworms for my little family. :)

aww, he's such a cutie :D
I'm sure he'll turn out wonderfully!

OMFG NOT ANOTHER ONE! ...they must love you at petsmart

Well Nellie died the other day so I'm not any further ahead in betta count than I was a week ago.

so :pft:

You totally rock (like I tell you all the time).

He's such a cutie! Swim bladder problems suck ass. Definitely use some colloidal on him. Definitely helped Kirsten out a whole bunch... and she looked like that. Could be that his is permanent, but you've gotta try, of course. It's you we're talking about here. :P

Another amazing rescue by BettaMomma. He is so cute, and is so lucky that you found him. I am sure if anyone can help him, you will be able to! WTG :woo:

Congrats and best wishes to the little boy! :D

:wub: Look at that sweet little face! He looks like he's looking up at you and saying, "I know you're going to help me, Mom." He's the lucky one of those 23 red bettas because he got to go to the best betta home around. :tup:

Aww very cute bettamom :) He looks like my Twist when I first got him :)

Red VT's are great :) Hope his swimbladder gets better, now you have to get him a mini Krusty Crab to be the boss of :P

lol
Thanks guys :)

He's swimming around his little tank like nobody's business this morning.
He eats like a little pig and he drags his heavy little butt all over the place.
He's terrified of me when I get too close to him, but when I just sit still he comes out and peeks. I will take some more photos tonight. He looks so much better than the photos above make him look.. He's not laying on his side really all that much anymore - he's swimming more but it looks like he's got a weight tied on his butt.

He's so cute!

Heres an idea :) Pick the most pathetic looking photo of him, stick it on a wall at the office or wherever, add a collection box and wella! He earns his keep, and you get some cash to spend on.... :whistle: Not another betta, honest :P

awwwwwwww i love him

i dont understand why peeps dont care for red they are my favorite!!!
i have a red female i got from the fishy store that has the same bladder problem,
i keep her in a very shallow tank and shes the one that likes to sit on a leaf and stick her head out of the water. n-e-whoo its fun to watch her swim because she either drags on her belly or stands upright and hops on her tail (she reminds me of something from spongebob!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

I have to say that I have some really pretty bettas, but Booker, my red boy is by far the prettiest. Everyone who sees him compliments his color. I remember when I got him thinking "I don't really want a red one, they're just so common." But he was such a tiny little guy with so much spirit he won me over, and I'm so glad he did.

Let's hear it for red bettas!!!!!!

:woo: :woo: :woo:

Yep, I agree.
I think it's just that there are SOOOO MANY of them that nobody wants them..
My Jack was one of the prettiest boys I ever had also.

Aaaah, I miss that boy.
I wonder if little krabby boy is Jack reincarnated - he probably requested to be in bad shape when he came back, so when he got put on the shelf he could come home with me and be back home again where he belongs - cuz he knew I couldn't pass up one in that shape.

I wouldn't put it past him. :)

LOL
That's actually a great plan....

Why am I not surprised.. the poor little guy's dorsal.. :/ Pet stores piss me off, they really do. It's just not right for them to treat a poor little fish like that. *Sigh.* I really hope that Mr. Krabby makes it.. you need to decorate his tank.
OMG.
Let me decorate his tank.
Seriously. I'm going to draw some cute things and make you a little background for his tank and email it to you. I feel like I should do something for the little guy.

I'd say give him a hug for me but that won't quite work, so throw an extra bloodworm or two in for him, would ya? Blagh, I want to go rescue another betta but I think I'm going to wait until I switch rooms in Sept. and have more room..

Oh, and btw.. Anubis is doing better, good call on the PimaFix. He's barely breathing heavily now [only after a heavy-duty flare fight with Pegasus], and it turns out he had some fin and tail rot that I thought at first was part of his colouring. He's going all crazy and cute now, I should take some pictures of him tomorrow before work. [Oh and I'll eat a sandwich AND soup for ya tonight lol] And OH one more thing -- when I get another one in Sept, whaddya think about Fiyero for the name?! [Here's to hoping like hell you finally got around to watching Wicked lol]

Yes his dorsal is quite something to look at.
It looks like he's bent in half at the waste and his backside hangs straight down, and his dorsal matches.

GREAT to hear that your boys are feeling great!!!
And yes I love that name.
No I haven't watched the rest of wicked but I've been very busy! lol

Soon, I promise.

Guess who made his mom a little bubblenesty last night - and ANOTHER one during the day today!

:wub:

Thought I'd post an updated pic of Mr. Krabbs.
It's amazing what a little bit of clean water and some TLC will do for a fish. :wub:



Guess this means we'll have to go shopping for another minibow one of these next few days. :)

Oh he looks wonderful! TLC does wonders sometimes :woo:

Hey BM, if ya go to Petsmart (west side anyway) anytime soon...check out the tank ornaments.....down towards the lowest shelf they have these really cool (I think) new caves...they're like blueish gray...really quite pretty. They are labeled "new product" or something. LOVED it...but too big for one of my boys' tanks I'm sure.......Mr. Krabbs is beautiful!
Angie

I SAW those the other day.
They're very cool. They'd be PERFECT for a 10G tank with girlies in it. :)

Oh wow :) He looks so great!

Great job BM!!! He looks fantastic. I just love a happy ending!

:lol:

aww hes so cute!!!

I love red bettas. I have one right now but have named him yet.