Argh, I saw the most awesome betta on Sunday. Just popped into the LFS on my way somewhere else to have a little look and there he was. He was blue, red and white. His colours were a bit of mess but had a bit of butterfly pattern in him. And he had the meanest face I ever saw. Poor thing though was in a tank stuffed full of dwarf gouramis and he was not liking it one bit. He was constantly trying to fight over terriotory but there were just too many gouramis. He was constantly flaring and trying to fight the gouramis and you could see large rips in his tail going all the way to the base (from flaring too much ?). I have never seen a betta flare as intensely as this one, he really looked like he was about to rip completely.
I was so tempted to take him home and put him in my little temporary tank with a mini heater, until my 7.5Gal is set up, but my boyfriend made me think about it while we went shopping, and then I felt really ill and had to go home fish-less. Still tempted to go back and get him, because he was so stunning and so mean looking, but I don't think I am set up enough to get a new one at the moment. Also, I'm not sure I have the time to look after him and help him, because his fins were in quite a state. Hopefully someone will buy him soon though. There was only one other betta there that was nowhere near as stunning, so he should be snatched up pretty quick.

I think if you want him that bad you might as well go get him! I find my bettas to be very inexpensive to keep. I don't have any fancy setups--just glass bowls with dechlorinator, a couple grains aquarium salt and weekly water changes. They are at my bf's house where the temps are around 70F on up and they have been fine without a heater. You could add some bettafix to help his fins.

When you have doubts about things,you really are better off going with your feelings.It's a shame that he's in a tank with of all things,Gouramis,because that's an accident waiting to happen,but you're being sensible realizing that to take the fish and not have the time and effort needed to invest in his care,really wouldn't be benefitting him much at all. Sure,it may cost pennies to keep him,but it's the quality in which you're able to keep him,if you know what I mean. I'm sure that someone will come along that has that time,if he's as pretty as you say.It's too bad that we can't save all the fish now,isn't it?

Thanks Devs, I think you're might. My thinking is that if you have any doubts about getting a pet then you shouldn't get it.
I have one betta at the moment, Archimedes, who had bad fin-rot when I got him. He is now healthy and happy and I'm in a nice routine looking after him. I know bettas are relatively easy fish to keep, but I just don't feel ready to take on a new one yet, particularly one a bit worse for wear. I've just moved and stuff and had a very stressful past couple of months. My 7.5 needs cycling so it would mean keeping him in a 1.5 which would be tricky to heat and need very regular water changes.
I did feel bad leaving him there, because the set-up was bad for him, but I do think he will get sold quite quickly. Demand for bettas seems to out-strip supply in the UK as LFS' tend to only have a couple at a time. I just hope that whoever buys him doesn't bung him in a similarly unsuitable tank.

All I meant was the betta was bound to be better off with lak then where he was at the lfs. Even if it wasn't as perfect as we'd like for awhile. Hoping someone else will come and give him a good home when he's not looking his best is like taking your your old horse to the livestock auction and hoping a nice family will buy him instead of the meatman. If you want to be sure you need to take some other action. No, we can't save them all and yes we need to be responsible but if one tugs at your heart that much is it worth the regrets later?? Just my humble opinions.

I don't know if you meant to make it sound that way, but some of what you said seemed an attempt to make me feel guilty, for which I refuse to do. Taking on a sick betta when I don't have the set-up, or time to look after him wouldn't be fair to the betta. It may be the case that his treatment will end up worse than the treatment I would give him, but I am not responsible for that.
I don't think it is the same as taking my old horse to a livestock auction and hoping a nice family rather than a meatman buys it becasue the betta is not my betta. I wouldn't sell one of my own sick bettas hoping that someone else would look after it. I think it is a responsible decision not to buy him because I don't feel I can give him that he needs.

What??? I was actually giving you a compliment! Saying the fish would be better with you. You seemed confused as to what to do so I was attempting to help. I have "rescue" in my heart and see no sense in leaving a fish to fend for itself if I feel that strongly about it. Sorry you took it wrong.

Sorry, I think I may have overreacted to your post. I still feel that I made the right decision however and the old horse analogy is inaccurate as it was not my responsibility.
I understand that you feel strongly about rescuing fish is poor circumstances, but I am still relatively inexperienced with bettas and this combined with my lack of time and stressful living situation would not make me a very suitable carer. I wish I could have rescued him from that gourami tank, but I don't feel able to take on another fish at the moment so I can only hope that whoever bought him has the knowledge and compassion to look after him properly.

Sorry if I overreacted.

Poor fishy! I hope he finds a happy home soon. I am often tempted with beautiful fish. My latest temptation was a drop dead gorgeous female crown-tail. I wanted her sooooooo bad, but I just have any more space for even one more fish. We are getting a house next year, and I plan to upgrade my goldie tank and maybe get a few more bettas. They are just so pretty!

I only used the horse bit because it's something I'm familiar with--I didn't mean it so literally, however! The point was the only way anybody can know for sure a betta, horse or whatever has a happy outcome is if we make it one. Rather than leaving it to chance and always wondering. Sorry if I made you feel bad--