While at the W*mart today, I was looking at the bettas, and alot of them were in sad shape. I saw that they had 5 female bettas left, there were 8, but 3 of them were dead and rotting....so....guilt came over me, and I ended up buying 4 of them!! I have never even owned 1 female betta, and suddenly I have 4 and I feel horrible that I didn't buy the 5th. Anyways, they are all really small. The largest is 1 inch at most. I set up a 5 gallon tank with a nice sized filter. I have lots of silk plants, and a nice big hidey rock with lots of holes for them, and so far they seem OK.

I know I should have only had 3 in there at most, but I couldn't help it, I wanted to save them from death.

I was basically made to feel like a horrible person the entire trip home for this...I thought I was doing something good for these poor innocent creatures, but now I am wondering if I have made a huge mistake.

Oh Grain, you Sweety! At least it is a situation that can be fixed easily! LOL! I would suggest just putting two of the bettas in another, temporary, container until you can maybe get another tank for them. Do you have an extra tank around, or maybe a small Rubbermaid? Bless your heart for wanting to save those fish!

Then again, it may not be so bad with 4 in the tank as you said they were really small right now. Maybe that would be okay until you can get another tank. Chin up, Hon! It will be okay!

Thanks Nickie Unfortunately, I don't have anything else I can put them in. I could probably buy a rubbermaid, but I would kinda rather have all of them in a 5 gal with a good filter than put 2 of them in a tank with no filter at all......plus, I am completely ouf of space, and with everyone basically hating me, I can't put them anywhere else in the house

Your heart was in the right place when you bought the fish. I am sure you will work something out. Keep your chin up. Leah.

oh grain you are a doll to buy them Just think of the alternative (ouch- no don't)I'm sorry its given you trouble at home but the bettas are thanking you. Even in a small place surely they are lucky. Good luck doing what's best for them. * Hugs.

Thanks everyone Maybe it was a mistake to get 4 instead of 3, but their fins were clamped, they weren't moving at all....I actually thought one of them was dead. So, I just couldn't bear to leave them there to die when I knew that I could provide them a pretty decent home.

That, somehow, apparently makes me an annoying child who is obsessed with "stupid fish" and doesn't even care about the real world.... isn't that nice?


Well, this morning, they were all seeming pretty happy and just poking around and exploring their new home. I've somehow decided to call them: Eenie, Meenie, Miney, and Moe....haha....Moe is the big mama.....she is obviously the boss, but even with that, they all seem to be getting along just fine. I think that since they are so tiny, 5 gallons divided amongst the 4 of them is much better than the 1 cup of dirty water that they had.

Sweety, you know it wasn't a mistake to get 4 instead of 3, because you knew you could give them life. They didn't have a chance of that at the store.

And you know what? This forum is FULL of people who are obsessed with "stupid fish" - so I think you're in great company! We're in Koko's Goldfish World... the real world is scaaaary!!

If they were in a cup of dirty water, then 5 gallons is a nice sized lake for them, I think! You'll work it out!

Their names are great!! Good luck with them!!


Debbie

awww, thanks Debbie, that made me feel better!

especially this part:

And you know what? This forum is FULL of people who are obsessed with "stupid fish" - so I think you're in great company! We're in Koko's Goldfish World... the real world is scaaaary!!


-hehehe...you are soooooo right!!!!

compared to the conditions you found them in, a 5 gallon tank with your care and attention must be like a dream come true for them

Thanks, alistairw i sure hope so!!

Don't worry my husband keeps telling me that I am obsessed with my fish. We lost quite a few in the beginning because of the bad advice that the pet shop kept giving me, and they kept selling me more. He says to me " you are getting a bit to obessed with the fish aren't you they are only goldfish" I just want to keep them healthy. My son and I really enjoy keeping the fish. You are not the only one. Leah

great job for saving them

any pics

I don't have any pics yet, as they are small, and very fast....and my camera likes to blur.....i'm gonna try more this weekend when i have more time though !

Great job on the rescue! Good for you! Don't worry about the tank too much, just keep an eye on the water quality and change it a little more often. They should be fine until you can get a bigger one later.

I love girl bettas my little girl is named Matilda She likes to dance for her dinner she is so cute. I love the names you gave them

I love the females, too! They are so cute and have just as much personality as the males. Here's a pic of my little girl, Angeleyes. I recently put her in my 20 gal with some other trops and she 's doing great. I think your girls will be fine in the 5 gal since they are tiny. I have 5 guppies in a 5 gal and they have been just fine. I vacuum the bottom and change about half the water every week. Fishkeeping is fun and your family is missing out! At least you are enjoying yourself and helping critters at the same time.