MKE Betta Rescue

15/02/2025

Angel was adopted today by Jason! He’s sure going to appreciate the 10 gallons of space to explore after spending 2 months in a cold cup. Thanks for adopting and the generous donation, Jason! Happy swimming, Angel!

10/02/2025

Angel will be ready to go to a new home this weekend. He’s a healthy, Platinum Halfmoon that was in a cup at the store since December 4th! He’s looking for his forever home. Please message me if interested!

10/02/2025

After a very long stay with me, Blue went to his new home with Claire on Saturday. Happy swimming Blue!

01/02/2025

***Picked up***

Hi all! I need to make some space and downsize my personal tanks. This one is up for grabs, as is. It’s a 10 gallon and filled with shrimp and some snails. It’s totally ready to go for a betta. I just purchased a new light for it. You’ll want to eventually switch out the filter with a sponge filter because I think the internal one is too strong for a long finned betta.

Message me if interested. I can drain the tank 2/3rds of the way so you can pickup and transport.

25/01/2025

Hi all! Betta rescue has been sssllooowww. I’ve had so many deaths of rescues that I’m taking a pause right now to figure out the path forward.

But, I wanted to jump on here to show you all something I found today! I had to go to a local fish store that I usually don’t frequent for a specific kind of food and I found this! They just recently moved all their bettas out of vases into tanks! As far as I know, this is the only place local (Milwaukee) that is doing this. The bettas are more pricey than your average betta from the big box stores BUT, wouldn’t you rather support a local business doing things the right way? So if you’re in the market for a new betta and don’t want to wait for a rescue, I highly recommend The Fish Factory! They also have a ton of plants and it’s a really nice store overall. My dream for bettas is that they ALL be sold this way. Maybe someday 🤞🤞🤞

11/01/2025

Two new guys. Both have swim bladder infection. They’ll be in treatment for the next week, fingers crossed they make it 🤞 The ammonia levels in their cups were the highest my test would read. 😩

21/12/2024

On Thursday I busted 3 bettas out of Petco jail. Unfortunately two of them passed away almost immediately, likely from ammonia poisoning. When I tested their cups, the ammonia was at extremely high levels. I have one survivor, a blue veiltail who is doing well and will be available for adoption soon.

I’ll be bringing back the ones that passed today to let them know what happened and show them the results of my cup water tests. I’m hoping to grab anymore bettas that I can as well.

09/12/2024

Sugar Plum was adopted yesterday by Nathan! I wasn’t sure he would make it, he had organ prolapse and the prognosis for that isn’t great. But he made a super quick recovery! Much better than dying in a cold cup 👍Happy swimming Sugar Plum.

Also, he makes 60 bettas rescued and rehomed this year. Sixty! Thanks to everyone who helped out MKE reach its first year of operation. Adopters, people who donated supplies and money, even people that just follow and share. I couldn’t have done any of it without you!

06/12/2024

This week I had this pretty rescue go home before I could even name him! Maggie adopted him and his name is now Bayda. He’s doing great in his new home. Congrats Maggie and Bayda!

01/12/2024

I posted a few weeks ago about the concerning betta conditions at Aquatics Unlimited. A friend spoke to management there and they assured her they would address the issue. I had to go in yesterday to drop off a rasbora that they sold me that was the wrong species, and took a peek at the bettas. They weren’t as bad as a few weeks ago but they still are not being cared for properly. There was a fish that has severe dropsy on display, for sale, breathing heavily, not being treated at all. I found a betta that had swim bladder dysfunction and was unable to swim properly, floating to the top. I took him home and, as I always do, tested the water. The results are pictured below. These levels indicate that these bettas are not having their water changed frequently enough, if at all. The buildup of nitrates with nitrites present indicates the cycling process is taking place. Many old school fish keepers think that bettas are a “hardy” fish and can withstand the cycling process. The truth is that no fish can “withstand” that process. It will either kill them or permanently damage them. Just because they don’t die, doesn’t mean they aren’t affected.

All that to say, I will no longer be patronizing Aquatics Unlimited at all. They have no business selling betta fish if they can’t be bothered to properly care for them in the store.

The fish I got from them is doing well, now that he’s in clean, warm water and should be available for adoption soon.

29/11/2024

Looking for a Black Friday Deal? How about a free betta? If you have the right tank, Sugar Plum could be your next best buddy. Sugar Plum came from a Petco cup, he had a**l prolapse (his intestines were coming out) when I got him. A few Epsom salt treatments later, he’s good as new. He needs his food intake carefully monitored as he may be prone to bloat but other than that, he’s a beautiful purple veil tail waiting for his forever home. Message me if interested!

21/11/2024

Minerva went to her new home with Xena on Saturday! She has a big planted 10 gallon to roam around in. Xena is a second time adopter and we love repeat customers 🥰 Happy swimming Minnie!

10/11/2024

Hi! I need a huge favor. I have a betta that needs transport to Kenosha. I’m not able to get there this week but I’d love to get this betta to her new home. I’m located on the south side of Milwaukee. Please message me if you’re going to be making a trip to Kenosha this week at all.

Send a message to learn more

04/11/2024

Whiz was adopted on Saturday by Greg! Happy swimming Whiz.

We got a puppy over the weekend so I’ll be a little preoccupied this week with puppy chaos on top of my usual chaos so rescue stuff will slow down a little bit. But not to worry, MKE Betta Rescue will still be up and running and taking in bettas 🥰

23/10/2024

Whiz is ready for his new home. He’s a beautiful purply pinkish veiltail. Healthy and active. Message me if you’re interested!

19/10/2024

Update: A community member did reach out yesterday to Aquatics Unlimited and spoke to someone. They said they are having problems with their betta distributor and they said they have pulled all the sick bettas off the shelf to medicate and quarantine them. I’m hopeful that is true but I will be following up and monitoring the situation.

This is how Aquatics Unlimited in Greenfield keeps their bettas. I’m actually appalled. I’ve never seen so many fish in this kind of condition. They really should be embarrassed for themselves. And selling these at full price?! 75% of them had fin rot. Some so severe, they barely had any fins left. A few were floating, some dying. I asked the girl that was helping me why they looked so bad and she didn’t really know. If anyone ever stops in there, PLEASE express your concern to the management or whoever is working. Sadly, we have to be their voice sometimes.

19/10/2024

Phoebe was a part of my failed sorority tank attempt. She has been adopted by Farrah and is now living her best life with no other female bettas 😂 Reminder that even very experienced betta keepers struggle with sorority betta tanks. Happy swimming Phoebe!

19/10/2024

Sprite was adopted yesterday by Jessica! He made a fantastic recovery and is going to have quite a glow up. He even has a neat lookout tower in his new domicile. Thank you so much Jessica and happy swimming Sprite!!!