Fin Rescue — Est. 2019
Every Fish Deserves
a Cycled Tank.
Volunteer-run rescue pulling bettas from dirty cups, rehabbing neglected cichlids, and matching every fish with a keeper who already knows the nitrogen cycle.
Available for Adoption
Meet the Residents
Every one of them has a name, a story, and a tank waiting.
Gerald
Halfmoon Betta
5+ gal
min tank
Surrendered from a pet store cup after three months unsold. His fins were shredded but his personality never wavered.
Diane
Pearl Gourami
20+ gal
min tank
Found in a 1-gallon bowl with no filter. She spent six weeks in our hospital tank before her spots came back.
Otto
Oscar Cichlid
75+ gal
min tank
Kept in a 10-gallon for two years. He was stunted but not broken. Six months in our 120-gallon rehab tank changed everything.
Margot
Corydoras Catfish (x3)
20+ gal
min tank
A trio surrendered when their owner moved apartments. They refuse to be separated — adopted as a group only.
Frank
Flowerhorn Cichlid
55+ gal
min tank
Surrendered by a breeder who said he had "too much personality." That's exactly right. Frank knows his name.
Ruth
Kuhli Loach (x2)
15+ gal
min tank
Rescued from a tank being broken down for a house move. They spent the first two weeks hiding in the same PVC pipe.
Rescue Story
Otto's 6-Month
Transformation
Otto arrived in a 10-gallon tank at 11 inches — already stunted, already stressed. He'd been there two years. His lateral line was damaged, his fins were frayed, and he circled constantly.
Six months in our 120-gallon rehab tank: clean water, correct temperature, proper filtration, enrichment. He stopped circling on week three. His colors came back on week eight. He started watching us walk past on week twelve.
Otto is now available for adoption to a home with 75+ gallon setup and cichlid experience.
Available for Adoption
New Arrivals
Just out of quarantine and ready for their forever tank.
Chester
Convict Cichlid
30+ gal
min tank
Pulled from a chain pet store that was closing. Chester was in a display tank with fish twice his size — and held his own.
Lena
Apistogramma (Female)
20+ gal
min tank
Her previous tank was a disaster — wrong pH, no cover, wrong tankmates. Three weeks in our care and she's nesting again.
Archie
Plecostomus (Common)
100+ gal
min tank
Sold as a "tank cleaner" for a 20-gallon. He's 14 inches. His new home needs to be a serious tank.
Vera
Celestial Pearl Danio
10+ gal
min tank
A school of eight, surrendered from a hobbyist who was downsizing. They move through the tank like a single thought.
Morris
Green Terror Cichlid
50+ gal
min tank
Previous owner called him "unmanageable." Morris just needed a big enough tank to feel secure.
Nora
Neon Tetra (x12)
20+ gal
min tank
Surrendered with a tank that was being sold. The tank went to a school. Nora and her school came to us.
I came to Fin looking for a rescue betta. I left with Gerald and a 20-gallon planted tank I'd been putting off building for three years. He made me a better hobbyist.
Marcus Webb
Adopted Gerald — Brooklyn, NY
Available for Adoption
Long-Term Residents
They've been waiting a little longer. They're worth it.
Boris
Dragonscale Betta
5+ gal
min tank
Found at a garage sale in a mason jar. No filter, no heater, November. He was still flaring at his reflection when we got him home.
Sylvia
Angelfish
30+ gal
min tank
Sylvia was kept with neon tetras. She ate them. Her new home needs to account for this.
Claude
Bristlenose Pleco
25+ gal
min tank
Surrendered when his owner upgraded to marine. Claude is adaptable, easy, and will clean your glass for free.
How it works
From Scroll to Splash
Adoption is straightforward. We just need to know the fish is going somewhere good.
Browse the Fish Room
Scroll through our current residents. Each card tells you species, temperament, minimum tank size, and the short story of how they arrived.
Apply to Adopt
Tell us your tank size in gallons, your current inhabitants, and share a photo of your setup. We need to know the nitrogen cycle is handled.
Get Approved
Our volunteers review within 48 hours. We may ask a few follow-up questions. We're not gatekeepers — we just want the fish to thrive.
Welcome Home
Pickup is at our foster network. We'll send you a care sheet specific to your fish and check in at 30 days. You're not alone.
Surrender a Fish
Can't Keep Them?
We Get It.
Life changes. Moves happen. Allergies appear. Tanks get too demanding. Surrendering your fish to Fin isn't giving up — it's making sure they end up with someone ready.
We accept bettas, cichlids, community fish, plecos, loaches, and most freshwater species. We cannot currently accept goldfish, koi, or marine fish.