Betta Fish: Extremely frustrated

Hi guys. I need to vent on here because the people on here are going to understand how frustrated and upset I am.

Back in June I was about to make a cross state move and I was quitting my job. It was just overall a stressful time and I had no money anymore to take care of my betta. She was in an 8 gallon tank and well cared for the entire time I had her, but I made the decision to give her to someone else who I trusted to care for her. I ended up shipping her and some snails to another state to her new caretaker. This was so stressful, I cried everyday praying that she survived. She did and they put her in a larger tank and she was genuinely in a better situation.

Fast forward, the last update I got was back in August so I reach out again for pictures and updates. He tells me that he was going on vacation for two weeks and brought her and her tank to his friend who is an experienced keeper. His friend ended up allegedly “growing fond of her” and tried to make her into a breeder (she’s never been bred before and hasn’t been around males at all either) and I guess the guy I gave her to didn’t know this, the guy he gave her to told him she was gonna go in a huge tank and just basically have an upgraded situation. Turns out the guy who he rehomed her to… rehomed her. Again. He gave her away without telling the original guy I gave her to.

So she has been rehomed three times in total. This information alone made me cry so much. I can’t believe she’s been moved that many times on top of being shipped cross state. I am so mad the guy I gave her to gave her away in the first place. But the worst part is the person she’s with now has her in a fish bowl. The guy I gave her to feels terrible to his credit and even offered to trade one of his koi’s to get the betta back. But the current owner said no. He ended up blocking the guy I gave her to, I guess he’s refusing to give her back no matter what, maybe because of pride or just toxic masculinity or something. I asked the guy I gave her to originally for the current owners number and basically pleaded for him to give her back. Here are the texts. Based on his response he just seems like he’s not going to give her back. She’s at least 2 years old so I’m not sure how much longer she will survive in these conditions. I’m so heartbroken and upset.

I just need support. I love her so much. I regret giving her away and can’t believe what this has turned into.