I just told myself I wouldn't rescue any more bettas, even though I have three oldies (3-5 yrs) who are on their way out, and one female with a stubborn illness that just won't go away. I was looking foward to finally having some tanks freed up so I could focus on breeding hissers but... ah, I'm a sucker for big, clunky, old fish who have been ripped to shreds fighting.
The manager at the store I buy parrot food at came up to me today asking if I had "room for one more." She gave me Quasi (a tailbiter with deformed gills) and Chuck (a CT who had the worst case of Ich I've ever seen), and knows that I do betta rescue. Apparently last night, a betta jumped cups and was killed. The betta whose cup he jumped into was in lousy shape, and probably wouldn't heal so well in a cold cup. I told her I'd have a look - silly me - and when I saw the poor tattered boy with the big cut on his head flaring at me when I picked up his cup, I was inspired by all the aggro he still had in him even aftering being so injured.
So... "Spartan" is now home. He'll have to stay in a 1g temporarily while his injuries are treated, and a 2.5g after that, but Shyboy is losing his fight with cancer so I reckon he'll have a 5g home soon enough. :(
Pics ASAP!
Edit 4/13/07

Well, here's my only pic of Spartan, from a few days after rescue. You can see the gill plate injury, though it actually looks dramatically better there than it did the day of. He's settling in and healing well but really hates the camera. The only shots I got of his poor fins were blurry and crappy.

congrats on rescuing Spartan . It is good that you saved him. I hope he heals fast.

:WEL Spartan, you lucked up by getting sent to that store.
Of all the places in the world, you got sent to the store that would put you in the hands of a rescuer, if something happened to you.
Something did, and now you are going to be living in one of the betta heavens on earth.
I won't wish you luck, I think you have enough iof it, lol.
But welcome home.

Aww, yay! :) Hope ickle Spartan gets better fast. ^_^

Aaww.. you have a big heart. That's so sweet!

Added the only pic I have of Spartan - read the edited topic and you'll know why!

He just moved into a filtered 5.5g tank with two caves and six plants today, so he's getting spoiled. He is so gigantic that I suspect he may be old, and want to let him go out on a high note. Might even consider getting him a little ADF once the tail is completely healed since I've been itching to get one and the tank has plenty of hides ^_^

Awesome sweet!