Betta Splendens Non-Cruelty

  • Author:
    n/a
  • Send To:
  • Sponsored By:
    Fish Junkies
  • More Info at:
Are you the Author?
Betta Splendens are typically not treated with the same care as other fish or animals in pet stores are. Instead, they're simply neglected and left to die if not purchased. They are placed in small, often half-filled cups, which are not given changes of fresh water, leaving the fish to swim in its own waste products. This leaves the fish vulnerable to diseases and in worst cases the conditions actually lead to the death of the fish. Buyers who purchase these fish are left with short-lived pets, only to return and purchase more. This begs the question of whether the stores are aware of their wrongdoing and intentionally lead consumers to believe that the fish actually enjoy these conditions, with the intention of forcing them to buy fish more frequently, when with proper care they should live for several years. Or, we could instead be left with the assumption that corporations and store keepers truly don't know enough about the animal that they're selling and believe it is safe under these conditions.

The extreme mistreatment and intolerable abuse of these fish, for whatever motive or lack of understanding, is sickening, appalling, and unacceptable yet is widely accepted by those who purchase fish from these stores. This petition seeks to spread awareness of this practice to those who do not know or understand, and also to move towards correcting those who continue to abuse these living creatures.

Active petitioners may take such actions upon themselves as spreading flyers with correct and verified information to their local pet stores and fish shops to arm the staff with information, as well as providing handouts for customers to take home with their new fish. Petitioners might also send letters to managers of chain stores, business owners or executives, and others in positions of power who could make a difference in the way their living merchandise is handled.

To reach an acceptable and tolerable resolution to this problem in as many problem areas as possible, this petition seeks the attention of organization who can help the petitioners to mobilize the effort and disable misinformation while promoting better practices, saving the lives of fish.

Let's put the fight back in the Siamese Fighting fish.

889 Signatures

  • Tina Williford (Mermaiden)
    • Your Comments
    • I will do my part to help bettas enjoy tolorable conditions.
    • Your Country, State
    • USA, Alabama
    • Your website name
    • Fish Junkies / Betta Junkies
    • Your website address
    • <a href="http://www.fishjunkies.com" target="_new">http://www.fishjunkies.com</a>
  • Stephanie Koger
    • Your Country, State
    • USA, Michigan
    • Your website name
    • Lori's Labyrinths
    • Your website address
    • <a href="http://www.lorislabyrinths.com" target="_new">www.lorislabyrinths.com</a>
  • Sandra Ferrell
    • Your Country, State
    • Indiana
  • Sharon Miller (Sharyn8471)
    • Your Country, State
    • USA, Florida
  • Peter Souza
    • Your Country, State
    • USA, Alabama
    • Your website name
    • Peter's Website
    • Your website address
    • <a href="http://www.PeterSouza.com/" target="_new">http://www.PeterSouza.com/</a>
  • John Dinh
    • Your Comments
    • It is really important to take this petition seriously, and help out these living creatures. It is important to give these fish good homes, so I hope you can understand that these fish exist to be given good homes, not bad. Thank you
    • Your Country, State
    • Michigan, USA
    • Your website name
    • Betta Fanatics
    • Your website address
    • <a href="http://www.bettafanatics.com" target="_new">http://www.bettafanatics.com</a>
  • Ruby Reithel
    • Your website address
    • www.bubblebestbettas.com
  • Mary
    • Your Country, State
    • WV, USA
    • Your website address
    • <a href="http://themary.aaquaria.com" target="_new">http://themary.aaquaria.com</a>
  • Kristin Bryant
    • Your Country, State
    • Portland, OR
  • Colin
  • Mindy Moore
    • Your Comments
    • Bettas need better housing in stores and need regualr waterchanges like any other fish. The number one way to prevent a premature death of a fish is by preventing it with clean water and a good enviornment.
    • Your Country, State
    • La, USA
  • Sara Waddell
    • Your Comments
    • I see all those bettas in those stupid little cups and I just want to take them all home and make them happy, healthy fish! Viva Betta!
    • Your Country, State
    • USA, Washington
  • Wendy Askew
    • Your Country, State
    • Austin, Texas
    • Your website address
    • http://www.ohyoudbehappy.com
  • Candice Jacobs
    • Your Comments
    • I've seen bettas swim in their own filth - it has to stop!
    • Your Country, State
    • Canada, Ontaro
  • Catherine Stolzenbach
    • Your Country, State
    • CO, USA
  • Anhthu Nguyen
    • Your Country, State
    • PA, USA
  • Leslie Maurer
    • Your Country, State
    • PA, USA
  • Laurence Lussier
    • Your Country, State
    • Quйbec, Canada
  • Vanessa Cash
    • Your Comments
    • good to see someone doing something about it! thanks!
    • Your Country, State
    • USA, Texas
  • Jennifer Leven-Mullins
    • Your Comments
    • Bettas are fish, just like any other fish. They need cared for and need to be treated like the rest of the fish in a pet store. The apalling conditions I have seen some bettas disgust me.
  • Caitlin Berger
    • Your Country, State
    • baltimore, md
  • Felicity
    • Your Country, State
    • Australia, NSW
  • Trish
    • Your Comments
    • Bettas rule. =)
  • Kendra Hayes
    • Your Country, State
    • Florida, USA
  • Samantha Maxin
  • Heather Maxin
  • Nicole Brown
    • Your Country, State
    • U.S.A, Colorado
  • Jarrett Auch
    • Your Comments
    • Bettas are great fish no matter what fin type, color, or price range!
    • Your Country, State
    • USA, Iowa
    • Your website name
    • Culticka Park
    • Your website address
    • http://www.freewebs.com/cultickapark/
  • Anna Marie Strazzer
  • Greg Sawyer
  • Kendra McLendon
    • Your Country, State
    • USA, FL
    • Your website name
    • Rainbow Guinea Pigs
    • Your website address
    • <a href="http://www.geocities.com/abyssinianguinepigs" target="_new">www.geocities.com/abyssinianguinepigs</a>
  • Thomas Ashby
    • Your Comments
    • В
    • Your Country, State
    • В
    • Your website name
    • В
    • Your website address
    • В
  • Linzy Brannan
    • Your Comments
    • I agree, the condition I see bettas in at most pet store is apalling. Just because a betta may survive in those conditions (and I stress the word may) is no reason to keep them that way. Bettas need bigger containers with filtration or at the very least daily water changes. Bettas should at the very least have enough room to turn around. And if the betta is diseased it should not be left there to die in the store, they need to treat the fish with the multitude of medications that they are selling right next to the fish. And they need to educate their employees on proper fish care and stop stacking the containers and covering the air holes. Bettas breathe air and can suffocate.
    • Your Country, State
    • Orlando, FL
  • Lesley A Salkeld
    • Your Comments
    • I too am sickened to see the poor conditions that the bettas have to suffer while on the shelf in certain stores. In fact I purchased my first Betta from a Superstore and intend to go back and rescue another one tomorrow!
    • Your Country, State
    • SC
  • Malory Western
    • Your Comments
    • most pet stores are completely irresponsible and cruel when it comes to the care of bettas. this abuse would not be tolerated if the animal in question was a kitten or puppy, so why is it tolerated when it is a betta?
    • Your Country, State
    • Wisconsin, USA
    • Your website name
    • lovelyemptyspacev0.2
    • Your website address
    • <a href="http://www.empty.faith.at" target="_new">http://www.empty.faith.at</a>
  • Owen Bruce
    • Your Comments
    • All animals should be treated with respect. Bettas are no exception.
    • Your Country, State
    • B.C., Canada
    • Your website name
    • Okanagan Bettas
    • Your website address
    • <a href="http://www.okanaganbettas.com" target="_new">http://www.okanaganbettas.com</a>
  • Robin A. McMinn
    • Your Comments
    • I hope that education will eliminate the deaths of hapless fish who are advertised and promoted as "can live in a washed out pickle jar". Nothing is further from the truth. Bettas kept in Lily Vases, Betta displayed in filthy little cups, all are torture to any human being with compassion for the other gifts of life given to our care by our Maker. I hope there will be success in helping these poor creatures. My adoption, though riddled with horrible Fin Rot, is now being treated in a filtered 2.5 gal aquarium complete with heater, air pump and all the necessary items to live a genuine life (pray that I can cure him). Sites like yours offer the info and hope needed by people like me who were misinformed at the Pet Store provide the right environment for our little warriors.
    • Your Country, State
    • California, USA
  • Sherri Kish
    • Your Country, State
    • USA, OH
    • Your website name
    • Betta Dreams
    • Your website address
    • <a href="http://www.bettadreams.com" target="_new">http://www.bettadreams.com</a>
  • Katherine McLean
    • Your Comments
    • I'm glad someone is finally doing something about the cruelty to these animals.
  • Rebecca Davis
    • Your Country, State
    • New Mexico, USA
  • Michael Padilla
    • Your Country, State
    • Alb. NM
  • Amanda Ramirez
    • Your Comments
    • After experiencing the beauty of bettas in my 125 gal, 6 ft long tank..I shudder to think of all those in tiny cups.
    • Your Country, State
    • USA,Texas
    • Your website name
    • Chinchillas Under The Rainbow
    • Your website address
    • <a href="http://www.angelfire.com/tx5/rainbowschinchillas/entercutr.html" target="_new">http://www.angelfire.com/tx5/rainbowschinchillas/entercutr.html</a>
  • Allison Thorsell
    • Your Comments
    • Bettas are magnificant creatures - and the bigger the tank, the better. I currently house mine in 1 1/2 gallon tanks and am looking to upgrade to at least 3-4 gallon ones soon.
    • Your Country, State
    • USA, CA
  • Rob Felty
  • Katie
  • Tania
    • Your Country, State
    • Australia
  • Gina Hansen
  • Eva Ottman
    • Your Country, State
    • USA, UT
  • Marcos A. M. Uchфa
    • Your Comments
    • People must stop thinking an egocentric way and start seeing that we are all part of just one planet ecossistem.
    • Your Country, State
    • Brasil, Alagoas
  • Ted Clark
    • Your Country, State
    • USA, California