The Smaller the Cage

By Anonymous

To all of those who have ever been to a pet store and stopped to notice the vibrant Betta fish in their tiny jars: Have you ever wondered why they are packed in there like that? Do you ever consider what these small, beautiful creatures go through to get there? Betta fish usually start their journey from breeding stations in Asia and are then shipped to the United States to be sold in pet stores across the nation. The unfortunate history of the Betta fish affects how they are viewed as companion animals, and many people are unaware of how this history effects how Betta fish are cared for today. When considering bringing a Betta fish into one’s life, it is important to educate oneself about the proper care that the Betta fish needs. 

Betta fish must endure a horrid journey from the breeding location to their destination on a pet store shelf. First, the Betta fish are kept in rows upon rows of small crates where the females are constantly reproducing. The female Betta fish are used primarily for breeding and produce large masses of eggs in a foam-like substance, resulting in hundreds of offspring. The male offspring are then selected for sale, and the females are either discarded or sold as well. Then the journey to the store starts with the Betta fish kept in small plastic bags filled with an oxygen-enriched liquid. Betta fish are shipped by the hundreds. The individual plastic bags are put into another bag which is then placed in a dark box. Many Bettas do not survive the trip from Asia. Most Bettas die of stress or shock before they even leave the breeding location. The surviving Betta fish often arrive in the United States with torn fins, discoloration, and other signs of stress and disease. Experts have made guides for how to determine if the Betta fish is healthy or not prior to purchase. The Betta fish for sale in pet stores are generally kept in small, separate one-liter jars often stacked on top of each other.  As for the reason behind the Betta fish being stored in tiny jars on display has to do with their history.

Walmart Beta I Photo by PINKÉ

The Betta fish is known for its history as a fighting fish species, leaving behind several negative stereotypes that led to detrimental practices in caring for Betta fish. The first stereotype being that Betta fish cannot be housed with other fish because they will attack them. This idea is reinforced when pet stores keep Betta fish separate from each other and other fish. Many stores also describe Bettas as solitary fish on the tag description. The second stereotype is that Betta fish are used to being in small containers because they have “always been kept that way,” but it is not, in fact, good for them. Many assume that because Betta fish found in nature live in shallow streams that small containers are a reasonable accommodation. The third stereotype is that the betta fish do not need to have moving water or a filtration system, because they can breathe off the surface of the water. While having a surface for the Betta fish to get oxygen from is important, Bettas also need some flow to keep oxygen in the water as well.

There are many articles published that inform consumers on the proper way to prepare and care for your companion Betta fish. Most articles discredit several stereotypes concerning how to care for Betta fish and offer recommendations which may contradict how stores keep their Bettas. It is important to keep in mind that not all pet stores have their animals’ best interests in mind, so a caretaker should not feel obligated to care for their companion animal with the same techniques used by the stores. What many of the articles and books tell caretakers is that Betta fish need at least a three-gallon tank if the Betta fish is going to be a solo occupant. Some articles also inform readers that other species of fish can be kept in the same tank as a Betta fish, but the caretaker will need to increase the size of the tank by two gallons per additional fish. A tank with objects in it is also better. For example, plants provide shelter and shade and gravel along the bottom of the tank simulates a more natural environment. There should not be anything sharp in the tank that the Betta fish could cut their fins on and there should be a filtration system and a heater to maintain a temperature of seventy degrees Fahrenheit, because the Betta fish is a tropical freshwater species. 

Community Tank  I Photo by groovysuvi 

​Betta fish are common companion animals for many people, but they need to be cared for properly. Betta fish endure harsh breeding, travel, and storage conditions, which can be harmful to the Betta’s quality of life. Any person wishing to care for and live with a Betta should first understand the Betta’s needs and look past damaging assumptions which can lead to a shortened lifespan for the Betta. An informed caretaker would treat their companion animal with respect and not let the history of the Betta fish keep them from providing excellent living conditions for their companion.

References
BettaInfo. Betta Fish Care. 2015. Book. 9 April 2017.
Gates, Sara. The Huffington Post. 14 August 2013. Article. 9 April 2017.
Lab, Teruya. Instructables how to properly care for a betta. 2015. PDF. 4 April 2017.
None. Pet Smart. 2017. Advertisement. 9 April 2017.
—. Petco. June 2016. Advertisement. 19 April 2017.
PETA. PETA Betta Fish. 14 August 2013`. Article. 9 April 2017.
Short, Adam. Betta Fish Center. 15 January 2013. Article. 9 April 2017.
Stark, Victoria. Internatinal Betta Congress. 30 March 2006. Article. 9 April 2017.

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AUTHOR BIO

​I am a young man in his early twenties who studies all aspects of animals. I generally stick to studying non-human animals, but when looking at human and non-human animal interactions it takes a special perspective to try to understand all sides of that interaction. I would like to think that my years of studying animals has some standing and gives new perspectives for readers to think on.

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