Betta Advocate Community This month, we’ve been working hard to line up educational content and expert perspectives to share in the coming months. We’ve also been focused on cultivating our community of betta fish advocates to strengthen our network and expand our impact. Shipment of Betta Fish - Beyond The Cups This month, we shared photographs sent to us by an anonymous chain store employee showing the bags betta fish are shipped in. The post sparked an important conversati

By Nikki Short A recent follow-up conversation with a general store manager at a “Big Box” pet retailer has left more questions than answers regarding the care and handling of a visibly ill African cichlid. While the fish’s death on February 28th was ultimately confirmed, the circumstances leading up to that outcome highlight troubling gaps in oversight, accountability, and animal welfare practices. When first observed, the cichlid was in severely compromised condition, exhib

By Conner Tighe I wasn't browsing. I knew exactly what I was looking for. Most people end up with a betta fish by accident — an impulse buy near the checkout, a carnival prize, a split-second decision made somewhere between the dog food and the cat toys. That wasn't me. I walked into PetSmart with one specific thing in mind: a dumbo betta. The variety with the oversized pectoral fins, the ones that fan out from either side of the body like small, improbable wings. I didn't h