Conversation with the manager of Aquarium Paradise, Lakewood WA

By Oxley Wahler

This article was written following a conversation with the manager of Aquarium Paradise in Lakewood, Washington.

Alternatives to Betta Cups

“Bettas are a lot like the pit bulls of the fish world,” the owner of the family-run aquatics store, Aquarium Paradise, says. Males in particular can be feisty, but they also get a bad reputation that often leads to lowered standards of care. And like pit bulls, bettas all have their own individual temperaments and personalities.

That said, however, it’s an established practice in the fishkeeping world that male bettas should not be housed together. Some may even know these fish by their former name of “Siamese fighting fish,” showing that their territorial nature and tendency to nip each other’s fins is reflected in how we see these animals. So unlike tetras and goldfish, for example, housing male bettas in one large tank in a pet shop isn’t in the cards. That’s how many large pet chain retailers ended up with the infamous “betta cup” method. But if these fish are so touchy, what other methods are there?

One of the most important elements lacking in plastic betta cups is filtration and aeration. Filtering many small tanks is no easy task, but many stores have adopted a setup which links each enclosure to a central filter pump. This cycling of the water and aerating the surface provides excellent care for the fish while they are awaiting adoption. But what else can be done?

Male bettas can be so protective of their territory that even the sight of other males can cause them great stress. Placing colored paper or plastic between tanks will do a lot to keep the fish calm. So will the addition of plant clippings, which can help regulate water parameters. 

Another practice is to only stock a small amount of fish at a time. The staff of Aquarium Paradise are careful to only keep around ten male bettas at once in their store. This minimizes the chances that their bettas will linger in unfiltered cubes for more time than necessary. This is quite a contrast to larger retailers, who routinely have upwards of twenty cups all in racks at the same time. Though these chain stores do get more customers, the fish are not prioritized, and mass fish casualties in the transport process are seen as par for the course.

One final way an aquarium store can set their bettas up for a healthy future life is to provide clear education materials and set expectations for potential buyers. One of the largest dangers of the cup method is that it may normalize the harmful myth that bettas are content to live out their lives in a fraction of a gallon of water. On the contrary, surviving is certainly not thriving, and pet stores who provide adequate guidance that such small enclosures are only temporary will see that their fish go to caring homes.

This article was written by Oxley Wahler