Wal-Mart and Meijer are among two large department store chains housing betta fish in small, cramped containers with insufficient, sometimes dirty water, creating cruel conditions that can be difficult to survive. And because bettas are inexpensive (and sold for only $2 in some stores), PETA told National Geographic, they are frequently given as party favors and “routinely subjected to insufficient care.”
Bettas sold in retail stores across the country are commonly housed in either small plastic bowls or “mini tanks” that lack filtration as well as the 2.5 gallons of warm, clean water they prefer. The bettas confined to these tight quarters often appear lethargic and are frequently seen lying on the bottom of the bowl – or dead and dying, according to National Geographic.
Image Credit: Nicole Troxell
In 2015, a Gainsville, Florida Walmart employee admitted to WUFT.org, the website for Gainesville’s Public Broadcasting Service television station, that deceased fish are a common site in the store and that they are often dead before reaching the shelf. One local Wal-Mart customer witnessed a dead betta fish still in its container. Allanna Wagy, PETA College Campaign Assistant, told WUFT that too many bettas are not surviving in this environment and that the organization receives regular reports of fish dying from these conditions.
Worse yet, a PETA investigation revealed that bettas are normally transported from dealers to stores in tiny plastic bags in as little as an ounce of water or less. The water is usually tinted blue with a tranquilizing solution to reduce agitation.
Betta fish, native to Asia, inhabit the warm, shallow waters of rice paddies, ponds, and slow-flowing streams. These habitats require that bettas live in temperatures between 76-82 degrees Fahrenheit.
Research from Belgium’s Ghent University shows that a betta’s quality of life – and happiness – is harmed when exposed to environments that are too small. And just as human happiness is diminished under conditions that lack enrichment, so too are bettas. Contrary to popular belief, bettas need companionship – the same for all fish.
Yet, bettas are usually separated from other fish both in stores and in home aquariums. Much like people, fish can suffer pain, depression, and boredom when their welfare is compromised, National Geographic reported. And when bettas are stacked in small containers on top of other bettas, they experience stress, because for betta fish to thrive and be happy, they need room to hide or escape.
This isn’t Wal-Mart’s first foray into animal cruelty. Lady Freethinker reported in January 2018 on Animal Recovery Mission’s 2017 investigation into cruelty at a facility of Cal-Maine, the largest producer of chicken eggs in the United States. Among Cal-Maine’s list of customers were Wal-Mart and Publix.
Wal-Mart was again targeted by the Associated Press in 2015 when, as Lady Freethinker reported, its investigation revealed that shrimp processed in slave labor conditions was transported across all 50 states in stores from Whole Foods to, again, Wal-Mart.
Wal-Mart’s animal welfare policy states that they “expect that our suppliers will not tolerate animal abuse of any kind,” yet the chain violates animal rights on the shelves of its own stores and continues to support companies known for animal and human rights abuses.
PETA offers guidelines on caring for fish, as well as what you can do to help them thrive and stop supporting the fish trade.
I got my local Wal mart to stop selling Beta fish . It took a year of complaining and a lot of signatures but they no longer sell fish or betas
The selling life should be at the Walmart, period. Stop abuse of Betta Fish, stop selling them to the biblical on unhealthy, inhumane conditions!
Glad to hear finally dog meat is being banned in the US but it needs to be banned around the world! Cats need to be protected from this too , whales and seals , Humans have zero rights to do the rotten things they do to any animals upon this earth – it’s time any and all animal abusers face f charges as they would if their crime was upon a human baby/ child – because animals are as denfensless as human baby’s/ children are – Same Difference! The abusers are going to continue unless the abusers know they will face life in prison or face the exact abuse they inflicted upon an innocent denfensless animal! If humans can’t share this earth with animals they don’t belong here then because these animals have just as much rights to live without abuse and fear as humans have that right. Time to do a way with the evil people that are amongst us for mankind and animals across this entire world.!
STOP the cruelty!
Disgusting on Walmart..
Something needs to be done to stop this awful horrific cruelty!
If you see bettas or other fishes being kept in especially cruel conditions, please document it and contact Fish Feel about it at: [email protected]. We are collecting such documentation for a Wall of Shame we plan to add to our website.
If you aren’t humane enough to recognize the inhumanity and cruelty you should, at least, be able to see that this is poor advertising.
I’m suprised and disappointed that Wal Mart are doing this. The cruelty is obvious to its customers and, I would have thought, to WalMart.
Please Walmart, stop selling these innocent victims. Unfortunately too many people do not have common sense, and these are the ones that buy these little fish. And we all know how they end up.
Tragic.
Walmart treats people like crap so do u think they would care about little fish. They are disgusting. Don’t shop there boycott this dump and speak up. Silence helps.no one. And you’ll feel good you spoke up to defend those that can’t defend themselves.
When did common sense disappear ?
How can the employee walk past this cruelty and not do something?
This is sad. Another typical case of animal abuse that is readily ignored because it is not on most people’s radar. My cynicism tells me that people will not care until they are extinct or nearly so. The real problem is that this is likely representative of numerous parallel problems that the general public is also unaware of.
Most of the Bettas carried in our Walmart stores die. Very few people purchase them. They are neglected by store employees and should not be allowed to be sold in these stores!
The Bettas in our Walmart stores are sorely neglected and I have complained about it to management. My complaints, however, have fallen on deaf ears. Upper management keeps ordering them, however, very few of them are actually sold. Most of them die in their little containers, either from being starved, or overfed by well-meaning customers who feel sorry for them. I really wish someone with some power could intervene and put a stop to Walmart being allowed to carry Bettas in their stores!
Sell plushie fish. Leave real ones in their natural habitats.