Betta Fish Deserve Better Than a Cup

Every day, betta fish are displayed for sale in pet stores in small plastic cups containing only a limited amount of water. Customers regularly walk past rows of these fish without realizing that bettas are tropical animals whose health depends on appropriate temperatures, clean water, adequate space, and proper husbandry.

Surviving in a cup is not the same as thriving.

Bettas have a labyrinth organ that allows them to breathe atmospheric oxygen, but this remarkable adaptation should not be used as justification for keeping them in extremely small containers for prolonged periods. Their ability to survive difficult conditions does not eliminate their need for appropriate water quality, temperature, space, and care.

We are asking major pet retailers, including PetSmart and Petco, to establish higher, company-wide standards for the housing and care of betta fish while they are awaiting adoption or purchase.

We are asking PetSmart and Petco to:

Phase out the prolonged display of betta fish in small, unheated cups and transition to an appropriately designed individual housing system that maintains safe, stable water conditions.
Maintain appropriate tropical water temperatures and regularly monitor water-quality parameters.
Establish and publicly communicate minimum company-wide standards for betta housing, water changes, feeding, sanitation, and health monitoring.
Provide employees with training to recognize signs of illness, injury, stress, and deteriorating water conditions in betta fish.
Promptly remove sick or injured fish from regular sales displays and provide appropriate care.
Regularly inspect betta displays and document compliance with company husbandry standards.
Work with aquatic veterinarians, fish-welfare specialists, and experienced aquarists when developing improved housing systems.
Why This Matters

Bettas are intelligent, active fish that explore their environments, interact with their surroundings, rest on plants and other surfaces, and display a wide range of natural behaviors when given an appropriate environment.

Their ability to tolerate low-oxygen environments does not mean that extremely small containers are an appropriate long-term housing solution.

PetSmart and Petco are two of the most recognizable pet retailers in the United States. Their practices don’t only affect the animals temporarily housed in their stores—they also influence what millions of new pet owners believe constitutes acceptable animal care.

Displaying bettas in tiny cups can unintentionally send customers the message that these fish require very little space or care. Improving in-store housing would therefore accomplish two things: improve conditions for the fish awaiting homes and set a better example for the people purchasing them.

We understand that retail housing is temporary and that individually housing male bettas presents challenges because of their territorial behavior. We are not asking stores to place incompatible bettas together.

We are asking these companies to use their resources and influence to develop a safer, humane, individually separated system that prioritizes stable temperature, clean water, adequate space, and appropriate care.

Pet stores tell customers that responsible pet ownership matters.

That responsibility should begin before the animal leaves the store.

We respectfully ask PetSmart and Petco to lead the pet retail industry by improving their company-wide standards for betta fish care and moving beyond the small-cup display system.

Please sign and share this petition if you believe betta fish deserve appropriate care at every stage of their lives—including while they’re waiting for their homes.