In short: This petition is to get stores like Petsmart, Petco, Pet Supplies Plus and Meijer to stop housing betta fish in cups where they get sick and sometimes die. But rather for them to be put in tanks instead that are heated and filtered. As well for them to properly educate their customers on the correct way to care for their pet Betta rather than to sell what makes the most money for them or makes the customer happy regardless if it will actually allow their fish to live. This petition is to also have Petco update their misleading Betta Care sheet. In which they state the minimum tank size to be only a quarter of a gallon (when it should be 3). And under the “Housing” category it also states nowhere that they need a filter or a heater. 

Bad care: Chain stores like Petco, petsmart, pet supplies plus and Meijer are taking far less that acceptable care of the fish that that are in their stores. The betta fish that can be found at these stores living in cups for sometimes a few months at a time before getting bought or dying. The Bettas can often be found diseased, lethargic and dying or dead. And not every location of these stores clean the cups as much as needed. At many stores the bettas cups are often in a terrible states of neglect. Without a filter these cups should have a water change every day to every other day. Bettas also require a heater to keep the temperature between 76-78 degrees Fahrenheit. Bettas are tropical fish and without a heater the betta will be lethargic, won’t eat, become sick or die from its organs shutting down. In all bettas require 5+ gallons, a filter and heater to live a full life. None of which is even close to what theses “pet” stores do to take care of their animals. And while not only do theses stores neglect these animals they also allow customers to do so as well usually unknowingly. 

The need for better teaching customers: While there are some employees that teach customers how to properly take care of their betta, it is not very often that the staff at these stores are knowledgeable about the animals they sell and will very often give downright wrong advice to new fish keepers causing them to kill their fish or not take care of them properly. But it’s not the staffs fault. Let me say that again, its not the staff fault!! It’s the companies for not training them on how to take care of these animals. And showing a customer how to take care of a betta, or any animal for that matter is not a company policy. These companies would much rather lie to the customer so they buy the most expensive fish tank setup or one that will make the customer the happiest rather than one that will actually allow the fish to live. If the company however were to take the time to educate the staff and make a policy on teaching customers how to treat better care of these animals less of them would die due to negligence of the company.

******in no way am I blaming the workers at these stores or saying that this is their fault. It all comes down on the company itself. And I am very well aware that there are workers out there who spend all of their time dedicated to helping them! And we thank you, your help doesn't go unnoticed!*******

In conclusion all in all these stores that are dedicated to selling and taking care of animals including bettas do far than less so. It is apparent that these companies do not actually care about the animals that they sell or house and it is up to us to do something about the abuse and neglect of the bettas that suffer every day because these companies primary focus is indeed NOT the animals and fish but is to make money and to hide their abuse.