Betta Fish Awareness Day 2012

Today is Betta Fish Awareness Day 2012! Time to get out and spread the word about proper betta care!

Click to enlarge (American Betta Fish Association)

This lovely brochure created by the betta enthusiasts and breeders at the American Betta Fish Association also comes in a black and white form that can be printed out. Post this brochure around town at local pet stores and vet clinics to spread the word about proper betta care. Always remember to be kind and courteous when you do. As my grandfather likes to say, you get more with sugar than you do with salt.

Another way you can participate is to sign and let others know about this petition to convince Petsmart to stop selling tanks that hold less than a gallon of water. Stores in the UK don't sell these tiny tanks. Let's help US chain stores jump on the bandwagon. Just to be clear, the petitioners have no problem with breeders keeping fish in these small tanks because breeders understand the needs of these fish. But when a large store like Petsmart markets these small tanks to new betta keepers and doesn't properly explain how to clean and safely heat tanks like this, it leads to unnecessary mistreatment of the fish.

Let's face it. There is a problem with the way most store sell bettas (and goldfish). While regulations against small tanks might do a bit, a betta in a dirty, unheated 2.5 gallon bowl isn't better off than a betta in a clean, heated 1 gallon bowl. The only way to save these beautiful fish from that horrible fate is to educate the public and pet store workers. And that is what today is all about. 

(copperarabian @ Deviantart)

Betta Fish Awareness Day

First off, I would like to apologize for the wait in my publishing of the goldfish care guide and apologize for the long way off the betta fish care guide is. I'm currently dealing with the death of my 14-year-old cat. I don't feel that I can write a long and in-depth article right now. I published the goldfish article on the last night she was with us, but the only reason it was published is because I wrote it before she took a turn for the worse. I'm not going to leave you hanging forever.

In the meantime, you can look over the Betta Fish Awareness Day group on Facebook. Right now it is a small movement to aid in the spread of correct care about betta fish (or Siamese fighting fish). An actual Betta Fish Awareness Day has been set for 21 June in which betta enthusiasts will be out at pet stores trying to spread information about them such as the need for heaters, more than a gallon of water, and weekly water changes.

People (especially new pet owners) go to pet stores thinking they will get reliable advice from employees. Many times this is not the case, but occasionally you will come across a pet store employee who really knows their stuff. What this group wants is for the pet stores to train their employees more about proper betta (and fish in general) care. While I do believe a degree of responsibility lies with the new owner, employees that sell living animals should at least know their basic care.