Simple answer, we're contagious.
Long story:
So, I was in walmart yesterday. I didn't need anything from the fish section. But I managed to wander over there, just by chance....yup, I'm gonna go with that :)
Anyhoo, there was a 18-20 something girl there getting a betta. I said, "how cute." She asked if I owned any and which foods I fed them. I told her, she picked up the food. As she was walking away, she mentioned that it was a gag-gift for a friend.
...really?
So I explained that bettas are pets and that they should not be gifted unless the recipient is a fish person or they might not be taken care of. I may have also explained the outcome of lack of care. She looked a bit sad. After my talk, she was heading for the register with a 5 gallon tank kit, several foods, water conditioner, and a betta. She could barely hold it all. She named him Scout before even leaving the isle, she even told the fish, "no ones ever gonna hurt by little boy."
The wally world employee looked dumbfounded.
I saw her when I was leaving puting everything in her car and talking to her fish