How Walmart Ships Bettas

[purplecandle]

Went into Wal-Mart today and was lucky enough to catch the fish lady unloading the bettas. Really nice lady. I was able to take pictures. I don't know how the bettas survive this!

First they come in a cooler



The bettas are individually bagged. Their individual bags have about 3 tablespoons of water. The individually bagged bettas are then put into a bag the size of a bag of potato chips and then their cups and lids go in the same bag. So on one side are the cups and lids and the other side is about a dozen individually bagged bettas.




Then the lady sets up the little bowls and adds tank water to each cup. The individually bagged betta are put into the cup to adjust to temp for a few minutes. Then the lady cuts open the bettas bags and pours them into the cups containing tank water. They are then given lids and put on display.







So this is how the big box stores ship these guys. I can imagine the ammonia in 3 tablespoons of water. I always assumed they weren't shipped well...but I had no idea!

[xShainax]

The fish in Petsmart are the same but the betta's come in betta cups.

[free2battle1]

do they use those blue water as well or is it just petco? i agree petco and petsmart do the same thing when shipments of betta arrives.

[madmonahan]

That is horrible...

[kimt]

Walmart isn't shipping the bettas this way. This is how the breeders who sell the fish are shipping their bettas. I think walmart is shameful the way they take care of their fish but I cannot fault them for the ways the bettas are shipped. They order the fish and it is up to the breeder to ship them. And shame on them for treating the fish in this manner. I am amazed they can survive in such tiny bags with very little water. This is no better than puppy mills who keep dogs in terrible conditions.

[purplecandle]

I agree that technically it is not Wal-Mart's fault, however, at the end of the day if Wal-Mart turns a blind eye to it, they are just as guilty as the shipper.

[MoonShadow]

It's exactly like a pull mill. The bettas are massed produced by people who don't care about them past how much money they will make. Because of the mass breeding and the care they receive after they often have health problems and/or shortened life spans!

[MattsBettas]

Do you think that any pet store or exporter ships them any differently? Not that I agree with it...

[TwilightNite]

That is really sad and just horrible..... I mean do they not see that as animal abuse? They may just be fish to them but they need to realize THEY ARE ANIMALS TOO!

[blu the betta]

poor poor bettas. ):