Want to know how Betta is shipped?

[mr_bentley78]

I'm not sure what transhipper that was, but all the transhippers I deal with and there aren't that many in the US, don't get their fish like that!! :mad2: The bettas are shipped in bags that vary in size from about 4x12, 4x14, 6x12, 6x14
The bags are filled 1/3 water and the rest with air. The bigger the betta or the bigger the finnage of the fish, the bigger the bag is it's shipped in to reduce chances of tail biting which is very common in bettas .
If any of my transhippers or breeders I get my fish from overseas ship fish in tiny bags with only a teaspoon of water then I definitely wouldn't deal with them period!

All the Bettas we get to our store come packaged in containers similar to that, but pyramid shaped. Very very....very small packs.

 

[dr_sudz]

I worked at an LFS around here and they all come like that, the mortality rate is extremely low. I believe it has to do with the fact of where they come from. As far as I know, and if any know differnt I want to know, they come from rice fields in asia, durring the dry season they have very little water to live in, but when the wet season comes they have a lot more obviously and that is when they mate and what not. These are very hardy fish, I was told that before the tablespoon of water treatment they were shipped on damp moss. I find it amazing on the resiliance of these fish. I agree tho, keeping one in a bowl for a long period of time is just wrong. I like to give mine no less then 10 gallons.

 

[littleronin]

I actually seen these little baggies with bettas the other day when I was getting my lizard some mealworms.

Really I wasnt too pleased to find that out. It cruel to the little guys.

 

[dorris]

I doubt very much that they collected colourfull bettas from rice patties in asia. The thing with fancy coloured and finned bettas these days is that they have been bread and bread and bread to look like they do. In the wild they are rather drap in comparison and no pet shops in the world would really sell them.

 

[dwarfgourami7]

The reason why they are like that is due to supply and demand. I expect 2/3 of the members of this site have at least one betta. Thats alot of bettas so trade companies have to transport alot of them at once to meet your demands if you bought less bettas they would be treated better. Although theres not much any of us could do now or ever but its just that fact that you want bettas so they give you bettas regardless of the quality they are in.

 

[Omega]

This makes me so upset.

 

[wataugachicken]

A lot of fish go through a tough time during shipping, not just bettas. From an article about the cost of fish written by an LFS near me:

Most captive bred fish are now raised in Asia where they are caught, counted and shipped by air to a facility such as Dolphin International in Los Angeles, California. At a facility like this, the fish are unbagged, placed on a wet conveyor belt, sorted by size, recounted and rebagged. They are then shipped by air to wholesalers throughout the country. (Dolphin International sells more than $1,000,000 of freshwater fish per day and does not have a single aquarium.)

 

[Toirtis]

i know how you feel... but this is how these guys got ship over here.... in "betta packets"

Yes, and usually in 3-4 layers in a box....each layer containing 100-125 packets. Perhaps surprisingly, mortality-rate on a shipment of 500 bettas is usually 0-4 fish...much lower than most other species shipped in large bags conatining multiple fish.

However, if, as some members might wish, bettas were shipped in even a baseball-sized fish bag, they would never retail for less than $10 each (bigger bags=higher air-freight costs=higher wholesale costs=higher retail prices).

Believe it or not, back when (15-20 years ago), bettas were often shipped between two layers of wet fabric.

 

[SftWrmRain]

However, if, as some members might wish, bettas were shipped in even a baseball-sized fish bag, they would never retail for less than $10 each (bigger bags=higher air-freight costs=higher wholesale costs=higher retail prices)

IMO this is what needs to happen. Responsible betta owners wouldn't mind paying $10 for a fish, I don't think. It's their low prices that causes little Johnny's mom to buy it up for him and not care if it's mistreated or dies. People that fork out more money for things they want tend to care more about their welfare.

 

[Marinemom]

IMO this is what needs to happen. Responsible betta owners wouldn't mind paying $10 for a fish, I don't think. It's their low prices that causes little Johnny's mom to buy it up for him and not care if it's mistreated or dies. People that fork out more money for things they want tend to care more about their welfare.

This is so true. Look at fish that are sought after such as angelfish and discus.They are treated better not just because they are generally more sensitive fish, but people want them and are willing to pay more for them.

Marinemom