Your Opinions Of Fighting Bettas

[Oddlilninjaboy]

Do you think its wrong that people fight bettas? Or do you think its okay? I wanted to know what peoples opinions on this was.

 

[bUcky]

ohh noo...please delete

 

[Oddlilninjaboy]

Im just asking because I know some people are 50/50, while some are against, and some buy bettas only to fight...

 

[starrynightxxi]

this seems to get brought up every little bit. May I ask why the curiousity? Most of the folk here don't fight, but some do, or have. I would never fight my bettas, but my bettas are not from fighter lines, they are the fancy long finned sort (not to mention it's illegal to fight animals in the US). I do not have a problem with responsible fighters who take meticulous care of their fish - many of them take better care of their fish than the average fishkeeper. Also, unlike dogs who must be made violent through various (often) cruel practices, bettas are naturally volatile animals (they only like us because they associate us with food). Even so I don't agree with fights to the death.

 

[Synirr]

ohh noo...please delete

I second that!
Or at least lock it, lol

(not to mention it's illegal to fight animals in the US)

Too bad fish aren't classified as animals in the US. I believe it would be legal so long as no one is placing bets.

 

[Oddlilninjaboy]

I am just curious because my cousins and I were talking about fighting out bettas. I have been keeping mine for about 1 year now, they're all very healthy and well kept, each having atleast 1 gallon to themselves. If we were to fight them we would care for them very well afterwards, and it wouldn't be any where near to the death. I was also wondering because it is in their nature as Bettas to be territorial, and also fighting.

I am just curious because my cousins and I were talking about fighting out bettas. I have been keeping mine for about 1 year now, they're all very healthy and well kept, each having atleast 1 gallon to themselves. If we were to fight them we would care for them very well afterwards, and it wouldn't be any where near to the death. I was also wondering because it is in their nature as Bettas to be territorial, and also fighting.

 

[starrynightxxi]

i wouldn't suggest it. for one thing, your bettas are pets, not fighters, and being pets it's a bit of a betrayal to put them through that. This may sound contradictory to my first post, but it's really not. Your bettas were bred to be pets and that's why you bought them. If you ever look into fighting bettas you will see that they are fierce, sturdy, short finned animals and not slender, long finned fish, and they are not kept as pets. Also those long fins will take a horrible beating and regardles of the their condition now, or how well you take care of them after, these are not young bettas. If you've had them for a year, they were probably already 6 months when you got them, making them almost two years old and their immune systems will probably not be able to cope with the damage.

 

[liz2]

my 2 blue boys decided to have their own little fight and I screamed scared the whole household and my 2 boys were in tatters. Ok now although you can tell one of them came off worse his fins are really short

 

[Rediahs]

If you want to fight them, buy short-fin "plakats" from fighter lines.. look for breeders who say they're breeding strong fighting fish.... but most plakats will do I think.

I don't know which way I go on the fish fight issue. I think it's definitely wrong with pets especially veiltails and halfmoons and such with the flowing finnage. But plakats, well... they're kinda designed to be good fighters. And it is what they do in the wild, as long as you don't let them go at it for too long, care for them well afterwards, and definitely do not fight to the death... then I say go for it, but then, I still consider myself a noob, so take this with a grain of salt.

I love all animals and I don't know if I'd ever subject my fish to fights, though it'd be fun to watch.... I'd be worried about the fish, probably too worried to enjoy it.

 

[Nevernormalalwayscrazy]

Why is this even be discussed??? I think you are a little boy who needs to grow up, , I think anyone who thinks it would be cool to watch them fight are just sad. I agree battas do fight and it is natural for them to fight for territory but in the wild one can leave and go to another territory. Also in the wild it is important to have the best bettas to breed (so the species will stay strong). But putting them in a small tank where the less dominant would have no place to go and there is no reason for a darwinian outcome is wrong.

 

[Rediahs]

Why is this even be discussed??? I think you are a little boy who needs to grow up, , I think anyone who thinks it would be cool to watch them fight are just sad. I agree battas do fight and it is natural for them to fight for territory but in the wild one can leave and go to another territory. Also in the wild it is important to have the best bettas to breed (so the species will stay strong). But putting them in a small tank where the less dominant would have no place to go and there is no reason for a darwinian outcome is wrong.

I don't quite understand why you think these things.

Fighting bettas for a short time can't be cruel to them, because they do it in the wild. Male bettas don't HAVE to fight each other, but they evolved this way. Scientific studies showed that they found it rewarding to have another male to attack. And if you have ever used a mirror on your fish, you would know that after the losing fish has retreated (when you remove the mirror), the winning fish looks very proud of himself and very happy, might get to work on his bubble nest, might beg for food.. they feel very good after a fight.

Yes, in the wild they have places to hide - that is why you remove them after a short time and don't allow them to fight forever.

Just to be safe, a large heavily planted tank would be ideal, so that once the loser runs away and hides, he can be removed.

I think if done safely and with care, a fish fight could be interesting... not saying I'd ever do it, I'd be too worried about the fish, but for someone who wants to, what exactly is wrong with it? The fish seem to find it rewarding to have the chance to attack another fish, it provides us amusement (which is exactly the reason why you have pets anyway.. to provide you amusement... even if you do care about them, you probably wouldn't keep them if you thought they were boring), it's exactly what they do in the wild, and if done correctly could be safe...

This is just me though.. please don't be angry, I am a bit new at this, and if there are reasons why this shouldn't happen I am open to them. I am just not seeing any right now.

 

[bUcky]

please wuv please......lol its getting bad already ahah

 

[starrynightxxi]

it doesn't take long for these threads to go bad, but wuv can't close it if she's not online

 

[smurfyy_2k3]

if you are intresed in fighting bettas its best to get bettas bred for fighting not long fiined fancy bettas bred as pets before long im guessing cracker will post in here i suggest visiting his website

 

[Nevernormalalwayscrazy]

[/quote]
I don't quite understand why you think these things.

Fighting bettas for a short time can't be cruel to them, because they do it in the wild. Male bettas don't HAVE to fight each other, but they evolved this way. Scientific studies showed that they found it rewarding to have another male to attack. And if you have ever used a mirror on your fish, you would know that after the losing fish has retreated (when you remove the mirror), the winning fish looks very proud of himself and very happy, might get to work on his bubble nest, might beg for food.. they feel very good after a fight.

Yes, in the wild they have places to hide - that is why you remove them after a short time and don't allow them to fight forever.

Just to be safe, a large heavily planted tank would be ideal, so that once the loser runs away and hides, he can be removed.

I think if done safely and with care, a fish fight could be interesting... not saying I'd ever do it, I'd be too worried about the fish, but for someone who wants to, what exactly is wrong with it? The fish seem to find it rewarding to have the chance to attack another fish, it provides us amusement (which is exactly the reason why you have pets anyway.. to provide you amusement... even if you do care about them, you probably wouldn't keep them if you thought they were boring), it's exactly what they do in the wild, and if done correctly could be safe...

This is just me though.. please don't be angry, I am a bit new at this, and if there are reasons why this shouldn't happen I am open to them. I am just not seeing any right now.
[/quote]

I am not angry I am simply posting my opinion, I do find it strange however that you have this "ability" to tell what a fish is feeling...... ......... And so you are ok with it being done to make the winner "feel good" and well the loser just feels nothing right??? Not everything that is done "in the wild" is safe or not harmful, just because it is "normal" for battas to fight in the wild does not mean it is necesary or right. And my idea of being intertained is not watching an animal being injured. if it is natural or not harmful then why do MOST Betta Clubs, Organizations ect are against it? here are some examples:

“Whereas the objective of the Betta Club (Singapore) is to promote the breeding and showing of show bettas; and whereas the use of bettas in fights results in unnecessary injuries to the combatants involved; and whereas the fighting of bettas is an illegal bloodsport in Singapore; the Betta Club (Singapore) frowns on, and is against the "sport" of fighting betta species, whether in organised fights or individual challenges."

"Aquamaniacs is strongly against fighting bettas and if a site devoted to fighting them gets a referral."