One of our area fish stores would put their bettas in the sales tanks with other fish (singly) which could have it's own issues if the other fish were nippers but at least they got to be fish. Sadly, this was one of them that went out of business.
I think about the only fish more poorly treated than bettas are goldfish. It's really frustrating as a fish lover. I've received shipped fish and gone to auctions where the fish for sale are packaged similarly (although usually in much bigger containers, but still about 1/3 water, 2/3 air because having sufficient oxygen is most important) and while it is stressful for them, it's also temporary. The big problem is the people that think that this is how bettas should live long term. I probably won't keep a betta in anything smaller than a 10 gallon tank anymore. they just have so much more personality and verve in a larger environment. Yeah, their home conditions are a lot different than stream and pond fish, but for all that the rice paddies they're from are shallow, they're also HUGE. It makes a significant difference.
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I think about the only fish more poorly treated than bettas are goldfish. It's really frustrating as a fish lover. I've received shipped fish and gone to auctions where the fish for sale are packaged similarly (although usually in much bigger containers, but still about 1/3 water, 2/3 air because having sufficient oxygen is most important) and while it is stressful for them, it's also temporary. The big problem is the people that think that this is how bettas should live long term. I probably won't keep a betta in anything smaller than a 10 gallon tank anymore. they just have so much more personality and verve in a larger environment. Yeah, their home conditions are a lot different than stream and pond fish, but for all that the rice paddies they're from are shallow, they're also HUGE. It makes a significant difference.