Betta fish are beautiful, inquisitive, and often misunderstood. They are called Siamese Fighting Fish, as males in particular are extremely territorial, and will respond with fear and aggression when placed in close proximity to another male. A fight for dominance will ensure, and if the loser is not provided a place to retreat and escape, the results will usually be deadly. No federal laws offer any protections to fish, and their use in bloodsports is unfortunately disregarded.

Fish can be safely bought and sold over the internet, providing they are packaged carefully and shipped quickly. This availability has provided many people with access to amazing new pets that they might otherwise never see in person. Fish of all kinds are commonly exchanged on the popular auction site eBay.

Most of these transactions are executed humanely, however some are just the opposite. Sellers offer fish as 'fighters,' even going so far as to be specified as 'arena champions' if they have been fought before and killed their opponent. This is not slang - they are legitimately being offered to kill each other for the 'amusement' of certain sick individuals. The size of pet fish is described in length, while fighters' size is described by weight in grams (weight class). Fighters usually have thick bodies and minimal fins, so there is less to grab on to and damage in an attack.

eBay has been made repeatedly aware of this practice through item reports and phone calls. They say that they do not condone this, but sellers continue to advertise these fish with impunity. Every day that eBay allows this, fish are dying cruelly. Please urge eBay to take a zero tolerance position against animal cruelty.