Chuckie Posted August 24, 2006 Report Share Posted August 24, 2006 I know that bettas are sold at your LFS as "fighters". But I really really hate what that connotes. If you live in a country where fighting bettas is accepted then I don't mean to offend you, diversity makes the world go around! But I personally find the idea of deliberately fighting any 2 animals barbaric, and furthermore, it is illegal in Australia. So, I have taken to suggesting from time to time that people call them bettas rather than fighters. If you see me posting "can we call them bettas, not fighters?" please don't think I am being a snobby breeder or picking a fight with you (or even that my opinion counts for anything, LOL). It is just a soapbox thing for me - like being discerning about medications used to treat fish. You may notice that I have rather a few soapboxes, come to think of it!! Anyway, if you WANT to call them "fighters" then that's up to you of course! I am not the thought police and I won't think any less of you and neither will anybody else here. But since this is a discussion forum, I though why not put my views out there? And since the betta hobby is growing so much in popularity here in Australia I for one would be happy to see us move away from the "fighting" connotation... and hopefully never have any more kids tip 2 "fighters" into the same jar at the LFS to see them kill each other. OH - my usual disclaimer - this isn't directed at anyone in particular or prompted by any particular post/thread etc. It's probably prompted by insomnia more than anything :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callatya Posted August 24, 2006 Report Share Posted August 24, 2006 I tell you what chickie, that soap box is getting a nice patina on it I have heard them called 'rumblefish' once which had me giggling for a while. Gave the impression that they'd sort of ball together and pinball around the tank like that, only stopping if you stooped throwing coins at them. What can I say, a bit of an overactive imagination here :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mishy Posted August 24, 2006 Report Share Posted August 24, 2006 hee hee... just had a thought about some of our aquariums calling crowntail, clowntail... 'We have Clowntail rumblefish!' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boughetto Posted August 25, 2006 Report Share Posted August 25, 2006 well...i think they are call fighters because they have been use to do that waaaay before they are this popular..i remember when i was young..my uncle bring me to many fish shops in my town in malaysia, where they would sell tons of the original plakats for only 1 ringgit each and they have many varieties to chose from..and we would buy them n breed them and fight them..thats how it was done last time for bettas last time..so..i guess that why till 2day the name "fighters" are stuck to them cause these are not just show fishes..they are warriors...just my humble opinnion. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Figure_8 Posted August 25, 2006 Report Share Posted August 25, 2006 this is a tough one simply because the terminology is so ingrained in the LFS's, so its the first thing that people come to know them by and it sticks. Personally I call them betta's. The way I see it, if I am serious enough about the fish to import, breed and to study their genetics (or try to in my case LOL), then referring to them correctly makes sense otherwise its going to get really messy. Like when you refer to a splendens x imbellis spawn .. its a heck of a lot simpler to say splendens x imbellis and have everyone know what you are talking about than a fighter x metallic greenie wildtype thing! (P.S not necessarily condoning or poopooing such crosses just speaking hypothetically) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callatya Posted August 25, 2006 Report Share Posted August 25, 2006 I have a bit of trouble, I flip between the two as I have other betta species here. I usually call them all bettas and expect people to know the difference, but on occasion the mouthbrooders get called 'big bettas' and the fancies get called fighters or splendens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bren MacFish Posted August 25, 2006 Report Share Posted August 25, 2006 Over at the forum wot-shall-not-be-named (we should call it Voldemort Forum), someone called them Japanese fighting fish! Ha! I imagined little kimonos to keep out the cold from those snowy Japanese winters and cute little samurai swords to fight with! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Figure_8 Posted August 25, 2006 Report Share Posted August 25, 2006 aww thats cute.. you could have a Ninja line! :hug: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boughetto Posted August 25, 2006 Report Share Posted August 25, 2006 Over at the forum wot-shall-not-be-named (we should call it Voldemort Forum), someone called them Japanese fighting fish! Ha! I imagined little kimonos to keep out the cold from those snowy Japanese winters and cute little samurai swords to fight with! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Man..theres way 2 many names for 1 type of fish =.= Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckie Posted August 25, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2006 I liked Lillyfish - not sure where that came from but it makes me smile :hug: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callatya Posted August 25, 2006 Report Share Posted August 25, 2006 The guy who bred the first longtail, his wife was called Lilly, hence lillyfish :hug: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boughetto Posted August 25, 2006 Report Share Posted August 25, 2006 ooooooo...i didnt know that.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
splendidbetta Posted August 25, 2006 Report Share Posted August 25, 2006 ... wasn't her name Libby? They should be called Betta imho. Using the term fighter implies that the fish are used for fighting, which, unless they are specifically bred to do that in a country where fighting bettas is legal, is not what they are there for. Longfinned and shortfinned fancy types are meant to be beautiful pets/stock like any other ornamental animal. When I have to talk about bettas to my peers, I need to introduce them as Siamese Fighting Fish, because no one else has a clue what a betta is. I have to explain that to them. And once they hear "Fighting fish," their first question is, "Do you fight yours?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess Posted August 25, 2006 Report Share Posted August 25, 2006 Damn those clowntail rumbelfish are my favourites :hug: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lady0421 Posted August 25, 2006 Report Share Posted August 25, 2006 ... wasn't her name Libby? They should be called Betta imho. Using the term fighter implies that the fish are used for fighting, which, unless they are specifically bred to do that in a country where fighting bettas is legal, is not what they are there for. Longfinned and shortfinned fancy types are meant to be beautiful pets/stock like any other ornamental animal. When I have to talk about bettas to my peers, I need to introduce them as Siamese Fighting Fish, because no one else has a clue what a betta is. I have to explain that to them. And once they hear "Fighting fish," their first question is, "Do you fight yours?" <{POST_SNAPBACK}> That is the exact question my dad ask when I told him I got a betta fighter. Then my bf's dad would suggest to get two and see them fight (he was smiling when he said that, not sure if he was joking - I hope he was...) I think the term "fighter" has been taken advantage of as a marketing strategy. Anyone ready for their first pet fish - they'd most likely want something small, beautiful and easy to care - they'd be captured by the beautiful colors of the betta, or most probably attracted by their amazing tails. And then to have the store person tell them about the little story of fish fighting - to me it's all become a marketing scheme. Personally, I don't mind the term 'fighters' but much prefer calling them bettas instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bren MacFish Posted August 25, 2006 Report Share Posted August 25, 2006 Siamese Stroppy Fish would be a more accurate description IMHO. :hug: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckie Posted August 25, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2006 siamese princess fish! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Celeste84 Posted August 25, 2006 Report Share Posted August 25, 2006 i always tell people i keep bettas, and they they're all "duhhh what's that?", their eyes always light up when i say "fighters" i make a point to mention i keep the ornamental show varieties after i say "fighters" >_< Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callatya Posted August 25, 2006 Report Share Posted August 25, 2006 Was it libby? I'll have to go look it up now *pout* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crdave Posted August 25, 2006 Report Share Posted August 25, 2006 When I got my first "fighter" I hadn't even heard the name Betta as all the lfs seem to call them fighters. It was only through looking for info and finding this forum with true enthusiasts that I became educated. I now refer to them as bettas but when talking to other people have to call them fighters for them to know what I'm talking about. Even some people in lfs's are like oh yeah Bettas when you call them that. My niece told me a really disturbing thing the other day about lads at her college buying them to fight and lay cash on it. Guy at the shop I go to won't sell them any fish anymore. He got wise a while back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Posted August 25, 2006 Report Share Posted August 25, 2006 It was libby betta! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boughetto Posted August 25, 2006 Report Share Posted August 25, 2006 . My niece told me a really disturbing thing the other day about lads at her college buying them to fight and lay cash on it. Guy at the shop I go to won't sell them any fish anymore. He got wise a while back. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> i think its wrong...but this is why bettas are breed for in the first place..hence the name fighters ....btw i dont support betta matches..i hate that.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Celeste84 Posted August 25, 2006 Report Share Posted August 25, 2006 isn't fighting bettas illegal in australia due to animal cruelty laws? and betting on them is even more illegal? you should let the RSPCA know about those boys :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crdave Posted August 25, 2006 Report Share Posted August 25, 2006 Yeah, problem is you gotta catch them at it and all that and they'd probably get a slap on the wrist. Not everyone feels the way we do about fish. I used to breed Old English Game bantams years ago and the same sort of problems cropped up with them. We got mixed up once with some stuff that was happening with cock fights when we helped the cops and it got real scary for awhile. Not that these boys would be as heavy as that but these things are really hard to do anything about sometimes. Makes me so grrr angry :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callatya Posted August 25, 2006 Report Share Posted August 25, 2006 *goes off to hide* I was close I had a lilyfish... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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