With flashy colors, iridescent scales, and long fins that flow around them like underwater ball gowns, betta fish are some of the most eye-catching creatures you might see for sale at a pet store or flea market. They’re cheap, too—the fish are sold for as little as $2 each. It may seem tempting to buy these little gems as captivating, swimming decorations.

But living animals aren’t decorations, and some animal welfare advocates are concerned that the betta’s reputation as an “easy” pet is exaggerated. Critics argue that such popularity and misconceptions about their care and biology can lead to them being some of the most commonly mistreated fish in the pet trade.

A new campaign by People for the Ethical Treatment of