Ion the Betta Fish Sticker

Description

This is Ion, a former pet of mine. In reality? He was much less handsome. But in spirit, he carried the legacy of his species—Betta splendens, the warrior fish.

Bettas originate from the Mekong River Basin, stretching through Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. They thrive in places most fish wouldn’t survive—flooded fields, stagnant puddles, even muddy ditches left behind by monsoons. When the water disappears, they don’t panic. They fight.

Unlike most fish, bettas have evolved a labyrinth organ, a specialized lung that allows them to breathe surface oxygen. Other fish suffocate in low-oxygen pools. Bettas rise to the surface, take a breath, and keep going. This ability lets them endure where others can’t, making them both celebrated and controversial.

This vinyl sticker captures Ion’s exaggerated form—flowing, curled fins, as if shaped by the currents of a disappearing river. His deep blues and purples contrast with bold red highlights, an echo of the wild bettas that still exist in Southeast Asia. In nature, these fish are smaller, their fins shorter, built for survival rather than display. But their spirit remains the same.

Printed on waterproof vinyl, this sticker honors Ion and every betta before him—a reminder that even in the smallest bodies, there’s a fighter waiting.