Fact-checking policy
Every care claim on this site has to come from somewhere. Here is where.
Last updated
What gets checked
Before an article is published we verify:
- every numeric claim, including temperatures, volumes, parameters and dosages
- every biological claim about Betta splendens
- every health claim, symptom description and prognosis
- every product specification we quote
Sources we accept
- Peer-reviewed veterinary and aquaculture literature
- Animal welfare organisations, such as the RSPCA
- University extension and government aquaculture publications
- Manufacturer documentation, for product specifications only
- Our own documented measurements, labelled as such
Sources we do not accept
- Other betta or aquarium blogs
- Retailer care sheets, which are frequently wrong about tank size and heating
- Forum posts and social media comments, except as an example of a common belief
- Anything we cannot trace to an identifiable author or organisation
When the evidence is thin
Some betta questions have no good evidence behind them. When that is the case the article says so, describes what keepers actually observe, and separates that clearly from established fact. We would rather publish "this is not well studied" than a confident answer we cannot support.
The reading committee
Beyond our own checks, articles are read by a volunteer committee of keepers, breeders and aquatic vets who comment by email. An article they have approved carries the reviewer's name, credential and the date at the top. One that has not been read says so instead, because a review badge on an unreviewed article would be worth nothing.
A review is one person reading one article once. It raises the odds of catching an error; it does not guarantee correctness, and editorial responsibility stays with us. If you can help, see the reading committee.
Health content
Articles in the health section carry a visible source list and a note that Bun Berka is an experienced keeper rather than a veterinarian. We do not publish medication dosages we cannot source. Where a condition is usually fatal, we say that instead of implying a treatment will work.
Reporting an error
Email corrections@bunstay.com with the page URL and what you believe is wrong. A source helps but is not required. We check every report, and we correct and date any error we confirm.