0morrokh

I didn't think they could possibly make anything worse than the tiny bowls and other water holding contraptions they sell at pet stores...guess I was wrong...

http://www.theage.com.au/news/techno...740085390.html

Gozer_1

The people who invented that should have to live in a small closet with nothing more than an air hole and food port. See how they like being crammed in a box with their own waste and no room to move. Oh yeah not to mention loud music vibrating the closest all the time. This product really should be banned. It's animal cruelty plain and simple. It's disgusting. Could have easily been an animated fish display. A little fake fish that bobbed around to the music.

Chief_waterchanger

I agree it sucks. I think the reason things like this continue to be made is because the people fighting to have them banned should be fighting a different battle. They should be fighting to get it known that the fish suffer in that sort of situation, but the fine line to walk is: You don't want it to come across as though PETA were saying it, because a large group of people hear their message (me to at times) and think them a bunch of extremists, but you want the message to come across as a caring, urgent, well-thought out plead for the fish.

If people stopped buying these sorts of things they would stop making them, that's just how it is. Every good fishkeeper's duty is to inform as many people as they can about the fish' health, and school them on how to properly maintain a fish. The problem with spreading the message is that there are stupid fishkeepers spreading the message of keeping 3 goldfish (even baby ones) in a 10 gallon tank being alright, it's not. People like that are why we are taking 3 steps forward and 2 steps back in the struggle to educate the unknowledgeable ones.

/end rant.

Gozer_1

No we definitely don't need PETA involved. They have a rep of being extreme because they are. Most of the time anyway. If PETA were to get involved they'd likely be accusing all of us of animal cruelty for keeping fish in a tank no matter the size.Throwing red paint on people who buy these things wouldn't solve the problem any more than it stops the fur trade. CWC is absolutely right, the only solution is education. Too bad people don't read before they buy fish. Goldfish and Bettas get the worst end of the deal because of false information spread rampantly throughout the hobby. "Oh bettas live in puddles. They're fine", "That goldfish will only grow to fit it's tank". Those falsehood are rather deeply ingrained in societal notions of fish keeping. Same as "Let the tank cycle for 24 hours before adding fish" or "One inch per gallon of water". With this bad info all over signs and caresheets at the store it's hard to be a customer and try to help a beginner. No matter how you come off the beginner is going to take the little stickers advice over the seasoned veteran fellow customer. "The store says so". "Your just a customer like me. What could you possibly know that the store employees don't?" The worst are the impulse Walmart beginners. I always try to steer them away from their fish but most always go home with a huge bag full and a "Thanks for your help but I think they'll be fine."

Ok it's 5 Am and I need to sleep still so no more ranting. Till tomorrow lol.

COBettaCouple

oh yea, i remember another post about that completely idiotic fish coffin.

right, we educate people. i like to tell people looking at bettas, they need more than a little bowl and explain how much happier and more fun a betta is in a decent tank.

Allie

What the heck?

sirdarksol

In addition to the size of the tank, water carries sound as minuscule shock-waves. If you've ever been under water when the side of a plastic or metal pool/tub/whatever has been struck, you feel the impact as well as hear the sound. Think of this happening constantly, particularly if you're listening to metal, rap, or orchestral music (think timpani). Fish have died from being put to close to a speaker, so this seems just idiotic.

I seriously thought nothing could beat the little 2pint "tank" that had a divider so you could keep two bettas at the same time, but this takes the cake so far.

Bede

UGH!
I wish I wouldn't have clicked the link.

Drea

You know the more I see what people are capable of the more I love my pets. I can't believe what I just saw.

ollyaaa

but what kind of person would be stupid enough to think its suitable for a fish, regardless of how much u know about the hobby?!??!!


I really dont see how these things sell, some idiots in the world!

sirdarksol

Sadly, some people think that animals are here for our amusement, and we, in turn, have no responsibility to treat them well or take care of them. So if a betta has its life reduced by a factor of ten in order to make a pretty thing on our desktop, that's fine.

0morrokh

Yeah I agree, to be blunt we must live in a world of total idiots if they think that "iPond" or whatever the heck they call it is a suitable home for a fish. Example of an idiot:

From the article-"Output from the speakers was small and fish in iPonds seemed to flourish, she [marketing manager for pet chains ] said."

flourish!!!!?? [insert choice words describing person who said that]

King_Snuggles

It's disgusting. Can the fish even turn around? I feel a little bad having one beta and two Corys in a six gal.

0morrokh

I know I feel the same way, I know my Bettas are ok in 5 gals (they're in a divided 10) but I wish I could have them in much bigger tanks. I can't imagine putting one in a tiny little container, especially one that plays loud music... The article says the ipond is 650 mL's, anyone know what fraction of a gallon that translates to?

Gozer_1

Sound travels twice as fast through water as it does through air. That's why the Navy and such use Sonar. Essentially sound is just tiny concussion waves. Considering the Lateral line of a fish detects pressure differential, the sound waves would be like boxing your fishes ears.
Here's an interesting link about the Lateral Line System
http://www.parmly.luc.edu/parmly/lat...phys_anat.html

Tom

I guess I should take mine back then. lol Just kidding. That is an outrage, but we can't really do anything for the ones that are already bought for people.
Tom

0morrokh

Someone on another forum said it's 2.7 cups of water or .17 gal. That's ridiculous!!!!! It's amazing the Betta even fits in there!

Chief_waterchanger

The someone on the other site is correct. 3785.6 milliliters per gallon. 3785.6 divided by 650 = 5.84.

1 gallon divided by 5.84 =.17(bunch of other numbers after that).

Oblivion

Why in the heck would you want to house a Betta in that?!?! It prob can't even turn around, much less even move! Not only will it listen to loud music...that sounds like a rock concert in its ears, it maybe be a 50 Cent concert because some stupid person is probably listening to that stupid song, "I Get Money." Yes we know you get money, does the Betta care? NO! OMG! This infuriates me. Whoever thought of it should indeed be locked in a cardboard box where he has to crouch in his own poop and breath through a straw while listening to Brown Note. UGH! I rest my case.

Oblivion

"The speaker is directly coupled to the outside of the tank ... [so] you are going to have a small level of sound introduced," Mr Gedamke said.

Small level of sound?!?! More like double the sound since its in water!

ricktavious

I realize that for some reason people do not think of bettas as a fish, and hardly think of them as a living creature. The only thing that gets me some comfort even in some of those crappy betta kits they get is it is at least slightly better than their pet store cups. This though, this is unreal. Doesn't something like this violate animal cruelty laws? Honestly, un-freakin-real

0morrokh

Animal cruelty laws? Do such things even exist?

ricktavious

Not for fish, they don't count

I know in some countries there are laws that to have a pet fish, you must have a tank of a certain size. Hopefully we can catch on to this law (and the Aussies).

0morrokh

Like that's ever gonna happen...all our politicians care about is money, and they get money by claiming to push issues that most people care about, not by endorsing "animal rights extremists"

On a slightly more positive note I just looked at my time and it's only 1/2 hr till Christmas! Merry Christmas!!

COBettaCouple

it's all about the benjamins.. or whatever's on currency in various countries. Sadly more people care about money than about treating life with respect.

sirdarksol

Depends on the country. Somewhere in Europe, there was a horrifying "art" exhibit that involved killing fish, and there actually was a court case over animal cruelty, but it was decided that the animals died instantly, and there for didn't suffer. No suffering, no cruelty. But the fact that it went to court suggests that it was being taken seriously.

0morrokh

Yeah I was mostly being sarcastic, I realize that places like north america and parts of europe have better regulations on animals than some other parts of the world, but it's still not great.

sirdarksol

Sorry, I actually meant to quote ricktavious' post on the laws applying to fish.

Jessie

I don't know how it applies to fish in a home, but I know some states do have laws reguarding how many fish you can keep in a tank before it is regarded as cruel when it comes to pet stores. That is probably something that varies state by state.

Barbrella

Can you imagine the public outcry and outrage if sellers and retailers were pushing this type of product using any other type of animal, like a teddy bear hamster or tiny mouse?

Bettas are now just fashion accessories, party favours and decorations. Are people really this stupid? It's frightening to think they don't recognize that a betta is an animal of flesh and blood and a brain - more brains obviously than the morons who dreamed up this disgusting thing and others like it.