LaughingOutLoud

For some reason, stores have been putting bettas in vases (with flowers), telling you that you never have to feed the betta or clean the vase. WHO WOULD BELIEVE THIS?

Tom

I know some people that would believe that. But they don't really want to put them in a tank since they are not really compatable with other fish.
Tom

LaughingOutLoud

Such a pity...

capekate

It really is a pity.. and ignorant as well. Guess it takes all kinds to spin the world eh? But those kinds should NEVER own a Betta or any fish for that matter.

Tom

But what can you really do? Informing people can only go so far. Most people would just shrug off the info.
Tom

capekate

Yes they do most often shrug off the information, but those are usually people who are thick headed and believe they are right and will not change their opinions on most things anyway. I know folks that I have explained this problem to who actually will listen and take the new found information and advice. Other than that, maybe more fish articles written to fish magazines, will eventually prompt someone to take another look at this subject.
~ kate

lovemyfroggies

??People do anything for money evan if it means cruelity to fish.

GothicCandle

thats just evil. where did you see this at?

Isabella

"Never feed" ... ? That's a good one !!! I mean, WHO in their right mind, will ever believe that you don't have to feed a living creature in order for it to live? LOL ... yeah, just don't feed it, and it will live without food, just like that. Makes sense! Yup! As for the "vase" part ... oh please, another good one. Every person and fish store that keep Bettas in vases and other small containers of the sort, should be asked one basic question: "Would you want to spend your entire life in a small closet?" That's all.

P.S. We'd all be witnesses of a biological miracle if there was actually a Betta that lived its entire life in a vase WITHOUT food. Well, unless it only lived a week or so (before it starved to death).

steveangela1

This is so cruel!!
You know I have a fish id book.. and it also gives water type and tank size for 300 species of fish...
I def would love to copy the page w/ the Bettas.. I love the phrase that says keeping bettas in small glass containers/glasses is just animal cruelity... it literally says that!! animal cruelity!!
This author gets a from me!!!

angelfish220

My grandmother wanted one. She was like 'the betta can just eat the little plant roots and the plant will keep the water clean so I dont have to change it' I got her to leave the betta out of the picture. so now she has a really cool plant in a vase with no animal cruelity.

sirdarksol

The theoretical idea is that the betta eats the growing roots, the roots suck up the betta's waste. It's supposed to be a little biological cycle.
Of course, a betta produces more waste than a single small plant can suck up. The betta needs air, and the plant gets in the way of that. Then there's the fact that bettas are carnivores, and a plant doesn't provide them with the nutrients they need.

There are some places that sell little "bio-orbs" that contain "self-sustaining life cycles," with a shrimp, a little bit of a plant, and water. You're supposed to very carefully control the amount of light it gets, as well as its temp, and it will survive for years.
Really, what's happening is that the shrimp is a type of shrimp that can survive for years by consuming its own body. Each time it molts, it gets a little bit smaller, until it's too small to support its own life. This happens over such a long stretch of time that most people don't notice it happening.

Shawnie

grrrrrr..I just got two more betta boys because THEY WERE IN A VASE!! petstores are putting them in with that chinese bamboo which im not even sure what its called...these two barely looked alive!!! I couldnt stand it...so now I have them in my 3 gallon breeder tanks until I can rush tomorrow for a 10 gallon ...hopefully it will cycle fast from the filter media of my cycled tanks...who knows what colors they are, im keeping them dark and closed up for the nite as they looked almost dead...although they did each eat a bloodworm and an omega one pellet, im still hoping for the best come morning...

Lucy

Oh, that's so sad

sirdarksol

Shawnie, it's lucky "bamboo." Neat stuff. Great to go in tanks where it sticks out of the water. It's actually not bamboo at all, though it looks kind of similar.

Shawnie

ahhhhh ok...so great stuff if used in the proper way....gosh knows we all could use some luck!! ty sir!!

sirdarksol

Yeah. Using it the proper way is the important part. I've got some in a freshwater refugium right now. It's working out really well. I put three bare stalks in, and now all three are growing leaves.

Isabella

Believe me, a 3 gallon tank is a heaven better than 1/2 cup of water that most bettas sit in at fish stores. Even better: your 3 gallon tank is only temporary - your bettas will no doubt be very grateful for that 10 gallon tank .