Surely This Tank Is Too Small?....

[iluvguppies]

Hi,

Just come back from pet shop and...this can't be ok for any fish let alone a biggerfish such as a betta. They had about 20 cubes (each about 6" high by max 6" wide and prob about 5" long (not exact cube). How is that allowed...it just didn't look enough to me but maybe I'm wrong as surely a lfs wouldn't be able to keep them like that if it was bad for them?? Other lfs I have seen have one betta per communtiy tank which gives them more room at least.


Nikki

 

[ellena]

A few of my LFS keep them like that. They have no lids on either and the water must be dirty so it surprises me that they don't jump out. You just have to hope they clean the water regularly and the fish get bought quickly so they're not in there for long.

 

[iluvguppies]

So it's a common way of keeping them then? That's a shame, poor things!

Nikki

 

[MewMew42]

did these cubes come as a part of a filter system? as we have them in cubes at work, and they are much happier, but they are a part of a built in filter system, we stop them jumping by putting a piece of foam in between the cubes

but its true they aren't in there long and they are water changed every week and cleaned =] by moi usually lol

 

[OohFeeshy]

Other lfs I have seen have one betta per communtiy tank which gives them more room at least.

Perhaps, but also tankmates which given stocking densities and lack of decor often means the betta gets attacked, or stressed even more than usual. That isn't that small, and it's not as if it's permanent.

 

[MewMew42]

Other lfs I have seen have one betta per communtiy tank which gives them more room at least.

Perhaps, but also tankmates which given stocking densities and lack of decor often means the betta gets attacked, or stressed even more than usual. That isn't that small, and it's not as if it's permanent.

thats the reason why we moved ours, they were so unhappy being in a tank full of say, mollies, getting pushed around and what not!

 

[RadaR]

Professional Betta keepers that take them to shows will keep them in cube like containers however their water is changed everyday (maybe more than once), with de-chlorinated, almond leaf treated water. There was an article in PFK ages ago about a bloke that had a fish room filled with these.
Albeit, most of the people that buy these wont do the same as he did unfortunately. The only thing that can be done is if the LFS stress how important it is to maintain quality (but that might be like talking to a brick wall).

 

[lilacamy931]

Those are definately not for the everyday betta keeper..

 

[Assaye]

Not good for permanent homes, but as long as the water is clean, de-chlorinated and the right temp and pH, then they should be fine.

One of my lfs does this, and the cups are full of cold water and not part of a proper filter system. They also don't have lights, so in the dark room you can hardly see them. The betta always look stressed and miserable, and I guess the lfs's one saving grace is that they keep the water clean. The cups are also a lot smaller than the ones you described.

Keeping them in community tanks isn't necessarily any better - they can get bullied very easily and end up with wounds, stress and ripped fins.