Wall Of Bettas

[LauraFrog]

I was in an LFS a few weeks ago and I saw something that I just can't stop thinking about because it is such a great idea. The bettas were being kept in tiny cups, much too small IMO, but it's the idea I want not the dimensions. Basically, they had a little spout sticking out of the back of each cup, almost at the top, which plugged into a piece of airline, which ran into a sump. A large cycled internal power filter was in the sump, and the outflow was connected to more airlines, which, by a system of gang valves, supplied filtered water to each betta cup at about one drop per second.

I think this can be improved with the use of higher water pressure and a different inflow system. What do you guys think? I'll make a diagram in a min if I get time.

And how much swimming space do you think one betta needs? One gallon is the minimum for a tank, but that's just because it's totally impractical to filter anything less and it would need several water changes a day if not filtered. How much swimming space would you guys recommend as the absolute minimum?

 

[snowflake311]

1 gal is the minimum swimming space. I would say no less then 2.5 Gal. Bettas like to swim and explore. I think your idea would be great for pet stores to have because it would be a temporary home. For proper long term betta care 2 gal or more is the way to go.

 

[Million]

they have a similar system in my LFS, only it's a divided plexiglass stand - much better than cups but still too small imo

 

[puppyjess123]

Jut saying - all your LFS's keep bettas in cups mine keep them in with neons and the empty tanks (quite big) its p@h btw. Plus i like 5 gallons for a betta it makes me feel better when they have mroe room.

 

[Honeythorn]

I still stick completely to having 5 gals per fish bare minimum. Each has both more room and more water to filter and dilute the waste. With each section/betta home planted up, perhaps a different theme for each? It would look stunning.

 

[ReMz]

A much easier solution i have seen is multiple breeder traps in 10-20 gallon filtered tanks. Then a few lucky bettas get to swim around the whole tank by themselves and flare at the less-fortunate ones .

I commended the fish store for doing this. They have some quality employees and seem to keep their fish in tip-top shape (as they are all fish owners themselves).

I think 1 gallon is too small to fairly keep a betta. They are no different than any other fish... just using logic and common sense, you can determine that a 1 gallon tank/bowl is not a proper permanent home.

edit: lol i got entirely distracted and missed the point of this thread. That is a very interesting idea for a betta shelving system of some sort. This would be an interesting idea for a few 2.5ish gallon tanks on a shelf with a better sump system. The biggest worry I would have is transmission of disease.

 

[LauraFrog]

Yeah, the disease one is the whammy there. You'd have to quarantine EVERYTHING before you put it in there. I was just thinking of it as a) a space saver (don't need room to manuevre around each tank for individual water changes so you could pack em in tight) b) money saver - if you got scrap glass it would be way cheaper than buying that many filtered 2.5 gal tanks and the sump could be a plastic bin running on a large power filter like CC700 and c) LOOKER.

I do have some one gallon betta tanks but they are all planted and I rotate the bettas every week so they get some different scenery and sometimes some more room in bigger tanks. I'd prefer larger though, which is why I'm tossing this up. The hard bit would be finding the money and convincing my parents. Most of my bettas are rescues from bad pet stores so I don't feel too bad about keeping them in less space than I would like to, because it is a HUGE improvement on their previous situation. But I would still like to give them more room. All the tanks fit the minimum size guidelines for an active fish (5 x 1.5 x 1.5) but I agree with you guys on them not really being big enough.

I was thinking more along the lines of pet store though when asking about less than 1g swimming space. As in temporary homes. What would you say was the minimum for a week or so? At least these are filtered, it drives me nuts that they keep bettas in dingy little things that it is so impractical to care for.

 

[Syphoniera]

Yeah, the disease one is the whammy there. You'd have to quarantine EVERYTHING before you put it in there. I was just thinking of it as a) a space saver (don't need room to manuevre around each tank for individual water changes so you could pack em in tight) b) money saver - if you got scrap glass it would be way cheaper than buying that many filtered 2.5 gal tanks and the sump could be a plastic bin running on a large power filter like CC700 and c) LOOKER.

I do have some one gallon betta tanks but they are all planted and I rotate the bettas every week so they get some different scenery and sometimes some more room in bigger tanks. I'd prefer larger though, which is why I'm tossing this up. The hard bit would be finding the money and convincing my parents. Most of my bettas are rescues from bad pet stores so I don't feel too bad about keeping them in less space than I would like to, because it is a HUGE improvement on their previous situation. But I would still like to give them more room. All the tanks fit the minimum size guidelines for an active fish (5 x 1.5 x 1.5) but I agree with you guys on them not really being big enough.

I was thinking more along the lines of pet store though when asking about less than 1g swimming space. As in temporary homes. What would you say was the minimum for a week or so? At least these are filtered, it drives me nuts that they keep bettas in dingy little things that it is so impractical to care for.

I'm so impressed - if not surprised - that you're trying to offer a constructive and achievable solution to the problem of space which results in pet stores cramping sale bettas in tiny cups.
Way to change the world - and the impression received by the public of betta requirements as well!
That's exactly the sort of thing which enables change to occur, as they'd then also have happier customers as well, and also be better able to show finnage properly displayed, encouraging sales on several fronts.
I know my betta addiction is quite recent, in great part the result of, or at least expanded by, seeing the first male betta I ever realized I had to have.
Sold as a half moon, he may well have been, although I suspect he had far too much tail and too many 'folds' to ever open it fully, even if I'd ever seen him flare properly, rather than 'pause and pose' as he so often does while I'm watching.
His finnage was perfectly proportioned, to my untutored eye - and I'd never have been able to see it if he's been crammed in some horrible little cup, rather than a small bowl.
I've bought 6 from the same place now...