Why Do Pet Stores Do It?

[Natalie79]

Seeing that I hardly have any facilities available to me that I need for my bettas, I went online "Shopping" for tank test kits and maybe even a suitable tank for my bettas, better than the ones I got.

And I came across this:
http/www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/207470/product.web
http/www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/212605/product.web
http/www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/214872/product.web
http/www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/204816/product.web
http/www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/212400/product.web


As said: The MINIMUM living space for a betta is a 1g. tank. NONE of the above are 1g. tanks (or so I guessed… I know MY tanks are larger than these and still is barely 1g.). Why do pet stores promote these items as good for your bettas? Does this mean a betta can live in a small tank like these, or will they end up dying and these pet shops just don't care?

Not that I'm trying to bring down this particular site, mind u! These items are everywhere else too, but i'd like to understand it. How long would a betta live in a tank like the above?

 

[scorphonic]

Betta's are as big as a molly are they not? I've always been confused why it is ok for people to put them in such small tanks. If you put a molly in a tank like this would it be considered cruel?

 

[FBTgirl]

The thing is scorphonic is that Betta fish should not be kept in such tiny tanks.

 

[scorphonic]

But dont all betta owners keep them in small tanks?

what are the volumes of these so called "betta bowls"?

i've never kept a betta as you can see from my sig so I'm just curious.

 

[K.J.]

Mollys grow significantly bigger ,I've never seen a betta big as a molly, unless of course you count fins, but I don't, since fins don't produce waste. So cruel. If only we could do something about it.

 

[FBTgirl]

Not all Betta owners keep them in such tiny bowls. But Mollies do require more space then Betta fish so I hear.

 

[scorphonic]

Ok fair enough, but as mentioned in the first post that the minimum tank you can put a betta into is a 1G...this is bloody tiny!! Even a 5G seems too small.

I have seen a few betta the size of mollys...maybe they were mutant!

 

[FBTgirl]

I heard that putting a Molly in a five gallon is like living your life in a walk in closet. I do not really get that though. But anyway those ones that Natalie has pics of are tiny. The last one seems the tiniest to me.

 

[scorphonic]

The last one seems the tiniest to me.

They were generous with it though...they gave it enough space to twirl and look all pretty...

That tank is a disgrace isn't it...too small. My baby fry are kept in a 100L..thats how much I care for them!!

 

[FBTgirl]

The tank is not even big enough for a good plant in it!

 

[SoCalMom]

Yea, it's sad. Some people are just ignorant. It's the same as keeping a bird in a tiny cage

 

[fishboy619]

i compleatly with what has been said, all those tanks are small and cruel.
i keep my bettas in the smallest tanks of 5 gallons, heated and filtered.
those small/tiny tanks can even hold a filter or heater. the last one looks like a coffee cup to me, just in a different shape. and the one above it (4th link) to me is the worst, a small 1 litre bowl hanging, apperantly the bowl is thin too and breaks easily...

to me, a betta deserved nothing less then a 5gallon. infact i would ban all tanks smaller then 5gallons if i could.
its probally the mis conseption that bettas come from small areas in the wild, they dont, the water they live in is shallow, but is miles wide, and the wild bettas dont have the long fins either.

 

[MoonstruckMuse]

At least on the side of the item, it says the "May we suggest" thingy, and the first thing on the list is a HOB filter.

I've been to That Pet Place tons of times, and know from personal experience that the people selling the fish there will ask your tank size and care and stuff. They'll inform you on what to do, if you don't know... so that's at least good. There's hope for the world? Haha.

As for the mollies comment - Bettas don't need as much dissolved oxygen and such, as fish with labyrinth organs, they can theoretically deal with less dissolved oxygen. Mollies are also kept in groups a lot, in my experience. They're a lot more active then bettas, most of the time. A betta can live in a small tank for months because of all its adaptations, whereas a molly can't.
However, on the flip side... just cause someone CAN live in squalid conditions doesn't mean they should have to. It just means they should be appreciated all the more for their unique abilities.
To me, it actually seems like most anabantids can be kept in smaller tanks though, and many of us take advantage of it. Heh. People are lazy, and want instant style & glamor & color on their office desks, and this is sadly one of the cheaper, more cruel ways they do it.

 

[llamalord305]

With $30 from the second to last one you could buy a 5-10 gal, a betta, a bubbler, and a plant. So sad.

 

[Stan Laurel.]

With $30 from the second to last one you could buy a 5-10 gal, a betta, a bubbler, and a plant. So sad.

keeping fish and birds in tanks and cages is a sin IMO no matter the size. i'm a sinner.