I saw the most horrible thing in a large department chain store a couple days ago. In a tank with about 2 inches of water, there where two, tiny little female betta fish, about a month or two old. It took all of my will power not to buy them on the spot. Around them were little male bettas and a few females about the same age in dixie cups. How cruel for an animal to be treated like that. Sure bettas can live in little water, but why wouldn’t you give them the best environment possible to live in?
Here are just a few of the cruel tanks made to make the bettas look like a piece of art
June 8, 2008 at 1:59 pm
I actually have the Fish In Space tank, but I wouldn’t dream of keeping one of my precious betta boys in such a small space. I kept sea monkeys in mine. I promise that you’re not alone in your anger. All we can do as Betta lovers, is keep working for change in their treatment–and of course, make sure we treat our pets well.
I’m sort of fascinated by that O-shaped tank, but again, not for my bettas. Maybe my Redtail Fairy Shrimp. XD
June 18, 2008 at 1:55 am
Sorry, I don’t know to much about Bettas but trying to learn before getting one.
Is the problem with the Fish in Space tank that it is too small for one betta? It says 1/2 gallon in the description.
How much space should one betta have? 1 gallon? 1 1/2? I’m assuming that more is always better, but how much is the minimum amount for enough for it to be happy and healthy? thank you so much, just trying to learn!
June 18, 2008 at 1:04 am
I found a site that says min. 2 1/2 gal. for a betta so it looks like I answered my own question. Thank you!
October 13, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Now I’m a little worried. I bought a marina tank for my male betta. it’s 2 liters and seems to be enough room for him, and especially for him, the live plant ( a little one), and the ghost shrimp inside. Granted, I’m a college student and have limited room for a tank, but I don’t want to torture my little Otto. T-T
October 20, 2008 at 1:26 am
Trevor, it’s good that you’re concerned for Otto’s well-being. He would do better in a vessel that holds AT LEAST a gallon, which is just under FOUR litres. My Piggie is in a gallon-and-a-half and that is just big enough. A betta needs room to swim, and live or silk plants, not stiff plastic because of snagging, for cover, frequent water changes with conditioning, twice- or thrice-daily feedings of high-protein food, AND all the attention you can give him. You get back what you put in.
November 25, 2008 at 1:03 am
Thanks for posting this. People think I’m insane because my betta has a 2 gallon, heated tank with a filter. My little guy has plenty of room to move and a cushy live plant to sleep in!
January 23, 2009 at 1:14 am
so many stupid people trying to show of !!!! IS descusting to keep a poor creacture in a tube !!
March 2, 2009 at 1:56 pm
i work at a petstore and its so hard to talk people out of buying those ridiculously small betta tanks
March 15, 2009 at 1:21 am
It angers me when people don’t care for their bettas–they do need relatively warm water, and it needs to be cleaned frequently, possibly every few days ESPECIALLY if the tank is smaller. The larger it is the less maintenance- a gallon bowl probably would be fine if changed once a week.
You could also get a filter though it should have a weak flow, bettas are used to still water…therefore a bubbler is not a good idea.
You all have good points but you must remember–bettas live in PUDDLES in the wild.
I just thought I should point out that there are people out there that keep bettas in smaller containers but take good care of them, give them attention and good food (and water!), and they do fine.
My personal opinion is it should be at least big enough for the betta to swim back and forth and around at least a few inches, and it’s a good point to not have plastic plants. Those little cups they keep them in are for transport, definitely too small, some petstores are lazy and just set out these cups instead of putting their bettas on proper display. But then again some petstores use the cup to their advantage–adding clean water and medicine (which is concentrated in the cup/smaller container) to help the stressed out bettas after shipment.
April 3, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Betta fish should be in 5 gallons really, and not much less than this!
And Betta’s may live in ‘puddles’ in the wild. But these ‘puddles’ are water that is relatively shallow but INCREDIBLY vast.
The ‘puddles’ you’re talking about are 1000’s of litres of water!
The fish should have at least a gallon per inch of fully grown fish. And a 20l tank (5 gallon) doesn’t take up alot of room!
May 26, 2009 at 1:01 am
Whenever I go to Wal-Mart or a petstore I fell so bad for the poor little bettas because they only have these little cups that (most of the time) aren’t even filled up to the top. It took ALL of my willpower not to buy them all and give them each their own 5 gallon tank with live plants.
June 6, 2009 at 1:32 am
I have 3 bettas 2 are in fairly large vases and 1 is in the Lavarium. They all are very happy and have lots of room. The Lavarium is a lot bigger then most people think. My betta swims around in it and has lots of fun. I do not like to see all the Bettas in cups at the store. They are way too small. I do NOT use my bettas as decorations.
July 2, 2009 at 1:08 am
It is rather cruel, but you gotta admit the lava lamp is pretty awesome looking.
July 17, 2009 at 1:25 am
That lavalamp “aquarium” disgusts me! Bubbles rising up in the middle, probably stressing the poor betta to insanity…ugh! This is, quite simply, animal cruelty. Fish need comfortable environments and happiness just as much as a dog or cat.
This is why I refuse to buy any aquarium under eight gallons for my bettas. They’re not toys, they’re living creatures, and I love my fish as I love all of my other pets.
August 14, 2009 at 1:44 am
i have a question , can i have a betta in a two gallon tank with plastic plants? if not i cant get a betta because in the instructions it sais that it can’t have fresh water plants. and does it need a heater or can i put it by window. also can i put a snail or two in there????????
September 10, 2009 at 1:14 am
dont bother replying to me i am only visiting this site once. ok val sunlight can hurt your etta not the est idea trust me dont shine light directly into the tank. Plus bettas are highly aggresive, exspecially the males so i wouldnt recomend snail, but if you do put one or two in and they survive you still have to change the water and clean the tank. If you dont then your not a very responsible pet owner. I have resently switched my bettas into a bigger tank with a divider and there are plastic plants on both sides which both my bettas seem to enjoy. there have been no problems with faux plants in my tank and they are easier to maintain so i would recomend them
August 21, 2009 at 1:32 am
I just got an adorable little female betta named Kitty. She is in a nice sized tank which is about two leters. I think it is horable the way some people treat their betta fish. Certain pet stores I have visited are very oblivious to the care of their bettas. They are in tiny cups with barely any water! There were a few cups with only about 3 cm of water in them, with the bettas laying there helplessly. I helped a few of them by taking them to a nearby sink and filling it up again. I’m not sure If I saved them though, because I understand plain tap water is not good. Well… at least its better than dying there with no water.
September 8, 2009 at 1:14 am
I’m thinking about getting a betta but those horrible tanks disgust me, I don’t think they’re allowed here in the uk, if I saw somewhere selling them with the fish in i’d be tempted to buy them too, just to rescue the poor fish and put them in a tank but alas that would encourage the shops to sell more of them. Why do animal rights charities go on about tigers and pandas and then ignore animals such as these? Both the fish and the other animals ALL need the help of the charities. These fish should have at least a 1 or 2 gallon tank at the bare minimum.