JUST BECAUSE IT’S A FISH, DOESN’T MEAN IT’S NOT ANIMAL ABUSE!
Everyday there are more and more posts either showing they are improperly caring for their betta or asking if something would be suitable when it clearly isn’t.
If you are researching getting a betta and you are considering any of the tanks in the pictures above (taken from google) or similar, I’m going to stop you right there.
NONE OF THESE “TANKS” ARE SUITABLE!
The absolute bare minimum you need before you even think about purchasing a betta is:
– a 5 gallon/ 19 litre tank with a lid
– a filter
– a heater
– live or silk plants (NO PLASTIC)
-neutral coloured substrate (e.g. sand, stratum, smooth gravel)
– water test kit that measures ph, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels
– a bottle of dechlorinator
This is the bare, BARE minimum. Just because you’ve seen videos of them being kept in tiny bottles in breeding facilities or cups in pet stores doesn’t make it ok.
Ideal care:
– 10-20 gallon long tank, go on the bigger side if considering tank mates, you can do away with the lid if you have good floating plant coverage
– filter with low flow output
– heater and thermometer
– live plants
– neutral substrate, plants with thrive in fluval stratum or biostratum, can be capped with fine sand if preferred.
– full spectrum light
– API water test kit and a working knowledge of the nitrogen cycle
– seachems clarity, prime, stability and flourish
– high protein food (e.g. fluval bug bites)
– catappa leaves and/ or alder cones for tannins
– places to rest near the top of the tank (floating plants, betta hammocks etc)
– places to hide (good plant coverage, driftwood, non- sharp rocks, coconut shells etc)
– frozen or live treats such as blood worms or brine shrimp
– have on hand a smaller container that can be used as a hospital tank, aquarium salt, Epsom salt and kanaplex or similar, just in case and be prepared to euthanise if their quality of life has severely diminished.
I think that’s everything I can think of, I’m sure I have probably missed something so please comment below if you have anything to add or if you would like explanations. Others on this sub will be happy to help you find the proper set up but also don’t be surprised if you get called out when sharing improper care. Please be kind to each other.
And please know, if you cannot afford a suitable set up, you cannot afford the fish. Every living creature deserves the care and respect it requires, and yes, that includes fish.
https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1pnecqm
Posted by Working-Lettuce549
3 Comments
These pictures make me so sad
I totally agree with that all betta deserve good care.
But you can’t impose and force ‘bare minimum’ on everyone.
Not everyone is living in a first world country and the world isn’t made of US and UK. You should know that in some areas people literally die from cholera and babies die in Africa because they don’t get to be vaccinated. Don’t be so naive.
So instead of scaring people ‘If you don’t have 20L tank, a filter, a heater, plants you shouldn’t have a betta’ you should say: Get your betta, but try to improve his life conditions. Betta is an adapting creature and not everyone can buy a whole setup in day 1
If you wanna start your activism start on improving life conditions in third world countries.
Your shirt is made in Bangladesh %100 they are made in sweatshops where people work for 2 dollars an entire 12 hours shift. So living a prosperous life (compared to globe) and complaining why they keep them in cheap setups is hypocritical.
Tell that lady who works 12 hours and day and gets paid 2 dollars a shift that she needs that bare minimum or else she can’t get a betta. Btw that Betta is literally from their region (Southern Asia). So don’t try to teach locals anything because THEY are the ones sending you bettas.
That’s my opinion.
I’ll give you an upvote so everyone sees and we can finish this argument finally.
I couldn´t say anything betta!