A proper Betta vase

[x Fish x]

Yes. I never post. The thing on the bottom is outdated (the 50g is gone) and... I just needed to rant, and share.

This is about the local... post office. Yep. They've got a large 30 gallon tank for sale, and on top, three vases. One is empty, two are GREEN with algae, with a dying plant on top. Yuck. There's the obligatory, "Bettas will eat algae! Don't clean, don't feed, just watch him die!" I thought the two vases were empty... until a little boy poked his head out of the roots and swam away. I wanted to take him home, but had to walk away empty-handed...

I hate that.

But, it got me thinking. What about advocating a proper sort of Betta vase? Say, a square vase, with a stick of bamboo and glass beads, that comes with good instructions? If enough of us get our LPS's (the good kind, family owned or small chains) to accept, we may be able to SAVE THE BETTA, once and for all. Imagine it, rows of tall vases, short vases, round vases, square vases, with bamboo and a tiny fishie face.

I was just wondering... is the bamboo a good idea? Would it rot away, or die?

Other than that, that's my story.

 

[KageBunshin]

Bamboo roots may tear betta fins, it happened to me.

 

[Synirr]

What you're suggesting sounds like a really good idea to me
Instead of just trying to wipe the fad out altogether, change it to suit the needs of the fish! Bamboo shouldn't cause any problems, I wouldn't think. My mother always kept a sprig of English ivy in her betta bowls at her office (stuck straight into the water) and it looked really nice and didn't seem to harm the fish in any way. She had to trim the roots ever now and then so the fish would have plenty of swimming room, but that's it

 

[GSD]

great idea!you could get a leaflet,food and mabe some dechlor with it so lasy peopledont think.or a cant b bothered to go n get dechlor ill just stick tap water in n see what happenes

 

[x Fish x]

=D Yay, people don't think I'm crazy!

If the roots do tear fins, couldn't other marsh-style plants be used? I know there are some used in terrarium/aquarium mixes, or ponds. There may even be some that flower, adding more of a live beauty to the vase, since people seem to think fish aren't alive. Tiny machines that swim and eat -Sigh-

I'm going to make a few up for my own Bettas, when I get them this summer. When I'm at my LPS I'm going to suggest it, because they sell... a positively horrible rendition of this vase. Think of a goldfish bowl crammed full of plants. Dimitri came out of it. He was the healthiest of the bunch of Bettas there, but I don't think long-term use in that small a space is healthy at all.

=D Pamphlets are easy, and give me something to do. And since 'technical writing' has a 'huge job-market' right now, it's also good practice to get my guidance counseller off my back.

 

[MegTheFish]

I don't think the roots could tear fins, their soft. My bamboo barely has any roots. I wouldn't worry about it.