aquababies?

[SRC]

I post on numerous websites and came across a thread about tanks on one. So as I was skimming along reading the tons of rubbish posts I see a link to this "aquababies" website...and figure I'd check it out (I'm nosey..I can't help it lol).

I was appaulled at what I saw at this place...it's absolutely craziness.


This is on the opening page..their "Selling Feature" :

AquaBabies exist in a perfect ecosystem.  The tiny fish, aquatic plant, live rocks, and natural water share their habitat in balance and beauty.

AquaBabies contains hardy fish species that are grown specially for small aquariums and live comfortably from 60-85o F.  If properly cared for, cleaning is seldom necessary. (3-4 times a year) Use only bottled water.   Feed the fish only a small pinch of food once daily or every other day through the hole in the top using the tip of a toothpick. (See instructions.)

AquaBabies Aquariums are unique gifts for birthdays, holidays, graduation, or any special occasion.   They are great in the office, on a table top, by a hospital bed or any other small area in which a living water ecosystem might be enjoyed.

Yes, IF you care for them "properly" you won't have to clean up after your fish...your fish(es) that are in about 2 cups of water.

Then you go to the "instructions" page:

What Kind of Fish Are These Anyway?
We use an assortment of small compatible fish types that are raised specifically for our aquariums.  You may have danios, guppies, white cloud minnows, swordtails or barbs.  Your fish are not wild-caught and should never be released in the wild.   Most of the fish we use have a one to two-year life span and will not get any larger than 1-4" long.  You will notice different types of fish will have different behaviors, this is normal.

poor fish...a 2 year shelf life

How Do I Feed My AquaBabies?
The best method is to wet the tip of a toothpick or unfolded paper clip and dip the tip (¼" maximum) into the food bag and then into the tank through the hole in the top.  Your fish need very little food to sustain them.  They can be fed daily or every other day and can easily be left for a weekend without food.

They must be on a low-cal diet .

In some parts of the country and during certain seasons you may find you have purchased an AquaBaby with a Dwarf African Clawed Frog, Hymenochirpus curtipes. The frog, like the fish, was born on a farm and should not be released into the wild. The frog's forefathers came from the rain forests of Western Africa, are completely aquatic (no hopping around on land, no sitting out on a rock) and grow to a maximum size about 2 inches. It is important to keep them warm (60-85 F) and leave an airspace between the lid and top of the water so they may breath. Occasionally (two hours or less) your frog will swim to the surface to fill its lungs with air. Frogs shed their skin, making them look mossy during the process. A discarded skin at the bottom of the tank will become part of the food chain and does not need to be removed

yeah..um...2" for a ACF...riiiight

When Do I Clean My Tank?
The tank only needs to be cleaned when the water becomes cloudy and/or there is debris covering the rocks, plants or tank.  We recommend you change 25% of the water every month, even if your tank is clean.  Use only bottled spring water at room temperature for your aquarium.  The chlorine in tap water will kill the AquaBabies and the bacteria on the rocks!

OH, so the story changes (not that it's any better a story)...from 3-4 times a year to ...25% ONCE a MONTH!!

Most of our competitors do not cycle their gravel which is essential part of maintaining a healthy environment in these little containers and may use combination or types of fish which will not work under normal household condition. If you have bought one of these products and have found this announcement while looking for assistance for your little tank, we will try to help. Your best bet however is return it for a refund and get a genuine AquaBaby.

Because all your AquaBabies pets are "cold-blooded", their activity will increase and decrease with the temperature.

funny...most of the fish I saw listed were tropical fish

Sometimes I wish I would just not click on links.

 

[Tempestuousfury]

Hmm. Well, anything for money. Fish don't have souls, so lets sell them to lazy consumers who'll end up subjecting them to torture until they die.

Interesting how doing a little research would undermine everything they say.

Question: Why is this in the betta section? Did they provide that picture?

 

[SRC]

I mostly post here...don't normally post anywhere else...if it shouldn't be here I guess it'll get moved...but I forget to go check my otehr threads most times when I don't post in here.

Those pictures came from their website, yes.

But just so it's in the right section..they also have one with a betta as well.

http/www.aquababies.com/cart/index.cgi?i...c=Jewel_Box&tc=

(the animated pic on the bottom up there..is the betta they have pictured in the ad)

it's $25.

IMPORTANT - frogs cannot be shipped to cold climate areas during the winter months. $25.00 plus shipping

ooh but the Betta and other fish will be just dandy though. and you get 4-5 "other" fish if you choose a tropical one...5 fish in a cup of water holey moley.

 

[ral]

Item #610909001000: Hexagon tank, living filter, plant, feed and instructions, decorations, snail and 2-5 tropical fish. $25.00 plus shipping

What is a living filter?

 

[SRC]

I guess they consider the snail the filter..as they seemingly consider the plant the airation.

Oxygenating Plant and Snail

 

[JoKeR]

Item #610909001000: Hexagon tank, living filter, plant, feed and instructions, decorations, snail and 2-5 tropical fish.  $25.00 plus shipping

What is a living filter?

I think there gonna give u a live snail to-Clean Water,Eat Crap,Eat Algea RIGHT!

This is horrible......

 

[sja]

It may be bad. But not nearly as bad as wat they call 'bonzai kittens' or sumthin. My cousin recieved an email,(petition thing) to get the web site band. Nautraly we went to the site... it was bloody awful. What they do is get young kitten give them a muscle relaxant and put them in a jar for the rest of there life, and they get fed thro a straw. Some people should be shot.....

 

[SRC]

Bozai kittens are not real. It was a silly, stupid internet gag..just so you know. IF you go to the website you will see, somewhere on teh site (it's hidden you have to search for it) that they admit they do not do that for reals.


****************
I just sent them a e-mail expressing my displeasure in their product, not like I think they'll really care...but it made me feel better non-the-less.

You product is absolutely disgusting.

All the fish you mention require upwards of 1+ gallons EACH. Take for example zebra danio's require a minimum of 10 gal, and shouldn't be kept in groups of less then 10.

It's no wonder your fish only have a life expectancy of 2 years (I'd be shocked to know that most live past 4 weeks). The water should be changed WAY before it ever gets cloudy, with that amount of water it shoudl be changed 3 times a day).

And African Clawed Frogs grow MUCH larger then 2" ...like close to the size of your hand..but of course they can't..because just like your fish they require larger tanks.

Do you know what it is called when a fish/frog "grows" to the size of it's tank? It's called stunting. You should Google that and look it up sometime. What a CRAPPY way to die! Having your outside stop growing, from the hormones your body is producing based on the size of your habitat, only to have your insides continue to grow and literally squeeze you to death from the inside.

Your product is disgusting, your website is misleading, and your prices for what you are selling is outrageous.

You are basically selling DEATH in a box, disguised as a gift!!!!

Unkindly Regards,
Jennie Lowery

 

[yeeviabetta]

First time I heard about aquababies. LOL After reading all the informations, it makes me choke to laugh! Who wants to spend that much money into aquababies anyway?

 

[Ben]

ah cr@p another one of these stupid decoration things that people think is alright.


please show us their reply SRC

DD

 

[The_Gilly]

aren't these just sea monkeys?

 

[OohFeeshy]

No! THey are small tropical fish, eg, tetras, danios crammed into a tiny cube with a snail and maybe a frog!

 

[Idolz]

I saw a whole shelf of them once at Zellars.... (Canadian Wal-mart). It was horrible, they weren't treated like living things at all... just pick up the tiny tank with the fish already in it and make your way to the cash register And it didn't look like they were being fed.... This is a bad way to get people started in fish keeping, "Hey you don't have to care about your fish... "..... I'm going to write an email too!

 

[littlefishie]

Name: Nancy R. Tomasheski
Dear Friends: I am writing to tell you how much I enjoy my Aquababies aquarium, and how impressed I am at its success. My husband and I are both trained biologists, so the explanation of how the ecosystem should work made sense to us; still, we wondered how long it could really maintain itself. We were pleased to find that a month passed before any cleaning was required, and that only because a shaft of sunlight was hitting the tank from an angle we hadn't foreseen. I have moved the tank now to a more filtered location, and it continues to do well.
Two of the three fish have already died, but the nature of their deaths seemed natural -- fine one day, a little sluggish the next, dead the next, with the survivors appearing healthy, and remaining so. In keeping with the ecosystem theme of Aquababies, I buried them in potted plants, which are now benefiting.
I was glad, also, to find the Website. A confirmed surfer, I decided one day to just try typing in aquababies Sure enough, there it was! At that time, you were under construction, but I knew I could try again later!
Thanks again, and bless you from all the animals.

I checked out the site myself and found this in the 'letters from customers' section.
If this woman and her husband are both trained biologists shouldn't they understand that this is wrong?
People make me mad sometimes..

 

[NinjaSmurf]

Depending on the plants and other factors technically it could be done, but not with the fish they're trying to use.