are bettas hardy or not??

[aernympha]

i was wondering wether bettas were very fussy about water conditions and needed to be highly maintained.. i once heaerd that there neede to be a in tank whwich had been running for 6 months!!!

 

[wuvmybetta]

They're the toughest of the tough , that's why they're so grossly mistreated and shipped/stored in little bitty cups going for weeks with no food or water changes

 

[aernympha]

intersting

 

[Inchworm]

They're the toughest of the tough , that's why they're so grossly mistreated and shipped/stored in little bitty cups going for weeks with no food or water changes

Gouramis, which are related to bettas can take harsh treatment too. Both are air breathers which helps them survive poor water conditions.

But just because they can survive those conditions doesn't mean they should live in them. You could probably survive if you were locked in your bathroom for a while. But would you want to spend your life there?

 

[wuvmybetta]

But just because they can survive those conditions doesn't mean they should live in them. You could probably survive if you were locked in your bathroom for a while. But would you want to spend your life there?

agreed , it breaks my heart to see the poor little starving guys wallowing in such a mess

 

[rsz]

i borrowed a book about fish from the library (can't remember what it was called ) but in that, the author said the following to prove how important it is to have good decor and do water changes in your tank (and to not overstock):

imagine you stay in a room with a metal grid for the floor, and twice a day food is pushed through a hole in the roof . there is no door and you can't get out . the room is plain white . if you need the toilet you just go where ever you're standing !! it all goes through that grid, but it smells and is very unhygenic . after week it would be disgusting. and what about if all your friends are in there too ? gross!! that's what it's like for fish, really...

just thought i'd share that with you all

 

[akhtar]

unless u give them a nice giant tank, with great filteration, cleaned gravel, nice plants for them to hide and rest on, nice temprature, interesting habitat, with caves for them to hide in, and a airstone,
well i guess theyd be happier there than the cups

bye ur right i hate the way some people trest fishies just coz they can handle lots

hope u take nice care of ur fish

 

[BettaBoyz]

people think fish are disposable pets, just because they've been raised to believe fish only live a few years. in truth, a well cared for tank's inhabitants can live ten years!

some people make me sad, whenever i start talking about my fish they say, "You've got FISH?" and when i tell them how many i've got, what i've got, how much i've spent, or where i keep them they say, "Jeez, isn't that a bit much for a FISH?" or "What the heck is a Plattie?"

i don't expect people to be geniuses, but a ten gallon tank is like the bare minimum for fish keeping and they think it's huge!

 

[Cali]

i don't expect people to be geniuses, but a ten gallon tank is like the bare minimum for fish keeping and they think it's huge!

I wouldn't think that's common knowledge. I would think a 10 gallon is plenty big for an aquarium. Most of the folks I know would think the same thing.



You learn more once you become a hobbyist. Those who have no interest in fish would have no idea, IMO...it doesn't make them dummies. B)

 

[Inchworm]

...imagine you stay in a room with a metal grid for the floor, and twice a day food is pushed through a hole in the roof . there is no door and you can't get out . the room is plain white . if you need the toilet you just go where ever you're standing !! it all goes through that grid, but it smells and is very unhygenic . after week it would be disgusting. and what about if all your friends are in there too ? gross!! that's what it's like for fish, really...

Your example made the point beautifully, rsz. Thank you for posting it.

 

[wuvmybetta]

"Jeez, isn't that a bit much for a FISH?" or "What the heck is a Plattie?"

The "saying" that gets to me is...."oh,c'mon, it's JUST a FISH"

 

[Sondan]

Well I have to agree....I do try and take care of my fish but is just a fish. I am always amazed on how much people put human emotions into animals. In the wildlife field I have heard it called the "Disney Syndrome". I wonder if city people really do think that Bambi and Thumper play together in the forest?? I am not one for cruelty at all but I also don't have a problem feeding a betta, guppy, or any other fish to my Oscar. I mean nature is not nice and most people that I have met don't get the this simple point....Just because you don't see it doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Anyways this was NOT directed any individual so please don't take personal offense.
Signed,
Sondan

 

[Inchworm]

The "saying" that gets to me is...."oh,c'mon, it's JUST a FISH"

Well, I guess there are fish and.........there are FISH.

When I buy a fish and take it home to live in one of my tanks it is no longer just a fish; it is MY fish. Its life or death and everything that happens to it from that day forward depends on me. Since it is a living creature I take that responsibility seriously.

Sure, they are a part of nature and I have often said so on this forum. Some day they will die like every living thing will. But I do try to give my fish clean and safe living conditions and the best quality of life that I possibily can. I do the same for my cat. (My husband, too, when I had one. But that's another story. )

Big fish eat little fish....that's also part of nature. But, since I sometimes give feeder guppies to my frogs, I've given up trying to breed guppies. Seems there's always some guppy coming in that's special in some way and I haven't the heart to let it die. So, all my guppy babies are mutts.

At least I haven't adopted any bloodworms!

 

[White Whale]

When I buy a fish and take it home to live in one of my tanks it is no longer just a fish; it is MY fish. Its life or death and everything that happens to it from that day forward depends on me. Since it is a living creature I take that responsibility seriously.

I know exactly how you feel.

 

[Morrgan]

I wouldn't think that's common knowledge. I would think a 10 gallon is plenty big for an aquarium. Most of the folks I know would think the same thing.

I even consider my 16 gal a small tank, while my 34 gal is medium.

In Finland it's illegal to keep any fish permanently in a tank that's smaller than 10 gal, so it seems the authorities here think 10 gal is small. I'm happy that aquarium fish have some protection by law here. If you are going to keep any pet, you should make sure their conditions are as good as possible, but so many people seem to think fish are just decorations or something (I know I get this a lot when I talk about my fish).

rsz, that's a very good quote. Makes you think, doesn't it?