OP
OP
Tokis-Phoenix
^_^
I understand how a 1gal is much, much better for a betta than a cup, but...Is it right for a fish that has never been mistreated..?
Betta tanks...
- Thread starter Tokis-Phoenix
- Start date
Actually, according to my calculations (Tokis-Phoenix said:
$$$) the small tanks often cost as much,if not more,than the ten's. You can pick up a ten gallon for around 6 bucks here. The 2.5's that I love are 9.99 and the one gallon kritter keepers start at 6.99.I know Ive said this before, but I once calculated how much alll of my betta tanks cost me and it was exceeding $1,000, I could have had a 200+ gallon tank for that price
I can assure you that most, if not all, pet shop bettas have never had the luxury of a one gallon.
BettaMomma
Fish Aficionado
Where would it come from that it would have been in conditions better than that?
Not trying to argue at ALL, just trying to understand your point.
Not trying to argue at ALL, just trying to understand your point.
eudielynn
Fish Addict
Just another thought. I'm surprised you haven't heard from some of the betta owners that feel a larger tank is bad for the bettas because it causes them to wear themselves out from swimming around in the larger tanks, and they believe it shortens the life expectancy of the fish. Not saying I agree with this, but I have heard this opinon more than once before. 
FalconStorm
Fish Crazy
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Yeah, frankly, almost anything is better than what they experience in the lfs, even a good lfs. Even an efficiency is better than a closet and a clean, neat efficiency with plenty of food and care is better than a mansion steeped in filth.
I do believe that.eudielynn said:Just another thought. I'm surprised you haven't heard from some of the betta owners that feel a larger tank is bad for the bettas because it causes them to wear themselves out from swimming around in the larger tanks, and they believe it shortens the life expectancy of the fish. Not saying I agree with this, but I have heard this opinon more than once before.
I also see ,as usual with this topic, great differences in culture. It's not often that you see the small speciman cups in the UK, but here in America it is commonly practiced.
OP
OP
Tokis-Phoenix
^_^
....?BettaMomma said:Where would it come from that it would have been in conditions better than that?
Not trying to argue at ALL, just trying to understand your point.
I just think that ok, maybe its good to put a betta in a 1gal from a tiny cup if saving thems your game and you can't have loads of large tanks but you want to save loads of bettas, but if you are going to get a new betta thats in perfect health for a one-off surely you should only do it if you are prepared to spend more money on a tank bigger than a 1gal?
Its just i don't see much justification for it thats all if its a perfect health betta.
I no this is off topic what i'm going to say, but i feel sorry for goldfish, they are not meant to be kept in bowls, but nobody mentions them, they deserve alot better then they get poor things.
I figure what makes a fish happy is clean water, enough room to swim about enough, good food, and someplace to hide. Also, if it is in a community tank, fish it can get along with.
My boys are in one gallons, I do compulsive bi weekly changes, and give them a variety of food. They have enough space in there IMO, they aren't as active as some other fish, and I guess this is the basis of why people think they need less room.
My boys are in one gallons, I do compulsive bi weekly changes, and give them a variety of food. They have enough space in there IMO, they aren't as active as some other fish, and I guess this is the basis of why people think they need less room.
BettaMomma
Fish Aficionado
I think it's just a matter of what someone thinks is an "okay size" to keep a betta in.
I think 1 gallon would be just fine, even for a perfectly healthy fish.
I think 1 gallon would be just fine, even for a perfectly healthy fish.
i guess what makes the one gallons cheaper is the fact that you can keep them on a desk or table, the don't need lamps or heaters or filters, etc.wuvmybetta said:Actually, according to my calculations (Tokis-Phoenix said:
I know Ive said this before, but I once calculated how much alll of my betta tanks cost me and it was exceeding $1,000, I could have had a 200+ gallon tank for that price
My one gallon acrylic tanks cost me 3 bucks each. My 10 gallon, with stand, heater and filter was around 80.
they do save money, in my case.
EDIT, i also forgot you need a pricey stand for 10 gals. that should be included in my prices.
ravekiss
Fish Addict
OrkyBetta said:
Where do you buy 1g tanks for $3..tell me, tell me.. I pay $10 for mineI would say the first step is to determine how one can know if the fish is happy. What is a betta's behavior like in the wild? Does it swim constantly? Does it drift close to the surface? Or does it lay motionless in the sand? I've never seen a betta fish in the wild, but I have observed one in a 20 gallon tank and found it to be a mixture of the first two. He would swim back and fourth, sometimes quickly, sometimes lazily, but usually near the surface to gulp for air and snatch fish flakes.
Since the fish had a choice between laying on the floor, drifting, racing, swimming leisurely etc. I would assume that the fish's choice of behavior is it's healthy and therefore "happy" behavior. Now, a fish in a 2 cup hexagon can not swim without bumping into the sides. I see them laying in the gravel or floating motionless. I would assess this as an unhappy fish. If that same fish, when placed in a 1 gallon bowl continues this behavior, I would still assume that it is unhappy, but if that fish swims about, eats, flairs, and does all the fishy things a betta does in a 20 gallon tank, then I would assume that it IS happy enough. I would still strive to give it a bigger home, but that is because I'm human and even though the fish seems to have all its essentials, I still give it human attributes in the sense that I suppose it might like to explore a larger area with plants and caves, and even add some smaller, non threatening animals because I think it adds interest to a creature's life.
I do know that both my fish HATE the 1 gallon aquaview aquarium I have. But this is not because of a lack of room, but because the shape of the aquarium inhibits continuous swimming. Believe it or not, I think my bettas are happier in an even smaller container (14 cup coffee pot) because in contrast, they are now swimming actively like goldfish! This is because the coffee pot, or bowl, has smooth sides so they can swim without bumping into corners and needing to back up. I want to give them each a larger tank, but only because it looks boring in there. There is no room for plants, but it doesn't feel cruel like keeping them in a cold "betta bowl" or vase.
Since the fish had a choice between laying on the floor, drifting, racing, swimming leisurely etc. I would assume that the fish's choice of behavior is it's healthy and therefore "happy" behavior. Now, a fish in a 2 cup hexagon can not swim without bumping into the sides. I see them laying in the gravel or floating motionless. I would assess this as an unhappy fish. If that same fish, when placed in a 1 gallon bowl continues this behavior, I would still assume that it is unhappy, but if that fish swims about, eats, flairs, and does all the fishy things a betta does in a 20 gallon tank, then I would assume that it IS happy enough. I would still strive to give it a bigger home, but that is because I'm human and even though the fish seems to have all its essentials, I still give it human attributes in the sense that I suppose it might like to explore a larger area with plants and caves, and even add some smaller, non threatening animals because I think it adds interest to a creature's life.
I do know that both my fish HATE the 1 gallon aquaview aquarium I have. But this is not because of a lack of room, but because the shape of the aquarium inhibits continuous swimming. Believe it or not, I think my bettas are happier in an even smaller container (14 cup coffee pot) because in contrast, they are now swimming actively like goldfish! This is because the coffee pot, or bowl, has smooth sides so they can swim without bumping into corners and needing to back up. I want to give them each a larger tank, but only because it looks boring in there. There is no room for plants, but it doesn't feel cruel like keeping them in a cold "betta bowl" or vase.
My LPS, petworld carries lovely little blue plastic tanks with lids. They are kind of oval shaped. Theyre lightweight, and I think they reccomend them for hamster temporary cages, but the plastic is safe for fish too.ravekiss said:OrkyBetta said:
Synirr
"No one is a failure unless you try"
Personally, I think that what makes a fish happy is having a habitat that allows them to do most of the things that they would in the wild. Some fish swim long distances and have large territories, so obviously these fish should have large tanks where they can swim around.... but bettas are not one of those fish
In the wild they choose relatively small territories for themselves and aren't marathon swimmers like some fish, so I think that a 1 gallon is perfectly fine. Some of my bettas even PREFER 1/2 gallons, and become skittish and sulk for weeks if I try to upgrade them to something larger, only to perk right up when I put them back in their old, smaller tank. I think it really depends on the individual fish in question as to what size is ideal. Some prefer smaller tanks, and some are secure in 10 gallons... but I do honestly think that 1 gallon is a perfectly fine size.
Let's put it this way... nearly all my bettas are in 1 gallons, and all are active, alert, and nearly every one of them bubblenests like mad. Bigger is better, of course, but I don't have the room to keep them all in 5 gallons, so I do what I can. The ones that are in bigger tanks spend most of their time resting on their plants or staring at me, so they don't even really make use of all the room they have
. They're not constantly on the move like danios, for example.
I think a good size tank for a betta is anywhere between 1 and 10 gallons, but much more than that and I think that the need to patrol the entire tank tires them out too much
In the wild they choose relatively small territories for themselves and aren't marathon swimmers like some fish, so I think that a 1 gallon is perfectly fine. Some of my bettas even PREFER 1/2 gallons, and become skittish and sulk for weeks if I try to upgrade them to something larger, only to perk right up when I put them back in their old, smaller tank. I think it really depends on the individual fish in question as to what size is ideal. Some prefer smaller tanks, and some are secure in 10 gallons... but I do honestly think that 1 gallon is a perfectly fine size.
Let's put it this way... nearly all my bettas are in 1 gallons, and all are active, alert, and nearly every one of them bubblenests like mad. Bigger is better, of course, but I don't have the room to keep them all in 5 gallons, so I do what I can. The ones that are in bigger tanks spend most of their time resting on their plants or staring at me, so they don't even really make use of all the room they have
. They're not constantly on the move like danios, for example.I think a good size tank for a betta is anywhere between 1 and 10 gallons, but much more than that and I think that the need to patrol the entire tank tires them out too much
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