Discussion- Bettas good or bad????

[Deleted member 149562]

While I basically agree....

Every picture I see on here makes me want one.

Thats the problem in a nutshell

They look stunning, everyone wants them (well, almost everyone) and that desire feeds the poor breeding practices such as genetic modification, injection and inbreeding/overbreeding/crossbreeding that inevitably produces weaker specimens and washed out bloodlines.

 

[ember04]

While I basically agree....

Every picture I see on here makes me want one.

I generally think that short tail/ plakates are ok as they have larger bodies and short tails and swim well or females, just modified males are problematic

 

[AbbeysDad]

I'm no expert on betas, but don't have an issue with selective breeding. I breed and grow out swordtails. Why wouldn't I breed the largest, most colorful, and healthiest fish in favor of runts and poor quality fish?
I have reds and pineapple swords. But clearly the original [great grand] parents were not purebreds as I will occasionally also have some sunset, red wag, and pineapple wag, in the fry mix. And I just recently noticed a red with a very interesting somewhat speckled coloration...perhaps a red/pineapple cross.
As we discuss selective breeding, I can't help thinking of the dull carp, compared the the Japanese Koi. Not to mention the selective breeding that's been an integral part of animal husbandry for the last 200 years.
Some may disapprove of selective breeding and that's okay. I mostly disapprove of wars, starvation, cancer and other things.

 

[Deleted member 149562]

I'm no expert on betas, but don't have an issue with selective breeding. I breed and grow out swordtails. Why wouldn't I breed the largest, most colorful, and healthiest fish in favor of runts and poor quality fish?
I have reds and pineapple swords. But clearly the original [great grand] parents were not purebreds as I will occasionally also have some sunset, red wag, and pineapple wag, in the fry mix. And I just recently noticed a red with a very interesting somewhat speckled coloration...perhaps a red/pineapple cross.
As we discuss selective breeding, I can't help thinking of the dull carp, compared the the Japanese Koi. Not to mention the selective breeding that's been an integral part of animal husbandry for the last 200 years.
Some may disapprove of selective breeding and that's okay. I mostly disapprove of wars, starvation, cancer and other things.

Selective breeding is one thing....but...when you get into the realms of injecting fish fry to get insane colourations or messing with them genetically such as the Glo-Betta...then no...sorry...that is plain wrong and cruel and, to me at least, needs to be outlawed cos these "breeders" have no idea what damage they are doing to the fish in regard to its overall health and lifespan.

Not only that but thanks to the publicity and notoriety of these fish, the bloodlines are being damaged by sibling breeding and that is also wrong as it weakens the gene pool and bloodlines, which again has unknown and unquantified adverse effects on the health and lifespan

 

[PheonixKingZ]

I mostly like all Bettas. When it gets to the point where the Betta is uncomfortable because of how long it’s tail is, that’s where I draw the line.

My favorite style would have to be Plakat though. This is my Betta Ace:

 

[ember04]

Yeah I love plakats my favourite too
I love black sumuari patten too

 

[Guest14017]

I love Bettas. Crown tail males are my favorites. Never had much luck with them though and gave up on them years ago. I like all Bettas though. But then, I love fancy goldfish, Blood parrots, fancy guppies etc so I'm just a fan of GMO type fish in general.

There are no natural fish that look anything like fancy goldfish and they will ALWAYS be my favorites. Some may say I am supporting a cruel industry, I say that I am buying the fish I want.

 

[woyzeck]

I love Bettas - instant walk up starter for me, but one must be mindful of tank mates and as Bruce said, sourced from a good supplier;
if u do that, long, resilient and fruitful life, for both you.

My question for Betta owners, do u guys feed them their specific pallets or is this just a gimmick ?

 

[hansgruber7]

I love bettas! I am ok with selective breeding up to a point. If it's for certain colors, etc, that's fine. But I'm against injecting or if it's severely limited in its ability survive comfortably. Most of the problems with bettas come down to people not caring for them properly. It's seen as a beginner fish so a lot of people keep them in small bowls without filtration or with lots of other fish, etc. When cared for properly, they are still my favorite fish and a great gateway into a wonderful hobby.

 

[Rocky998]

They don't live long, but they are cheap to replace and pretty. So it's ok

WDYM!? They can live up to 5 years!

 

[ember04]

I think my last betta lived 3 years but he would have lived longer if it wasn't for a problem with a pet sitter I had

 

[Spyro]

WDYM!? They can live up to 5 years!

I can't remember exactly, but that comment was some sort of controversial joke. Don't pay attention to it

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

I can't remember exactly, but that comment was some sort of controversial joke. Don't pay attention to it

No it wasn't...it was a basic fact and it deserves our attention.
In the hands of those who actually know what they're doing, a Betta splendens can live up to 5 years at least. Some examples have even managed to reach a whole decade.

Unfortunately, the internet is awash with those who really don't know what they're doing and who managed to kill off their fish long before their time. Such people will then talk about lousy genetics, interbreeding or the detail that 'the fish was poorly when I bought it from the shop', rather than admit their own ignorance and/or poor care.
Such people then go on to tell everyone that the fish's demise was inevitable, because they only have a short life span anyways.

Whilst I believe strongly that the Betta remains one of the most abused fish in the hobby, ignorance about the potential life spans of most fish dominates and is probably a direct hangover from when fish were poorly cared for by the fishkeeping masses, their lives were short and they were even deemed as 'disposable'.
For example...Did You Know that the common Neon Tetra can live for a decade and reach two and a half inches in length?

 

[Spyro]

No it wasn't...it was a basic fact and it deserves our attention.
In the hands of those who actually know what they're doing, a Betta splendens can live up to 5 years at least. Some examples have even managed to reach a whole decade.

Unfortunately, the internet is awash with those who really don't know what they're doing and who managed to kill off their fish long before their time. Such people will then talk about lousy genetics, interbreeding or the detail that 'the fish was poorly when I bought it from the shop', rather than admit their own ignorance and/or poor care.
Such people then go on to tell everyone that the fish's demise was inevitable, because they only have a short life span anyways.

Whilst I believe strongly that the Betta remains one of the most abused fish in the hobby, ignorance about the potential life spans of most fish dominates and is probably a direct hangover from when fish were poorly cared for by the fishkeeping masses, their lives were short and they were even deemed as 'disposable'.
For example...Did You Know that the common Neon Tetra can live for a decade and reach two and a half inches in length?

I know right. Fish is well cared for by breeders and definitely not inbreed for traits, transported in healthy conditions and looked well after Pet stores.
Anyone who says different is ignorant of healthy care of animals between the egg and their fish tank.
You couldn't be more right if you tried.

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

I know right. Fish is well cared for by breeders and definitely not inbreed for traits, transported in healthy conditions and looked well after Pet stores.
Anyone who says different is ignorant of healthy care of animals between the egg and their fish tank.
You couldn't be more right if you tried.

What's with the attitude?