Why do people do this??? :(

[Fish4dawin]

Yesterday I was outside my bus stop waiting for the bus home, and I noticed in a beauty salon looking thing, a small cube tank like rotated on its axis. It looked like this ->.
I then noticed what I thought was a betta, but it was actually a female guppy; alone. There was one tiny plastic plant in there and no substrate at all. I then noticed another small fish which was white in colour and looked a bit like a molly, again, by itself. The guppy seemed ok but the molly was staying close to the glass. Unfortunately I was not able to rescue the fish as all the staff were working and I didn’t have anything to transport the fish with regardless, nor a place to put them. That tank is 4-5 gallons I think, but it’s nowhere near enough swimming room for a guppy and a molly, and they should really be together in a school of 6+. Just disgraceful imo.

 

[itiwhetu]

Money making ideas, put together by greedy people.

 

[Fish4dawin]

I have no doubt that they bought the fish from pets at home or something. Poor fishies.

 

[itiwhetu]

I could use really rude words to describe these people, but then I would get banned from here.

 

[Fish4dawin]

The problem is is that they probably went there and were like “look at that one! Can I get that one and that one?” Whereas my lfs would ask how big the tank was and then he would say what would fit in into it. At least there weren’t 2 male bettas in it. Of course guppies and mollies need a 20 gallon+ to thrive but it definitely could’ve been a lot worse so perhaps there may have been some guidance present.

 

[itiwhetu]

The problem is is that they probably went there and were like “look at that one! Can I get that one and that one?” Whereas my lfs would ask how big the tank was and then he would say what would fit in into it. At least there weren’t 2 male bettas in it. Of course guppies and mollies need a 20 gallon+ to thrive but it definitely could’ve been a lot worse so perhaps there may have been some guidance present.

Or maybe two young Oscars

 

[Deleted member 149562]

The aquarium pictured is a Ciano Nexus Pure 14 litre.

Nexus Pure 14C - Ciano

ciano.pt

Unlike many small aquariums, at least this one has been specifically designed and has equipment such as the filter specifically designed to give an healthy (albeit tiny) environment for small fish/inverts.

Granted it is not ideal in any way, shape or form but at least Ciano have tried to make a small aquarium that does actually work well on the health of fish/inverts.........there are many other examples of this type of aquarium that truly do not take into consideration anything alive actually living in them.

Its not brilliant, but it certainly is not the worst on the market.

 

[Fishmanic]

The tank would explode when the Oscars grew just a bit.

 

[itiwhetu]

The aquarium pictured is a Ciano Nexus Pure 14 litre.

Nexus Pure 14C - Ciano

ciano.pt

Unlike many small aquariums, at least this one has been specifically designed and has equipment such as the filter specifically designed to give an healthy (albeit tiny) environment for small fish/inverts.

Granted it is not ideal in any way, shape or form but at least Ciano have tried to make a small aquarium that does actually work well on the health of fish/inverts.........there are many other examples of this type of aquarium that truly do not take into consideration anything alive actually living in them.

Its not brilliant, but it certainly is not the worst on the market.

I just wish these companies wouldn't lower themselves to this standard of setup.

 

[Fish4dawin]

The problem is is that many people will see this tank and think “oh, I could have guppies in here” but they can’t. Perhaps endlers but even then they wouldn’t thrive. Additionally since no lfs helps advise them on stocking their tank, they probably think that they could put 2 clown loaches in a 30 gallon because “it looks big enough.” I’m not saying all lfs are bad but the majority don’t help with what fish should go in to the tank, they just want to make a sale.

 

[itiwhetu]

The problem is is that many people will see this tank and think “oh, I could have guppies in here” but they can’t. Perhaps endlers but even then they wouldn’t thrive. Additionally since no lfs helps advise them on stocking their tank, they probably think that they could put 2 clown loaches in a 30 gallon because “it looks big enough.” I’m not saying all lfs are bad but the majority don’t help with what fish should go in to the tank, they just want to make a sale.

LFS's must sell all the add on stuff to make money, they don't make money from fish sales.

 

[Deleted member 149562]

You forget one detail here

All of these ultra small aquariums...along with every other aquarium of every size....is available to buy online. So the potential buyer has no face to face contact with the LFS when buying, no advice can be asked as to what can live in it or anything.

The pandemic with the various lockdowns meant that the online sales boomed of these aquariums....and fish too. Unless you know something about keeping fish, there is no reason to ask what can live in an aquarium like this...whether you are buying it, bought it or buying fish to go into it when done online.

 

[itiwhetu]

You forget one detail here

All of these ultra small aquariums...along with every other aquarium of every size....is available to buy online. So the potential buyer has no face to face contact with the LFS when buying, no advice can be asked as to what can live in it or anything.

The pandemic with the various lockdowns meant that the online sales boomed of these aquariums....and fish too. Unless you know something about keeping fish, there is no reason to ask what can live in an aquarium like this...whether you are buying it, bought it or buying fish to go into it when done online.

And the companies that manufacture these shouldn't be.

 

[Deleted member 149562]

And the companies that manufacture these shouldn't be.

I agree but then you are venturing into the same proverbial GloFish argument too.....there is a market for them, so naturally a manufacturer will cater for that market

Just cos there is a market for these tiny aquariums doesn't make it right...if Ciano stopped making them, another company would fill that gap in the market...it is a perpetual thing

Mix the two together...

GloFish® | Tetra®

www.tetra-fish.com

It will always be a catch 22.....whilst people are wanting a specific thing, manufacturers will always make that thing

So many people think fishkeeping is easy peasy....get an aquarium, doesn't matter what size, fill it with water and chuck the fish in.

The pandemic has really exposed just how inhumane fishkeeping can be cos unlike a dog or a cat, you can buy an aquarium online, you can buy the stuff inside online and you can buy fish online...no questions asked.

LFS, aquarium manufacturers etc are largely self regulating and its one of the few pets that you do not need to show any form of knowledge before keeping fish, you can buy whatever you want online and without any level of guidance whatsoever....so obviously manufacturers and sellers will feed into that consumer supply and demand, there is nothing there to stop them.

 

[itiwhetu]

I agree but then you are venturing into the same proverbial GloFish argument too.....there is a market for them, so naturally a manufacturer will cater for that market

Just cos there is a market for these tiny aquariums doesn't make it right...if Ciano stopped making them, another company would fill that gap in the market...it is a perpetual thing

Mix the two together...

GloFish® | Tetra®

www.tetra-fish.com

It will always be a catch 22.....whilst people are wanting a specific thing, manufacturers will always make that thing

So many people think fishkeeping is easy peasy....get an aquarium, doesn't matter what size, fill it with water and chuck the fish in.

The pandemic has really exposed just how inhumane fishkeeping can be cos unlike a dog or a cat, you can buy an aquarium online, you can buy the stuff inside online and you can buy fish online...no questions asked.

LFS, aquarium manufacturers etc are largely self regulating and its one of the few pets that you do not need to show any form of knowledge before keeping fish, you can buy whatever you want online and without any level of guidance whatsoever....so obviously manufacturers and sellers will feed into that consumer supply and demand, there is nothing there to stop them.

It is just wrong, and the manufacturers of this stuff need to grow some moral back bone, they know what they are doing is wrong, shame on them.