How is it that these fish can survive in such small containers with no filtration etc. I go to the pet store and they're all just sitting in these tiny plastic cups? How is this possible?
Answers:
it's simply for convenience in pet stores. say you have 100 male bettas for sale, and since they're territorial they can't be kept in a tank together. it would be terribly impractical to have each one in his own 2.5 gallon heated and filtered tank. especially since bettas are popular and sell fast.
however, there are many myths floating around about bettas and how they like to be in tiny bowls and are perfect at room temp... ect. it's not true. this all started because during the dry season the rice paddies betta live in sometimes dry up, however this does not mean they're living in puddles or muddy footprints. some even live in slow moving streams. although everyone seems so eager to provide them with a tiny living space "so they don't get scared" no one seems to eager to provide them with a heater so the don't get cold. bettas naturally live in water around 80掳F
lifespans in bowls and vases is around a few months to 2yrs, lifespan in a proper home is 5yr+
to see for yourself what they really live in take a look here:
http://www.brents.com/organization/vacat...
betta fish have lungs like us, and they breathe air from the surface of the water
Well they are fish that need air. Thats y they come to the top of the water and breath. They dont really like to swim around very much and really dont need a big bowl. In the wild they live in mud puddles and thats how they live.
Bettas have an organ called a labryinth that enables them to breath atmospheric oxygen when the water quality is poor. Unfortunately for them, this means they can survive anywhere. Do not believe pet stores about those small cups though. Bettas do not live in puddles in the wild! This ability developed so they could survive when there wasn't enough rain. They normally have an entire stream to swim in when they are in the wild. Bettas should have a minimum of 1/2 gallon of water.
From what I know, bettas orginally evolved as pond/puddle dwellers, and would jump from puddle to puddle if they needed cleaner water/more food, so they seem to survive in perceptively small/nasty environments. However, if you have ever seen a betta in large, clean tank environment, they look so beautiful and happy! Though pet stores can get away with leaving them in those tiny containers, new owners should provide a larger, cleaner environment so their little fishies can thrive happily.
They live a lot longer when given much more room and some filtration. Pleas don't try to keep one in a tiny glass container. Give him gravel and plants and Castles or whatever to swin in and out of. Anything happy lives longer.
