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Originally Posted by TJL  [font="Comic Sans MS"][/FONT Good for you and your compassion. I can't stand how horribly the Bettas are treated and wish people would read up on them and their needs. Tiny bowls don't cut it! Sorry to get serious. I know everyone is having some fun and laughs, but I think your kindness should be applauded  TJL |
I agree fully with you TJL. Fish of this breed are often kept in small containers, or even in vases as a display piece. Many bettas end up drowning as these decorative vases do not allow the bettas to surface for air. Many argue that they should not be kept in these conditions, that they are only sold in small containers because they will fight if kept with other bettas or incompatible fish. Such small containers are also used as a marketing tactic by many pet stores that promote bettas as a display fish and, incorrectly, state that they don't need much water and like smaller containers. It is recommended by these groups that bettas, like all fish, should have adequate filtration and have a heated environment, as they are a tropical breed and are prone to illness and death if not kept in conditions suited to their breed. These groups also frown upon them being kept in less than 8L (two gal.) of water, as is often practiced when the breed is used as a display. They recommend that a living environment of at least 20L (5 gal.) is 'ideal'. To maximize the lifespan of the fish and ensure their well being, they should always be kept in appropriately sized tanks. As a rule of thumb, for each 1cm (1 in.) of fish there must be at least 150mL (1.5 gallons) of water in its tank. Bettas ideally should be kept in a filtered tank of 20L (five gal.) or more and treated like any other freshwater tank fish. These fish are curious and playful in larger tanks with plants and rocks to explore while often very lethargic and sullen looking in small ones.
Nonetheless, to keep an individual
B. splendens, a minimum tank size of at least 10L or three
U.S. gallons is recommended, if it will be kept in a warm room. Some authorities maintain that for a betta to lead a happy life and live the maximum lifespan, as much as 20L or five U.S. gallons is necessary.
[2] This absolute minimum ratio (eight litres/fish) holds true for both females and males who are being housed individually as well as females who are being housed together; this means that the smallest tank that can become a female community tank is 30L or ten U.S. gallons, which can hold four peaceful females. A tank of 20L or five U.S. gallons will allow the use of a heater to maintain a temperature of about 28°C, or 82°F. It is optimum to keep the pH levels of the water between 6.5 and 8.0. One must take care in monitoring the pH levels to ensure the health of the fish, specifically if CO2 injection is being used in a planted tank, which can result in rapid spikes of pH values. Live plants will improve the water quality. Also, since the betta obtains oxygen from the air, the tank must not be covered with an air-tight lid and the betta must be able to easily reach the surface. It should be noted that the lid must not leave any gaps large enough for the betta to jump out. Bettas are notorious for their jumping abilities and there have been many recorded cases of bettas killing themselves. However, they have often been known to survive up to five hours outside the tank.