Same for bettas. Neither of those animals are ever kept in the type of environment they're meant to be in. But try to convince anyone a fish is worth caring about
Bettas live in slow-moving, shallow water in the wild such as streams, ponds, or, interestingly enough, rice paddies. These can be several miles wide, however. They prefer to find shelter beneath leaves where the males can safely build their little bubble nests away from predators (and they guard these nests FIERCELY. They will even kill female bettas once they have the eggs).
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They end UP in puddles sometimes when the water evaporates, and they are capable of surviving in those puddles due to an adaptation they've developed known as a labyrinth that allows them to breathe air from the surface (without this feature the oxygen in a puddle would quickly run out and they would die).
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Betta do not belong in puddles and do not thrive in them.
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The way pet stores keep them is horrific for these fish. They are out in the open with no form of shelter, often with incorrect heating, with limited room to move, surrounded by potential rivals (usually other male bettas).
They spend most of their time in stress and their lives are often short.
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The reason betta cups have lids on them isn't solely for ease of storage. It's because, in the wild, when a betta is trapped in a puddle, it will often eventually try to escape. Because it does not want to be there. It does so by jumping. Captive bettas, particularly ones kept in tiny cups and bowls, will also often try to escape their tiny prisons this same way, which results in unintentional suicide a lot of the time.
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A lot of bettas are sold with "vase" tanks as well, with a plant growing out of the top and the roots in the water. These tanks assure people that the betta does not need to be fed because it can live off the root of the plants. Also incorrect. Bettas are largely predatorial. They eat meat, particularly worms and mosquitos and larvae. THESE tanks force the betta to scavenge for parasites and other organisms on the plant's roots, often condemning the fish to a slow, painful starvation
Other common mistakes people make is putting fish in bowls (not enough room, and not at all good for the fish's eyes).
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Some more responsible owners may put them in a larger tank, but try to put other fish or snails with them. It CAN work, but often doesn't. Bettas are, again, not good swimmers, they are territorial, and they have large, flashy, colorful fins. The result of cohabitation often ends with the betta either harassing and killing it's tank mates, or it's tank mates eating away at the betta's fins.
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Additionally, whey aren't exactly tropical fish, they do have a temperature range, and it's important to respect that.
The ideal tank for a betta should be not too tall, and it doesn't have to be super big (too large a tank can also be stressful for betta), but they need some room to scoot about. If applicable, it should have a low-power filter that they won't have to fight against or risk being caught in (another fate betta often fall victim to). There should be plant (fake or real) coverage they can hide behind or rest on. There should be a lid, but there also should be a gap between the surface of the water and the lid to allow the betta to breathe from the surface if it desires, and also to form bubbles.
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Tbh betta are really sassy, curious fish, with a lot of personality (and I personally really enjoyed feeding them and watching them "hunt" ). It's really sad to see them suffer so much simply because they're beautiful and "just fish."
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Then again, all that said, gold fish still often have it worse
Oh my god, you phrased it perfectly. Thank you :) I'd like to add that because they are bred so extensively, most of them have never lived in conditions similar to those they originated from. They do not thrive there, and should have clean tanks like any other fish.
Kek my sister once had a betta fish and even though the tank had a lid it jumped out and landed behind the drawers it was sitting on. It was covered in dust but survived. Mind you, the tank did have plants in it, and it probably jumped out because she had two bettas within eyesight
Well, I hope she learned from her mistake, but I can't really place too much blame on her. Most people aren't even aware of the proper tank conditions. :(
I'm going to disagree partially. On the one hand it's hard to know what an animal needs and it's easy to make a mistake when a seller says "just put em in this, it's fine."
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On the other hand it's a living creature and if you're going to own it you should take the time to research out what it needs.
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Hermit crabs are a classic example: many places keep them on display in huge clumps with no shelter, little water, no extra shells, no heating, no calcium or salt, sometimes in wire cages, and they tell people "just put it in this tiny box with some dirt, it's fine."
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What they actually need is at least 3-5 gallons of room per crab, LOTS of dirt to bury in, hiding places, preferably climbing spaces (they're good little climbers), some form of heat stabilization, access to calcium, access to fresh and salt water, Lots of shells to choose from, and (usually) SOME company.
The end result is much like betta and goldfish with needless suffering on their part. The sellers share blame for treating the animals this way and misinforming people in the first place, but at some point owners themselves should be looking into what they're getting into, and whether any of it is actually appropriate for the animal.
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Side note: not about your sister specifically, creativedragonbaby. Just talking in general
Yes, I was referring to how sellers fail to inform customers. But I agree, it is hard to know what your animal needs. That's why people should always research their pets and not buy on a whim. Thank you for explaining all of that and telling it so well :)
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They end UP in puddles sometimes when the water evaporates, and they are capable of surviving in those puddles due to an adaptation they've developed known as a labyrinth that allows them to breathe air from the surface (without this feature the oxygen in a puddle would quickly run out and they would die).
.
Betta do not belong in puddles and do not thrive in them.
.
The way pet stores keep them is horrific for these fish. They are out in the open with no form of shelter, often with incorrect heating, with limited room to move, surrounded by potential rivals (usually other male bettas).
.
The reason betta cups have lids on them isn't solely for ease of storage. It's because, in the wild, when a betta is trapped in a puddle, it will often eventually try to escape. Because it does not want to be there. It does so by jumping. Captive bettas, particularly ones kept in tiny cups and bowls, will also often try to escape their tiny prisons this same way, which results in unintentional suicide a lot of the time.
.
A lot of bettas are sold with "vase" tanks as well, with a plant growing out of the top and the roots in the water. These tanks assure people that the betta does not need to be fed because it can live off the root of the plants. Also incorrect. Bettas are largely predatorial. They eat meat, particularly worms and mosquitos and larvae. THESE tanks force the betta to scavenge for parasites and other organisms on the plant's roots, often condemning the fish to a slow, painful starvation
.
Some more responsible owners may put them in a larger tank, but try to put other fish or snails with them. It CAN work, but often doesn't. Bettas are, again, not good swimmers, they are territorial, and they have large, flashy, colorful fins. The result of cohabitation often ends with the betta either harassing and killing it's tank mates, or it's tank mates eating away at the betta's fins.
.
Additionally, whey aren't exactly tropical fish, they do have a temperature range, and it's important to respect that.
.
Tbh betta are really sassy, curious fish, with a lot of personality (and I personally really enjoyed feeding them and watching them "hunt" ). It's really sad to see them suffer so much simply because they're beautiful and "just fish."
.
.
Then again, all that said, gold fish still often have it worse
.
On the other hand it's a living creature and if you're going to own it you should take the time to research out what it needs.
.
Hermit crabs are a classic example: many places keep them on display in huge clumps with no shelter, little water, no extra shells, no heating, no calcium or salt, sometimes in wire cages, and they tell people "just put it in this tiny box with some dirt, it's fine."
.
What they actually need is at least 3-5 gallons of room per crab, LOTS of dirt to bury in, hiding places, preferably climbing spaces (they're good little climbers), some form of heat stabilization, access to calcium, access to fresh and salt water, Lots of shells to choose from, and (usually) SOME company.
.
Side note: not about your sister specifically, creativedragonbaby. Just talking in general