</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (carnivorous23 @ Nov. 03 2002,7:52)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Alright, West, if you want to defend the practice of putting them in tiny bowls, fine. But, I'm pretty against it.
WARNING! RANT...
Here's a few more links then. Personally, I see the way bettas are kept in pet stores as extremely bad for the fish.
http://www.practical-pet-care.com/article_view.php?ver=53
http://www.bettastarz.com/bettafacts.htm
The second site states that the water should be changed between every 3rd day to once a week, and that seems to be about how often most sites say that the water must be changed in those little bowls. Remember, changing water is EXTREMELY stressful to fish. They are caught in a tiny net, put in different water, in a strange environmtent, and before they can even realize what is happening, they are caught again, and put back into the same bowl. NOT something you want to do to them to often. Please, for the sake of the fishes comfort, use live plants, a larger tank, and filtration.
In my opinion, a tank that is set up well, is one large enough, and with enough plants, that it has to be changed less than once every couple of months (I've got mine set up so they never need to be changed, but that requires few fish, and many plants, in a decent sized tank). The water quality before the change, and the change itself, can almost be seen as torture for the fish. I mean, the whole experience must be like being abducted by aliens is for a person. When it has to be done, it has to be done, but no reason to do it often. Easier to set up a good tank, for both the people involved and the fish.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
I do not defend putting them in tiny bowls and cups I think they should be put in a bowl/tank atleast 3 gal . I do not agree with the pet stores keeping them in cups .
And about the water changing I agree it dose stress the fish but filter or not it must be done . I had a fish that lived 6 years (not a betta) I had him in a 10 gal tank and did a 1 cup water change every day . This fish did great and was fat and healthy.
One other thing I will add is chlorine It will dissipate overnight but the new additive that water companies have started using will not. It depends on the water in your area .
WARNING! RANT...
Here's a few more links then. Personally, I see the way bettas are kept in pet stores as extremely bad for the fish.
http://www.practical-pet-care.com/article_view.php?ver=53
http://www.bettastarz.com/bettafacts.htm
The second site states that the water should be changed between every 3rd day to once a week, and that seems to be about how often most sites say that the water must be changed in those little bowls. Remember, changing water is EXTREMELY stressful to fish. They are caught in a tiny net, put in different water, in a strange environmtent, and before they can even realize what is happening, they are caught again, and put back into the same bowl. NOT something you want to do to them to often. Please, for the sake of the fishes comfort, use live plants, a larger tank, and filtration.
In my opinion, a tank that is set up well, is one large enough, and with enough plants, that it has to be changed less than once every couple of months (I've got mine set up so they never need to be changed, but that requires few fish, and many plants, in a decent sized tank). The water quality before the change, and the change itself, can almost be seen as torture for the fish. I mean, the whole experience must be like being abducted by aliens is for a person. When it has to be done, it has to be done, but no reason to do it often. Easier to set up a good tank, for both the people involved and the fish.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
I do not defend putting them in tiny bowls and cups I think they should be put in a bowl/tank atleast 3 gal . I do not agree with the pet stores keeping them in cups .
And about the water changing I agree it dose stress the fish but filter or not it must be done . I had a fish that lived 6 years (not a betta) I had him in a 10 gal tank and did a 1 cup water change every day . This fish did great and was fat and healthy.
One other thing I will add is chlorine It will dissipate overnight but the new additive that water companies have started using will not. It depends on the water in your area .