Letters of a Betta Addict

This is an issue that you’ll see come up quite a bit between hobbyists. So I thought it best to perhaps put in my two cents on the issue. Both of these “entries” have been taken from threads I’ve been involved with on Fishlore. They’re dated as a reference of my views at the time, though they aren’t likely to change.

October 28, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by x While I agree that it’s not ideal, a betta most certainly can be kept in a bowl provided it’s filtered or gets daily water changes…. …assuming it’s not a cereal bowl.

Quote:

Originally Posted by y If you admit that it’s not “ideal” why even suggest it?

Quote:

Originally Posted by x Because fish keeping is a hobby for people of all levels of interest. You obviously abhor the idea indicating a much stricter perspecive of what is and is not “acceptable.” That’s good for you, but other people have other ideas of what is acceptable and until there are animal cruelty laws for fish, they can have those differing views.

True they can have those differing views and that’s what life and hobbies are all about. And you’re also right, there are no animal cruelty laws for fish. It’s a matter for each person to govern themselves. What I like best about fishlore is that it allows a chance to read other peoples views and compare them to your own to understand they’re perspective on it.

First: What is a “bowl”?
Is it an unfiltered container? Is it deep? Shallow? How large is it?
Second: What is the level of care?
Are there daily water-changes? How often is the tank cleaned? How often is it topped up? How often is the fish fed?
Third: What about the fish?
Is they’re health status monitored? What’s the standard for health?
Fourth: What are your standards?
Do you look at behavioral needs? Size requirements?

So to be fair what’s my perspective?
First: A bowl is a small container of less then 1 L of water that is unfiltered and kept below the ideal temperature requirements of the fish. The shape of the bowl is a factor with a preference to having a large surface area (wide container) increases gas exchange vs a small surface area (narrow container) which has much less gas exchange.
Second: If the water is changes daily then the ammonia toxicity effects are largely decreased. If the “bowl” is cleaned frequently then ammonia produced by excess food and feces is taken care of as well. Is the water allowed to evaporate excessively between water changes or is the water level maintained. This is involved with water changes as well but since only the water and not the ammonia evaporates then decreasing water levels increases the concentration of ammonia. Increased feeding allows for increased ammonia production through uneaten food and waste production.
Third: Does the health of the fish deteriorate as time moves on? Do they maintain attitude and activity? Are the fins in good health with full length and spread or are they deteriorating and poor? If anyone of these isn’t met (fins are deteriorating, negative behavioural changes, etc.) than in my opinion something isn’t working and steps should be taken to correct them starting with determining if envriomental factors are the issue before pulling out the medications.
Fourth: My standards? Since I have a farm background my standards are based on what I know. I look at the 5 freedoms that every farm animal is given:
1. Freedom from Hunger and Thirst - by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour.
2. Freedom from Discomfort - by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area.
3. Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease - by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.
4. Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour - by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal’s own kind.
5. Freedom from Fear and Distress - by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.
If these are the promise I keep to animals that I have no emotional attachment to. If cows can be promised these, then shouldn’t a pet at least have this? Fish pose a special challenge because they’re so different, and betta’s in particular because of the behavioral traits we’ve bred into them over the course of domestication.
Those are my standards.

Now I’m curious, what are everyone elses’?

The next entry was written in response to a “Letter” written by a newer member to the forum who kept they’re betta’s in “bowls” but with an absolute devotion and love that couldn’t be denied.

November 1, 2009

Dear _______,

In the matter of Betta care and housing there will always be debate. It is inherent in the hobby. Many ignorant fish keepers take betta’s home and but them in little “Betta Condo’s” thinking oh this is cute. They then treat the betta is an ornament, adding water occasionally, feeding it when they remember, and cleaning the container when they fell inclined (which is usually rarely). Hence the debate’s entire basis.

It isn’t a debate about a cup vs a tank. Betta Breeders world-wide raise they’re show winning betta’s in jars that are frequently around .5-1 L of water. How and why can they do this? They can do it because typically they live in a part of the world (or pay the cash in heat) to keep the ambient temperature of the room at near the 30*C mark, which allows they’re fish to live in water around 28*C which is the ideal temperature range. They spend hours daily cleaning 100’s of jars so that they’re fish have clean homes and healthy water. They feed them multiplue times a day have and eagle eye out for any disease outbreak that might be brewing to treat before they lose fish. In this environment there is little room to complain about the treatment of these fish. However contrast this is the scenario above where none of the care was given. That is the scenario that people know of. As soon as one says, “bowl”, that is what comes to mind.

This whole bowl vs tank debate is really one about ignorance. You are not the first member to come here showing lovingly cared for Betta’s that are in good health and housed in “un-traditional” tanks. However those keepers like you are very rare. Typically members join because they’re betta in a bowl is ill, and they have the spark of a good keeper in that they come looking for help, rather then just “replacing” the fish. The reason’s their fish is ill is typically because they are ignorant of the fishes needs. They either don’t or rarely clean the tank, they live in a place in the world where the ambient room temperature isn’t sufficient to keep they’re betta’s water warm, etc. Hence the compounding stresses cause their Betta’s to become ill.

As this is the typical scenario that is faced by other members here we tend to advocate tanks over bowls. Simply because they’re easier to maintain. You can solve nearly all the heating and water quality issues simply by having a tank of at least 2.5 gallons that’s heated, filtered, and cycled. It’s far easier to convince a new keeper with problems to take that route then it is to tell them that they need to do daily water changes, and turn their heat up by 5-10* (which would cost a small fortune). However this also means that when a caring member joins, who doesn’t keep they’re betta’s in a tank, it’s a habit that’s hard to break.

Fish keeping is a hobby that is about finding new ways to overcome the challenges of the hobby. There is no right way, and no wrong way to do that. For Betta’s these are the physical challenges that need to be faced.

1) They’re water is kept at the proper temperature. This means that water sitting out at room temperature will tend to be 2* colder then the ambient air temperature. For me this means that my 56 gal goldfish tank (which has some sunlight exposure during the day) sits around 20-21*C. Much too cold for a betta. Therefore my boys and girls require heaters. Since heaters aren’t designed for anything less then 2 gallons of water, my betta tanks range from 2.5 to 10 gals. I prefer the 5 gallons because for me they’re the most convenient to maintain.
2) They are not being exposed to the cycle toxins (NH3, NO2, NO3). There are 3 means I know of to accomplish this.

1. A cycled filter.
2. A tank so heavily planted that the plants use up all of the above and keep them at safe levels.
3. Fresh water, either through a system of regular and frequent water changes or a drip system.

3) The Betta’s Health. Since a major cause of disease in fish is stress this means that they have a proper temperature to allow they’re natural immunity to function at peak performance. They have a healthy enviroment that isn’t putting un-necessary demands on they’re immunity. Any infections that occur even though the above needs are met are treated as quickly and efficiently as possible (and throwing all the meds you own at them hoping one will work doesn’t meet then requirement).

4) Space, here is where the bowl vs tank requirement can be argued. However it’s the same argument that goes on with people who keep dogs in cities vs rural or acreages. If the fish is healthy, active, flaring, and giving the best betta attitude they have then in the end it’s a moot point. And a point of keeper preference.

So ______, you will have keepers argue with you but I personally feel that Fishlore should be a place with diverse opinions. In the end, if the fish are happy and healthy, then we’re all happy. The trick for you will be to point out to new members you live in a place in the world (australia right?) that allows you the chance to keep your fish this way. In Canada for example even the Vancouver folks can’t pull off betta’s in a bowl with out supplemental heat.

I hope you chose to stay around,

Sincerely Red

I hope that you now understand my stance on the whole betta bowl vs betta tank issue. That’s about all I have to say for now.