Before you buy more bettas.. *please read*

[binka_nugget]

I don't mean to offend anyone but I've felt like this needed to be said for a while now. It was brought to my attention after a PM from someone concerned about people being bitten by the betta bug.

It's very easy to fall in love with these little guys but before you buy more bettas, remember that they are easily 2+ years of commitment. That means that if your betta comes down with ich, fungus, columnaris, fin rot, dropsy, etc, it is your responsibility as a responsible pet owner to treat and keep that pet comfortable. Medicines easily cost more than the fish itself, so keep that in mind! When you pay $5 for a betta, you're also commiting to paying for all the medicines and supplies it'll need to keep it happy and healthy.

I know, I'm one to talk. But remember, I paid $500+ to get a system that constantly supplies heated, filtered water.. to house my bettas that most cost me $5 or less (a great deal of them were free too!) I give up my weekends to make sure that all my other tanks are clean too. I'm sure Erica will agree with me when I say that one betta is not a problem for most people, but when you get multiples, it's a different story.

Once again, I'm sorry if I offended anyone, as that wasn't my intent. I just love these little fishies so much and hate to think that people didn't think of them as animals that require love and care, just like any other pet.

[DrKym]

OK I am going to post as Ignorant simply because (please hold off beatings) we killed the class betta. I know NOTHING about bettas so I went by the teachers xerox sheet he lasted 3 weeks. I suck as the pet mom and I feel awful and will (maybe) replace it for fall. I was in over my head and my son feels awful that I failed (considering I raise oscars and an assortment of furries. I found out too late that a goldfish bowl no matter how cute is not adequate, that they require a knowledge I don't possess. I am to blame but to a point is also the teacher whose only requirement was that a student had fish.............................. cichlids and bettas are a far cry in care.

[binka_nugget]

OK I am going to post as Ignorant simply because (please hold off beatings) we killed the class betta. I know NOTHING about bettas so I went by the teachers xerox sheet he lasted 3 weeks. I suck as the pet mom and I feel awful and will (maybe) replace it for fall. I was in over my head and my son feels awful that I failed (considering I raise oscars and an assortment of furries. I found out too late that a goldfish bowl no matter how cute is not adequate, that they require a knowledge I don't possess. I am to blame but to a point is also the teacher whose only requirement was that a student had fish.............................. cichlids and bettas are a far cry in care.

Oh, don't feel bad! I'm sure I would fail miserably as a cichlid mom! I just wanted to bring this to the attention of people who tend to buy bettas one right after another, who may not realize that they aren't simply "just another betta" but that they are living creatures that require a great deal of time and commitment.

[DrKym]

I do feel bad, and I honestly think replacing the class "pet" is a bad idea. Ok my oscar is thriving and has for 5 yrs but that is the only fish I can claim any knowledge on. My son says we need to replace it (the betta) Hubby says the kids will dissapointed my heart says I should tell the kids the truth I am grown up and I messed up. Maybe 5th graders are better suited to a Walmart pup that requires batteries? (my son excluded as he spent his summer mowing lawns to have the feral kitties he rescued spayed and neutered so he can keep them) but even so an animal is animal, and this one died.

[bckrazy]

I completely agree with you, Ashley! I'm very glad you said something.

Honestly, it hurts to see Bettas considered as an easy, throw-away kind of pet. By "throw-away", I do not mean those people don't care about their Bettas... I mean, thinking of them as cheap & not deserving of great care. It is much better to have one Betta with a large, well-decorated, well-maintaned tank than to have 5 Bettas with tiny, poorly-kept tanks! I give my tiny juvies at least 1 gallon each and at least one live plant, much less a 2.5-3" adult, who technically requires 2.5-3 gallons for the long term.

Another note, please do not feel like a heretic if you "rescue" a Betta by buying it from a store that treats them like crap. It's only supporting the abuse. Also, I do not advise EVER buying a sick Betta unless you have the $20+ to treat them (Maracyn, Melafix, Tetracycline, etc, is not cheap at all!) and you might have to buy multiple medications. Buying them and letting them die is just prolonging their pain, to be perfectly honest.

Bettas are great little fish, but they are not worthless compared to a dog or a cat. They still need tons of care, money, and time. When one dies (especially if it is caused by neglect), don't just replace it the next day. And most of all, realize that Bettas cost a lot of money, that money adds up, and your current pets should be a much higher priority than more Bettas!

[Aspen and Misty]

I'm glad this was finally brought up. I have been watching people get bit by the betta bug and have often wondered how some care for so many fish as it seems they have multiple bettas and get one after another, after another.

Good post Ashley, I whole heartidlt agree! A fish deserves a good home just like any dog or cat.

Ashley

[Sevaede]

Very well put, Ashley! I agree wholeheartedly.

I am concerned that some might be biting off more than they can chew.

[Danegirl2208]

i agree completly

[chocolatepuppy]

Having 15 bettas I just have to say...mine are housed in those little teenie one gallon tanks/bowls. They are in my kitchen (plenty of stimulation, not locked away in a back room somewhere).Their tanks/bowls are cleaned weekly, no matter what, and I add aqua safe and aquarium salt to their water each change. I have an armory of fish meds for them as well as for my goldfish and tetras. They are considered living, breathing creatures just as my dog and cats. Mine usually live at least 3+ years and my current oldest I have had 2yr 9mo.
While I don't plan on getting any more bettas, these will be kept, cared for and loved until they die. I even have provided for them in the event I should drop dead as my husband is not a fish keeper.

[cloverfdx]

I am glad to see someone finally "speaking" up about this, very well put Ashley .

[chrissycat21]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I had been thinking about posting something like what you just said for a while now, but I was worried about how I would word it. Ashley, you said it way better than I could have!

[Roxyluvsme13]

Well said both of you.

I have 7 bettas, and it seems I'm getting a new one every single week, but they're all in one gallons or more with water changes usually 2 times a week, plus aquarium salt, dechlorinator, and I usually add in some Melafix for some. If one of them ever got sick I would count out change if I had to to go buy fish medicine .

[lute]

i'm glad that someone said something. i'm at 5 bettas right now and probably won't get any more. i agree that it seems some people are looking at them as a "collection" other than living breathing animals. i personally have all my bettas in either two gallon tanks or a five gallon tank. all have filters and are cleaned weekly. the five gallon one every other week. the only fish i have problmes with are my platys and mollies. i'm still learning how to care for them. they were an impulse buy because they were either pregnant or sick. i'm fully aware that my bettas can live for many years. as i'm aware that i can have my dogs until they are in their teens.

[Flatcoatluver]

Thank you Ashely. This has been bothering me for awhile. I sometimes think people get them as attention seekers, so they can make a new thread and people will say "aww he is gorgeus, or omg you have so much." I only have two, yes I would love more, but if one got sick, there is no way I would let them just die and say oh well I will just get another, they are apart of the family.

[K9soul]

Excellent post Ashley. I remember I think it was over a year ago and it seemed like SO many were getting betta after betta. I thought I made a similar post in a thread asking about "easy pets" where betta/fish were listed as an easy and cheap pet. They should never be viewed as such in my opinion. I only have two, but they each have a cycled 3g tank with plants and get a variety of frozen foods as well as Hikari pellets. I just don't have the time and resources to get more, as tempting as it always is! I've had these two about a year and a half now.

Here is a quote of my post in that thread I mentioned:

Bettas are initially cheap but if they are kept in the conditions they should be kept in, they too can be a bit of an investment. I've spent well over $100 (probably closer to $200, the 2 tank setups alone came out to about $100) on everything mine need, and still plan to get them a couple more live plants when I can find the ones I'm looking for (I may have to order them online). If they get sick, which often poorly kept bettas do, medication costs a lot. It's pretty sickening how they are marketed as such a cheap, easy to keep pet that can live in an 8 oz container here in the U.S. In Finland there are actually laws regulating the minimum tank size that can be sold for fish, and that INCLUDES tanks for bettas.

Ok. Off my soap box (for now). It just bothers me to see anyone choosing a pet based on it being "cheap and easy."

Posted 04-13-2005, 07:07 PM, so no one should think it aimed at them .