Why is it legal for pet stores / WalMart to sell TINY 5 gallon and below fish tanks?
SeaSquirt asked:
I am so tired of people putting their bettas and goldfish in little tiny plastic containers where they can barely turn around, let alone swim freely. YES, a 10 gallon tank is $30, and more expensive than a 2.5 mini cube.
I am so tired of people putting their bettas and goldfish in little tiny plastic containers where they can barely turn around, let alone swim freely. YES, a 10 gallon tank is $30, and more expensive than a 2.5 mini cube.
However, by putting the money towards a good tank, it means you’re a serious pet owner who will be responsible in other ways (feeding, cleaning).
Why is it legal to sell these tiny containers? It’s animal cruelty.
why should it be illegal? A beta fish will grow to the size of the bowl, maybe some people want them to stay small… You cant put a male beta with another male and most the time thats all people have so why should I have a 30 gallon tank for one small beta??? *RME*
Aesthetics, and some people do make nano tanks. A 5 gallon is pretty big for a betta and any other small fish. 1-2 gallon is to small and should be a cherry shrimp tank, but I have a 10 gallon shrimp tank in my bathroom ^_^.
Rystic: you should join Peta thats all they say. But wouldn’t you think with the expansion of humans, where else can animals actually live? If all animals were free and not captive, more roadkill.
Val: You 50/50 right and wrong. Bettas can live in the shallowest places, but does that make it right? Bettas live in the rivers, it might be a shallow hole, but they have the whole river to move around in.
A human can live in a closet, does it make it right?
Mistress: You have coldwater fish with tropical fish, they might have alot of room, and if you regulary do water changes, than kudos to you :). Only concern would be lack of water changes, and shorten life of the goldfish due to higher temperature range. Be wary on the angelfish they might eat your small fish around the neon tetra size.
well 10 gallons isnt that big either….. if your so worried about it you would realize that it is cruel to keep an animal in any cage, no matter the size.
Beta’s natural habitat is in small, shallow coves - they feel more safe and secure in a small area. It is not animal cruelty.
People are stupid sometimes & don’t think about their pets health.
Obviously small tanks are for very small fish. I mean isnt that common sense. I have a 55 gallon tank with a bunch of goldfish, guppies, tetra, angel fish, algea eaters, & pelco. All my fish are still healthy & have plenty of room to swim.
I currently have a 1 gallon tank on my desk with filter that contains a male beta. I have given him a small plant that he sleeps under otherwise he swims around all the time and the tank seems to be enough for him. I agree that the small cup size tanks are just way too small. I can’t imagine have a 5 gallon tank for one small fish.
it is legal because they are not considered to be permanent homes for the fish, they are on display for sale, what people put them in is not their concern, their only concern is selling the fish
i think it should be fine to keep a betta in a small tank if it filtered and the water is changed regularly.It’s probably illegal because most people are ignorant of the needs of the animal in question.
Small tanks have their place.
Keeping small fish.
I have a 5 gal tank that I use for breeding, fry rearing, quarantine of new fish etc. It has some guppies and a couple of baby plecs in it at the moment, they are fine. I’ve bred golden barbs and white cloud minnows in that tank in the past. So it’s definately a practical size to keep small fish in.
I have no problem people keeping a betta in a small properly set up tank. Dwarf puffer fish, shrimps and many other small fish are suitable for a 5gal tank.
The problem is when people are sold a 5gal or smaller tank and several goldfish, or other large fish. Thats just a bad combination.
Ian
i think that every time i walk by their tanks and also a 10g tank at walmart is $9.82
Hi Sea Squirt, Because profit will always trump common sense & decency. If each person who bought a baby fish were forced to spend around $200/£100 for the correct home & equipment the pet fish industry would fold in a week so far better to promote the idea of a fish being a disposable ‘Object d’Art’ than a feeling, intelligent creature & they will continue to be bought [& slaughtered] on a whim by well meaning but totally incompetent people.
Just to say to Booger-you are assuming the people answering on here only care about fish when I would bet they are all as concerned about ALL cruelty to both humans & animals so yes, I will add to your collection of thumbs downs-maybe you can make double figures!! I respect all life, I just post on here because I know a little about Goldfish care so feel more able to comment objectively.