Who Gives A Fish Forums

I've noticed the Bettas at my local pet store are kept in those tiny cups, and it's not uncommon for customers to return with them deceased after a proper acclimation process. It's puzzling to me how they manage to survive in such cramped quarters, where ammonia levels are likely through the roof, yet they succumb when transferred to a more spacious environment.

It's likely a combination of factors contributing to the betta's demise. The customer's new tank setup is a mystery, and it's possible some tanks aren't properly cycled, or the water parameters aren't suitable for the betta. It's also possible the betta itself is already in a compromised state. I think bettas in those cups aren't truly thriving, they're just not dead yet. When you bring one home, some might be too far gone to be saved, no matter how well you care for them.

cyanite wrote: ↑Wed Jan 19, 2022 8:48 am I've noticed the Bettas at my local pet store are kept in those tiny cups, and it's not uncommon for customers to return with them deceased after a proper acclimation process. It's puzzling to me how they manage to survive in such cramped quarters, where ammonia levels are likely through the roof, yet they succumb when transferred to a more spacious environment.

I think it's likely that these cups get daily 100% water changes, which would prevent ammonia buildup and eliminate the need for filters or cycling. Morgan's right, these cups are basically just for display purposes - they're not meant to be long-term homes for the bettas.

The thing is, you can't just throw a bunch of male bettas in a standard holding tank at the store, they'd kill each other. And giving each one its own 10-gallon tank would be a huge waste of space and money for the store. That's why they're often kept in small cups like this - it's just how they're farmed and shipped, usually one per cup.

Bettas manage to survive in those small cups much like a person could temporarily tolerate living in a cramped space. It's not ideal, but they make do. The issue arises when they're transferred to a new tank at home - they often succumb to the same issues that affect many other fish during the transition. Bettas, like humans, possess a remarkable ability to adapt to unfavorable conditions, which explains how they cope in those tiny cups, but it's a different story when they're introduced to their new environment.

cyanite wrote: ↑Wed Jan 19, 2022 8:48 am I've noticed the Bettas at my local pet store are kept in those tiny cups, and it's not uncommon for customers to return with them deceased after a proper acclimation process. It's puzzling to me how they manage to survive in such cramped quarters, where ammonia levels are likely through the roof, yet they succumb when transferred to a more spacious environment.

I think it's just because they're labyrinth fish and can thrive in low oxygen environments. That's why they can survive in those tiny containers. However, I still don't like the idea of keeping them in such small spaces - they need room to move around too.

As for people bringing back dead bettas to the store, there are probably many reasons why that happens.

It's tough to gauge the number of betta casualties the store has before opening its doors. This isn't unique to betta, by the way - it's a common practice for other species as well. I'd recommend keeping your betta in a 10-gallon tank, or at the very least, a 5-gallon one.

The small cups – or rather, jars on the farms – are used from an early age, once the males are identified. It's not about their well-being, but the state of their fins. We, as consumers, don't want to buy Bettas with tattered fins, and swimming causes damage to their oversized, breeder-produced finnage. You've probably seen posts here where people think their fish have fin rot, simply because they're using those showy fins for the first time.

Imagine growing up with barely enough space to move – your muscle tone would be weak. When Bettas are finally released into a proper aquarium, they're not just developing their fins, but also building basic survival muscle tone. It's a tough and perilous period for them. In the long run, the sudden change can be fatal. They need to get out of those containers, but weaker individuals often struggle to make the transition.