PeTA and the Bettas

The 2013 PeTA messages about the transport and recommended housing for Betta fish make up one of their less discussed campaigns.

It may be because the very tight housing of betta fish is already so normalized that these conditions are not shocking to people, or PeTA has just burned too many bridges to be taken seriously, or fish don't evoke the same emotional responses as furry mammals.

Regardless of how you feel about PeTA, their basic message that these fish like a bit of room to move, and can be housed socially with suitable fish, is one that should be more widely appreciated.

Betta Sales

I am not a great fan of how Betta fish (also known as Siamese fighting fish) are sold. Because of their natural habitat in still water they are very robust fish, but I have never understood why they are not stored in partioned tank rather than those sad little cups.

That said this Betta elive system that I recently saw does seem to be a step in the right direction.

The Elive "Betta Center" retains the easy availability for the betta cup but creates a rack that makes all of the fish visible and could be potentially developed into a centralized water quality system although now all it includes is individual lighting and a possibly too aggressive air supply.

I still think those cups should be larger and water quality should be more closely controlled. And store should not be selling permanent homes for bettas that are less than 2 gallons in size.

Freebie Tank

Someone left this little tank out in the lobby.  It had a plastic plant and an almost full container of fish food.  I guess it didn't go so well for them

Hmmmm.  The possibilities....

Update: well, the power supply to the filter failed after a coupe of months. The down side of an integrated system is that there is absolutely no way to replace the filter only. A single power supply served the filter and the light and is hard wire and encased in plastic.  Whatever make or model this is, I cannot say that I recommend it.

So the whole unit was discarded and I replaced is with an Eheim 4 gallon in glass.  More about that coming up.

Pomecea Canaliculata

Cana snails grow quite large, so I would suggest a tank with a minimum capacity of 5 gallons.  They are a dangerously invasive species that may not be kept in some states, you need to refer to your states invasive species list.  for the same reason they may not be bought or traded across state lines.

Cana will eat almost every kind of plant, and so cannot be kept in a planted tank.  The only exception I have found so far are moss balls. It has been reported that they will not eat pond weed (Elodea canadensis)

Mating

Canas are sometimes called "true apple snails".  Many species are referred to fairly interchangeably as apple snails of mystery snails, but if you want a snail that will actually grow to the size of an apple--choose a cana.

Female laying eggs

Snails are male and female, and females lay eggs in large masses above the water line. The eggs hatch after 2-4 weeks and the snails drop into the water.

Snails hatching

Fish News

• Pet catfish devastate ecosystems when set free: "The fish, in the family Loricariidae, are marketed as “plecos” or “algae eaters” and are popular in the multibillion-dollar pet industry. Several species of loricariids, also known as sailfin catfishes, have become established outside their native ranges after aquarium owners let them loose in warm fresh and brackish waters"
• Catfish are observed hunting and eating pigeons
• Fighting fish 'take a breather':"Dr Portugal explained that for the fighting fish this "seemingly gentleman-like behaviour" is purely tactical."
• Protect the Oceans: Don't Flush That Fish!