Many fish tanks that you can buy easily, including this fish tank in a stuffed animal, are nowhere near the appropriate size to keep a fish happy. Bettas need filtration, warm water, enrichment like plants and caves to explore, and regular feeding and tank cleaning. They will not be healthy or happy living in so-called вЂњself-contained ecosystems,вЂќ confined in a vase with nothing but a plant on top to feed them-their natural diet is insects and larva, not roots. Bettas donвЂ™t thrive in tiny puddles in the wild-though during the dry season when streams dry up, some wild bettas do survive by puddle-hopping-and therefore prefer a tank of at least 2.5 gallons. Still, rumors of their ease of care are exaggerated. Bettas also live in freshwater, which requires an aquarium environment that is easier to set up and maintain than saltwater.

Like other fish in the same taxonomic suborder, they have a вЂњlabyrinthвЂќ organ, which allows them to take gulps of air from the surface, so they can survive in water with lower oxygen levels than other types of fish.

Bettas do, in fact, need less space than other fish, and theyвЂ™re hardier. There are no вЂњeasyвЂќ pets, but to be fair, bettas are easier to care for than many other types of fish. Critics argue that such popularity and misconceptions about their care and biology can lead to them being some of the most commonly mistreated fish in the pet trade.ДЄ new campaign by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) aims to highlight the problems with betta sales and ownership, so National Geographic is taking a closer look. It may seem tempting to buy these little gems as captivating, swimming decorations.Д«ut living animals arenвЂ™t decorations, and some animal welfare advocates are concerned that the bettaвЂ™s reputation as an вЂњeasyвЂќ pet is exaggerated. TheyвЂ™re cheap, too-the fish are sold for as little as $2 each. With flashy colors, iridescent scales, and long fins that flow around them like underwater ball gowns, betta fish are some of the most eye-catching creatures you might see for sale at a pet store or flea market.

Exotic freshwater fish for sale