When you hear about a betta vase, it is referring to a glass vase with a plant that floats on the top, a betta fish inside, and marbles lying on the bottom.
Because this setup is so unique, it has become quite popular.
Owners usually purchase these vases because they look stylish or trendy and are often eye-catching.
Although these vases look stunning in your home or office, they are inhumane and unhealthy environments for your suffering betta.
A lot of sellers in your local pet shop will tell you that your betta is very happy in these vases; however, that is not the case.
No Swimming Room If you haven't noticed, one of the biggest problems with these vases are they don't give the Betta fish enough room to swim around.
A betta tank or aquarium should be four or five times the fish's body length at a minimum.
The vase confines the range of their actions and can result in undue stress and fin damage.
Lack of Oxygen Another reason these vases aren't good for Betta fish is the lack of oxygen they provide.
Yes, bettas can obtain oxygen through atmospheric air using their labyrinth gland.
However, for this gland to work, they need access to the air.
In this "unnatural" vase environment, the marbles or the plant on top will block the betta's contact to the surface, which leaves him panting for oxygen when the source in the water has been diminished.
An even greater problem is all the toxins that are released when the plants eventually die.
Those toxins can have a fatal effect on your fish.
Clean Environment Like humans, bettas are breathing, living organisms that can only survive with clean water and food.
There are a lot of people that have been told that a betta in a vase doesn't need either.
That is a lie.
If you think about a betta in his natural environment, he is a carnivore.
He would feast on live insects and insect larvae.
This fish is built to consume meat.
When keeping a betta as a pet, remember he needs to be fed on a regular basis.
You don't want your fish to become so desperate and starved that he starts eating the lily roots because he has no other option.
The "Betta in a vase" isn't healthy or natural.
It fails to give the fish a healthy living environment, which could result in disease.
If you must have the vase, treat it like a fish tank.
Siphon off all the water in your vase so it won't get polluted and refill with new water that includes water conditioners.
And ensure the temperature remains consistent within 76 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
If this process isn't executed correctly, it could result in your betta dying.
The vase should not be compared to a betta's natural waters.
Your fish's environment must be cleaned once a week, at least.
Now that you know that it is uhealthy for a betta to live in a vase, let's talk about how bettas breathe, see and float and why they are so different from other fish.
This will further explain to you why bettas are so different than your regular ol' goldfish and why they need a suitable environment.
How do bettas breathe? Fish obtain oxygen from the surrounding water using their gills and mouth, and bettas are no different.
This process occurs so bettas can breathe without waste products and carbon dioxide.
Almost all of the life-sustaining air is obtained this way.
If this process were to be eliminated, the fish would die in minutes.
However, the great thing about the Betta fish is it can adjust well to environments with low levels of oxygen because of their origins.
Bettas Can Float Bettas are different from land animals because the water that surrounds them is what gives them buoyancy to remain afloat.
If you watch them closely, you will notice how elegantly they glide in the water.
This is because of their beautiful large fins, and their tough tail fin which provides most of the force.
Betta Vision Bettas have similar vision to humans when it comes to their light orientation.
They adjust to any light that hits their eyes and immediately react.
If you ever want to see this in action, simply shine a flashlight into your aquarium or tank.
Your betta will start to swim sideways.
Bettas have two eyes, one on each side of their head.
This causes them to see a unique image on either side.
This type of vision is called monocular vision.
Although this seems like a valuable trait to have, it causes the fish to lack depth perception.
They can't focus their two eyes on the same object so they can only focus on objects that are 12 inches away or closer.
Sleeping Betta The funny thing about Betta fish is they can't actually sleep because they don't have eyelids.
When they nap or rest, they do it with their eyes open.
You may notice your betta is just floating or lying at the bottom of the water.
That's how your fish rests.
How Betta Fish Hear and Taste Food Sound travels quicker in water which allows bettas to hear quite well.
They only hear through one ear chamber, but that doesn't affect their hearing.
The same applies to their taste; they use this sense very different than humans.
Their taste buds are located on their lips, mouth and even fins.
The way they recognize taste is through their nostrils.
Betta Breathing If you ever wondered how a Betta fish could absorb oxygen, it is because of the labyrinth organ.
It is an important organ inside of the betta's head that encompasses thousands of blood vessels that hold respired oxygen and redirects it back into the fish's body.
Bettas are magnificent species with so many unique facets that make them one of the most loved fish in the world.
Understanding betta fish care and how they work and live will guarantee you a happy and long time with your finned friend.
Because this setup is so unique, it has become quite popular.
Owners usually purchase these vases because they look stylish or trendy and are often eye-catching.
Although these vases look stunning in your home or office, they are inhumane and unhealthy environments for your suffering betta.
A lot of sellers in your local pet shop will tell you that your betta is very happy in these vases; however, that is not the case.
No Swimming Room If you haven't noticed, one of the biggest problems with these vases are they don't give the Betta fish enough room to swim around.
A betta tank or aquarium should be four or five times the fish's body length at a minimum.
The vase confines the range of their actions and can result in undue stress and fin damage.
Lack of Oxygen Another reason these vases aren't good for Betta fish is the lack of oxygen they provide.
Yes, bettas can obtain oxygen through atmospheric air using their labyrinth gland.
However, for this gland to work, they need access to the air.
In this "unnatural" vase environment, the marbles or the plant on top will block the betta's contact to the surface, which leaves him panting for oxygen when the source in the water has been diminished.
An even greater problem is all the toxins that are released when the plants eventually die.
Those toxins can have a fatal effect on your fish.
Clean Environment Like humans, bettas are breathing, living organisms that can only survive with clean water and food.
There are a lot of people that have been told that a betta in a vase doesn't need either.
That is a lie.
If you think about a betta in his natural environment, he is a carnivore.
He would feast on live insects and insect larvae.
This fish is built to consume meat.
When keeping a betta as a pet, remember he needs to be fed on a regular basis.
You don't want your fish to become so desperate and starved that he starts eating the lily roots because he has no other option.
The "Betta in a vase" isn't healthy or natural.
It fails to give the fish a healthy living environment, which could result in disease.
If you must have the vase, treat it like a fish tank.
Siphon off all the water in your vase so it won't get polluted and refill with new water that includes water conditioners.
And ensure the temperature remains consistent within 76 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
If this process isn't executed correctly, it could result in your betta dying.
The vase should not be compared to a betta's natural waters.
Your fish's environment must be cleaned once a week, at least.
Now that you know that it is uhealthy for a betta to live in a vase, let's talk about how bettas breathe, see and float and why they are so different from other fish.
This will further explain to you why bettas are so different than your regular ol' goldfish and why they need a suitable environment.
How do bettas breathe? Fish obtain oxygen from the surrounding water using their gills and mouth, and bettas are no different.
This process occurs so bettas can breathe without waste products and carbon dioxide.
Almost all of the life-sustaining air is obtained this way.
If this process were to be eliminated, the fish would die in minutes.
However, the great thing about the Betta fish is it can adjust well to environments with low levels of oxygen because of their origins.
Bettas Can Float Bettas are different from land animals because the water that surrounds them is what gives them buoyancy to remain afloat.
If you watch them closely, you will notice how elegantly they glide in the water.
This is because of their beautiful large fins, and their tough tail fin which provides most of the force.
Betta Vision Bettas have similar vision to humans when it comes to their light orientation.
They adjust to any light that hits their eyes and immediately react.
If you ever want to see this in action, simply shine a flashlight into your aquarium or tank.
Your betta will start to swim sideways.
Bettas have two eyes, one on each side of their head.
This causes them to see a unique image on either side.
This type of vision is called monocular vision.
Although this seems like a valuable trait to have, it causes the fish to lack depth perception.
They can't focus their two eyes on the same object so they can only focus on objects that are 12 inches away or closer.
Sleeping Betta The funny thing about Betta fish is they can't actually sleep because they don't have eyelids.
When they nap or rest, they do it with their eyes open.
You may notice your betta is just floating or lying at the bottom of the water.
That's how your fish rests.
How Betta Fish Hear and Taste Food Sound travels quicker in water which allows bettas to hear quite well.
They only hear through one ear chamber, but that doesn't affect their hearing.
The same applies to their taste; they use this sense very different than humans.
Their taste buds are located on their lips, mouth and even fins.
The way they recognize taste is through their nostrils.
Betta Breathing If you ever wondered how a Betta fish could absorb oxygen, it is because of the labyrinth organ.
It is an important organ inside of the betta's head that encompasses thousands of blood vessels that hold respired oxygen and redirects it back into the fish's body.
Bettas are magnificent species with so many unique facets that make them one of the most loved fish in the world.
Understanding betta fish care and how they work and live will guarantee you a happy and long time with your finned friend.