Comments on: Air 1 Aquarium by Amaury Poudray

By: sazure

sazure — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 19:09:56 +0000

It as well lives in the wild in rivers which are highly vegetated… (and dark and dim ie low light)

As well there is no way to maintain the proper water quality. It only takes a small amount of time for ammonia to build up. (and other poisons)

Read up on Desmond Morris (zoologist) I've been keeping fish for over 55 years, background in pre vet/zoology and oceanography, biochemistry and more (sculpture and arts materials) – do copious recuse of Betta's – been on river trips to see them in natural habitat (of course this is highly commercialized version) but that said instinct is instinct. NO fish in the wild or at home "want's" to be so "exposed"… they need in this case vegetation. It is not "totally" fine for the fish – do some serious research before you say so.

Like those who say on askyahoo – betta's live in little puddles – NO they do not. They live in huge systems – and nothing can beat nature for the diversity of systems that keep the water perfect for their needs. Having lived in Asia long ago I can assure you that the rice paddies are giant systems – full of vegetation, algaes and other plant forms – the fish make it into these systems (and do just fine) from their river locations. There are hundreds of wild species of bettas – all short finned – some schooling even.

The water chemistry in this case will need several small partials each week to keep the amnonia down (hours is all takes actually) and that is a stressor – stress kills (fish like us produces adrenal/cortisol hormones which as well pollutes further his water and himself) This fish will die a slow tortured death.

BTW breeders who have often hundreds must due to scale of economy keep them prior to selling them in small containers. They add supplents (natural water conditioners) to the set ups – do sometimes several changes a day of water. Small sterile set ups are not good for any living creature.

Imagine you in a small bathroom, no flushing of toilet except once a week if that… no window open, glaring light day in day out… no furniture and once in a while some dry crappy food shoved under the door….. not good for you – not good for the fish. (from fish forum)

By: sazure

sazure — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:59:41 +0000

PS In addition to my earlier comment – easily a mother Anubias plant (needs no substrate although a thin layer of sand would assist in important bio "bugs" for water chemistry which is not maintained in such a sterile tank… Within minutes ammonia spikes are experienced in this type of set up – how would the designer like ammonia poured into his lungs – ouch (I've done decades of rescue including 100's of fish and no the end result).

This plant is sculptural in appearance and would be suitable for this design and provide much for the fish – security (cover – they live amongst plants) water chemistry maintenance and beauty.

By: Sazure

Sazure — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:56:07 +0000

A beautiful form (I am a sculpture) but horrific for the fish – no fish lives in a "fish bubble" ie this fish comes from heavily planted vegetation and all that glare light and no hiding means instinctively – danger! (55 years of aquarium keeping, background in biochemistry and oceanography). Long ago I decided to not design such set ups for the sake of the fish. One can do beautiful design and support number one the concerns of the fish (species) first!

Shame on the designer for the greed of his ego over the needs of the species.

By: Samantha

Samantha — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 23:29:51 +0000

Cool design? It looks like a giant, floating multi vitamin capsule or suppository for constipation. I feel so sorry for the fish. How nice would it look when the fish is floating on the surface, upside down because it has died of boredom?

By: Cat

Cat — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:42:11 +0000

I would totally walk into that. Then the fish really wouldn’t be happy.