Store selling Aquababies - CRUEL!

Blinky

Blinky

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Jun 22, 2004
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I can't believe my eyes! I was on the bus on my way to work today, and passed a children's toy/clothing store in my neighborhood with a sign outisde advertising:

Now for sale
AQUABABIES!!
6 kinds to choose from!!

I thought these things weren't allowed any more! (For anyone not familiar, they're small boxes that hold about 2 cups of water, with some gravel, a piece of live plant stuck in the gravel, and one to three fish: usually tetras or white clouds, so small they're almost fry. The box has a lid, and comes with a tiny bag of crushed flakes and a toothpick that you dip in the water, then the flakes, to use to feed the fish). If you'd like to see the company's outrageous claims, go to www.aquababies.com - They say it's a perfect ecosystem... yikes!

I haven't seen these in ages, and I'm so upset that there still seems to be a demand for them. I know I can't storm into the store and demand that they stop selling them and expect them to say "okay, no problem!" but I just think it's awful that people don't seem to see that fish can't possibly live like this!

I just read on PETA's website that in Germany it's illegal to keep fish in small containers like this, I wish Canada would follow suit.
 
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You do have a point there. I'm not saying I'm in favour of everything PETA has to say - I do think they sometimes take things to the extreme - but these little tanks are cruel, pure and simple.
 
Man, those aquababies things make me so angry. It's very hard to understand how people buy those things and think the fish are happy.

It's true if the PETA had their way we wouldnt have aquariums, But I think as long as you try to make the life of your fish as happy as possible, then owning an aquarium isnt a crime. It's when people misstreat their fish where it becomes something wrong.

~ MyShrimpDied
 
Originally posted by musky48in
I'm not sure about the aqua babies, but if PETA had there way, none of us would have a fish tank.
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If you had any idea what happens to the fish before the reach the store you would probably have second thoughts. I have seen what fish have to go through and it's not unlike a nazi concentration camp. I'll have to make a thread detailing my experiences so you guys can have a better understanding of what exactly goes on. Stay tuned!
 
I've never heard of AquaBabies until this post but from what I've seen it looks no worse than the little cup most pet stores sale male Bettas in.

In fact I have a similar sized tank with a Betta in my son's room. Is the problem with AquaBabies the lack of filtration for non air breathing fish? ( Betta's breathe air)
 
...from what I've seen it looks no worse than the little cup most pet stores sale male Bettas in.
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Exactly. are you saying you think those cups are adequate living conditions?
 
stagnation

Doesnt the water get stagnant? i can hardly keep still water good for more than a few days, much less permanently. I went to the site, and they called a female betta a male, better get theyr story straight. i dont think ive ever seen one of those either though.
On the peta issue, Im a hunter so me and peta arent exactly buddies but i do agree with some of their stuff, like experimenting make up on dogs.
 
Originally posted by Bigguppy
I have never heard of aquababies, where did you see them? I'd like to rescue a palatte or 2 of them.
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This was downtown Toronto, I've also seen them for sale in malls and at fairs, but I haven't seen them around for a long time. As for rescuing them, if people buy them, I don't think that would help; if we buy them, there will just be a demand for more.

hermxl1, while bettas can survive in those conditions (cups etc.), it's not a good permanent home for them, but I'm not getting into that, there's lots of info out there and everyone's choice is their own. The Aquababies are sold as complete eco-systems; it's two cups of water with two fish (tetras, barbs, minnows etc.), a snail, and a little plant which is supposed to absorb all the ammonia etc. in this crowded little world. Basically, the population of these tiny boxes needs a tank of five to ten gallons, minimum, to make them happy.

I mostly just wanted to vent in a place where people would understand my frustration. I'm not saying anyone's bad for buying them out of ignorance, I'm just frustrated with the people who make and sell them for hurting so many fish in the name of profit.
 
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