Hagen Marina Betta Aquarium Starter Kit, Sun Swirl

I used this product for a time for my Betta Fish, Sun Tzu. HE liked the tank, it was bigger than the cup I bought him in, and he was making beautiful bubble nests (meaning he was looking to breed, and he was secure in raising his fry in the tank.) However, I do not breed my Betta, but it was good to know he was feeling so confident in only a half gallon of water. I wall mounted it to protect him from the cats, and bought the LED light (sold separately) and that was pretty cool. First I bought a plastic plant to go with, then I moved to a live plant because I heard they improve water quality. Then I researched and realized he needed tropical water, so I bought a thermometer. I saw his water temp. was fluctuating between night and day (duh), and I was worried the temperature flux was putting to much stress on his tiny fishy body. I was also getting very tired of needing to do water changes every four days. SO... I ditched this tank and bought a 10 gallon tank complete with lighted hood, and power filter for less than what I payed for this tank (full price at the local national pet store chain). I put in a thermostat heater and some full spectrum lights (for growing aquarium plants) and bada-bing bada-boom, I have a beautiful planted tank, the center piece to my apartment, a VERY happy Betta fish with plenty of room to stretch his pretty little fins, plenty of places for him to hide if he wishes, and a tank that requires significantly LESS maintenance than this half gallon. That's just the up and down of it. I still keep this tank around for a back up, in case something needs quarantining, or if the Zombie Apocalypse happens and I need to take him and run. (I had a dream the apartment was on fire, and I used this to rescue him. Not a bad idea! ;D)

IN CONCLUSION: This tank is not cruelty. My fish was lively and making bubble nests when he lived there for three months, but in all honesty, a non-filtered tank requires WAY more maintenance, and if you slack off, you could end up seriously hurting or killing your fish. Ammonia, Nitrates, Nitrites, all things you need to be wary of, and it's so much easier to just get a proper tank, something with a thermostat heater and a filter. Betta need water between 75 and 80 degrees to live comfortably. They are tropical fish.

WALL MOUNTING: Yes, you can screw it to your wall, but then the tank part is removable from the wall mount, making for easy water changes. You do not have to unscrew and remove the whole thing from the wall to change the water. You simply lift the tank off of it's wall mount/stand, do your do, and place it back. SUPER SUPER easy! Props for that, it's the best wall mounted tank money can buy. If you're cool with the constant water changes, then go for it.

Betta need at least 2.5 gallons and either need daily or every other day water changes without a filter (really just simpler to get a filter for the tank), and a water temperature between 70 and 80 degrees (so most need a heater). This tank doesn't really allow any of these requirements. Another reviewer said it wasn't cruelty and her betta was happy I sincerely disagree. Her fish may have been happier than it was, but that's because it has only been in breeding tanks (basically the size of this tank) and the cup you get him in from the store. He's happier than he was, but that isn't saying much, and he still won't be very happy in this setup. This allows for next to no decorations, which betta like since they provide hiding places and places to explore. The only thing I'd put in one of these is a marimo moss ball. It isn't worth the money, just look into a better tank setup so your betta can really be happy.

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