Actually, the reasons people use for keeping Bettas in tanks versus Bowls is not based on facts but on opinions. But this is a long standing argument that I don't care to continue as I've been debating it for over 40 years. It's enough already. If the internet is your source of information, then you must believe that EVERYTHING you read on the internet is the truth. Here's the truth ( and it's verifiable) , it's not all true.
Anybody with internet access can put anything they want on the internet without it being true. Sad, I know, but true. For example, if you look all over the internet sites about Bettas, you'll see people saying they MUST have water volumes of 2 gal, 3 gal, 5 gal, & even 10 gal minimums. This is all hogwash (I'm old, I can use that term LOL
) as there is no rule or scientific data on Betta keeping that says these amounts are a MUST. There is, however, centuries of actual Betta keeping that disputes all these claims of water volume minimums and necessary use of a square or rectangular shaped water holding container (a.k.a. Tank). So who do you believe, somebody with internet access and a keyboard or somebody who is actually doing what you are saying is not good for the fish and having continual success for multiple years with multiple fish? Experience is a better leader to follow. (in most people's opinions)
Lastly, here's something else to consider: You say a tank is easier to maintain than a bowl. If you have gravel in your tank, food , detritus other junk can hide within the gravel bed thus polluting the water. If you keep the gravel clean and you are using a cycled aquarium, you are messing with the bacteria bed, which is not a good thing. If you keep a bowl with no gravel or even with gravel and you are changing the water every other day, you are not effecting the bacteria bed as there is no bed to effect. You are supplying the fish with fresh clean water before any of his waste material has begun to break down. (If you don't believe me, put a Betta in a bowl, use the same size bowl that you would a tank, and do an ammonia test on day 2. ) I'd be willing to confidently say that my Betta bowl water is cleaner than your tank water. As for easier, my Betta water changes take just a couple of minutes. I have a jug of water set up right next to the bowls so the water is the same temp as the bowls. Fish in a cup, bowl under the faucet, faucet water drained, new water poured in, fish goes back in. That whole process takes me less than a minute to do. My fish have never been sick or parasitized using this method. Still think a tank is easier to maintain or the best thing for the fish?
As I said, I'm not looking to argue. I'm trying to enlighten those wanting to keep fish. There are many ways of keeping fish healthy and happy. In the case of Bettas, I know it can be done in bowls just as well as tanks. This is fact based not opinion based. Can every fish be kept in a bowl? ABSOLUTELY not, but Bettas can. Is it easier in a bowl over a tank? Maybe. I do know it's more work in a bowl. And that's just it, I only ask that people explain what is necessary to do when keeping the fish in a bowl vs a tank instead of saying "IT MUST GO IN A TANK."
So I hope I have educated you a bit on the subject. The art of fish keeping is centuries old. If you do some research on this art, you'll find a lot of what of what you read on the internet, especially on forums such as this one, is not all correct. It's just somebody's opinion. Learn about the fish so you don't need other people's opinions.
