Why do stores keep Betta fish in small containers?

Bettas are kept in those small containers because that is how they are shipped. They do not require a lot of room for the amount of time they will be in the store. I have kept them in small containers at home with a lot of success. I do prefer to keep them in a container around one gallon in size because they do not require as much cleaning. The small containers tend to accumulate waste very fast and have to be cleaned about once a week with the bowl being washed, well rinsed and the water replaced with declorinated water. You cannot put two male bettas in the same container, no matter what the size, because they will fight until on is dead.

When I use a container of at least one gallon, I only have to clean it about once a month. You are able to put an artifical aquarium plant in it as well as a decorative piece. They can be very attractive and the betta does enjoy having more room to swim around.

OH.. as for food. If you use the pelleted betta food rather than the flaked food, you will not have to clean the container as often.

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Bettas do not require filtration because the are air breathers. There is an organ on the top of their heads that take in oxygen with they go to the top of the tank. Heat is good in the winter time because they are tropical fish. I kept bettas ( I had over 100 at one time) and never had a problem with them not having filtration. Most of mine live 3+ yrs. And they did fine as long as I did not let the house temperature get below 65 degrees.