iPond
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A TINY fish tank that doubles as a music speaker has sparked outrage among animal activists and aquarists. The iPond – up to 15 times smaller than the recommended tank size for the fish it contains – is proving a hit with Christmas shoppers. One Sydney store has sold out of the $70 device and other outlets are reporting brisk sales. But the RSPCA has called on the device to be banned because it is too small to provide fish with adequate oxygen supplies and a clean environment. The iPond is sold nationally by the Pets Paradise and Pet Goods Direct chains. Users can play their iPods through a speaker built into the bottom of the brick-shaped tank.
The tank’s water capacity is about 650millilitres once rocks are placed in it. Pets Paradise is selling Siamese fighting fish with the iPond. The fighting fish are native to South-East Asia and have a “labyrinth lung” that allows them to take in oxygen from air. Typically they live in puddles and rice paddies.
A Melbourne Aquarium spokesman said Siamese fighting fish required a minimum tank size of 10 litres – dramatically more than the iPond provides. Animal Liberation Victoria’s Noah Mark said he was disgusted by the invention. Studies proved fish had memories well beyond a few seconds and were social creatures that experienced pain and boredom, he said.
“The fish in this thing does not look like it has very long to live and it can barely move,” he said. “Even if it does live it’s not [a] life worth living … it’s really just a torture box.”
Acoustics expert Jason Gedamke said there was no doubt noise from the speaker would escape into the water. “The speaker is directly coupled to the outside of the tank … [so] you are going to have a small level of sound introduced,” Mr Gedamke said.
“It’s the same as putting a fish tank on a speaker.”
RSPCA spokesman Hugh Wirth said despite the fighting fish’s ability to breathe air from the surface, the tank was far too small for it to receive adequate oxygen. The small volume of water would lead to rapid temperature change and this meant the tropical fish would not live long, he said. The iPond should be banned, Dr Wirth said.
Marketing manager for the Pets Paradise and Pet Goods Direct chains, Alyse-Grace Robertson, said the tanks had gone on sale in September and were selling briskly. The group that manages the stores had received one formal complaint about the product. Customers sometimes asked questions about the welfare of fish in iPonds.
“A few people ask, ‘is the fish OK?”‘ Ms Robertson said. The chains were satisfied that fish in iPonds did not suffer.
She said before selling the tanks the chains had consulted the Pet Industry Association of Australia. Output from the speakers was small and fish in iPonds seemed to flourish, she said. A spokesperson for Apple said the company was willing to comment on its own products, but not on accessories made by third parties.
Source: smh.com.au
OH MY GOD!! I can’t believe people are putting fish in these!! I hope they all get banned. I feel really sorry for those poor helpless fish
Awwwww…the power of the almighty dollar. This easily proves people will do anything for a buck.
It doesn’t even look real. I agree that “it’s really just a torture box.”
wow… that is sickening… I honestly cannot believe people would buy that :S. Not only would the speaker suck, but people can’t really believe that a fish would be ok in that… can they?
You know what’s really sad is that someone would even come up with that and think it would sell. Yeah, sure, it’s another iSomething, but that is seriously wrong.
How could a fish even turn around in that? Nothing can live for long, let alone ‘flourish’ in a tiny box. That’s just cruel.
That’s disgusting!
All i can say is im ashamed to call myself a human being, this is a sick world we live in!!!! Soon you’ll be able to buy the new iCage , where you buy a human in a clear box just big enough for him to sit in , its a coffee table , they will have no food or water and we’ll see how long he lives for, that sounds like a good idea doesn’t it.
well with all of this talking about animals not even being able to turn around or whatever, do some research on pig farming. These pigs get quite large (trust me on that) and they are kept in slots with only enough room for them to stand and lay down- no exaggeration. It is similar to chicken and turkey farming. Check it out. It is happening all over that place.
That is the meanest thing I have EVER seen!!! I have a Simamese Fighting Fish (red, blue, and white), but she’s in a huge tank with 3 Sunset Platties (they love each other. You can tell she was DELIGHTED to get out of that cramped cup, and it is just tourture for them to be in that, THAT THING!!!!! Thosecompanies need sueing, and whatever country permits that needs some serious STRAIGHTENING UP!!! WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING!!!
Why not just have a video of a betta swimming around? Wouldn’t that accomplish much the same without having a dead fish in a few days?
Honestly people, close your wallets and turn on your brains.
Looks cute, but is VERY CRUEL! Unless you can put seamonkeys or something no bidder than 2cm, I say no way, it shouldn’t be advertising fish that big some idio*s will actually put a fighter in there!
This is completely outrageous for a fish–but that doesn’t mean it’s a completely worthless little toy.
This item should have been marketed with something that CAN survive in such a small space–such as sea monkeys, or snails and a bit of a live plant, for example. I would get one, if it wasn’t so expensive, and put some little pond creatures that won’t mind the small space in there.
its not bad ! i would only put bettas in there cuz bettas are used to living in rain puddles and rice paddies ! they r also used to cloudy/dirty water and are known to breath air at times ! they dont need heated or filtered water like other think cuz they r not gold fish ! a gold fish would die in that ipond not a betta ! they r known to live over 5 years in their natural habbitat jumping form puddle to puddle ! so its just like their natural enviroment, just add the sounds ! and trust me its big enough for them ! like what do u expect ? fish dont need all that room they r not like a dog or a cat ! they dont b\need excersice cuz they dont play fetch !
that tank is not small ! there are alot of betta bowls that r as big !
if u googled betta bowls u will see most of them are small ! and or around the same size its because bettas are not like other fish as i stated, they r happy in their lil bowls ! since thats what they r used to !
its not cruel unless u dont feed it !