Beta+goldfish=love
3. The Betta Fish would eat the Algae on the Plant's Roots.
4. The Betta Fish would poop into the water.
5. The Betta Fish poop would provide fertilizer for the Plant to grow and the Algae to grow.
And vase would have a Life Cycle between the Plant, Algae and the Betta. All the owner had to do was to make sure there was enough Water in the Vase. No food was required to feed the Betta - the Betta got all their required nutrients and food from the Algae on the roots of the Plant.
And the Betta Boom Exploded.
Now you can find Bettas everywhere - even Mom & Pop Grocery Stores! I've seen them sold in the little glass fishbowls. I've seen them sold in plastic cups with lits. Even in little baggies!
And no one cares about the water temperature - no one. So the buyers don't know anything about the water temperature.
Remember people keep them in vases in their sunny windows - which get cold at night!
These Bettas still live! They are extremely hardy fish and they take maximum abuse and keep on living.
Its only when people, ignorant owners, really ignorant owners get a hold of them where they can kill them off.
How? Mostly by overfeeding them. Another way is by attempting to breed them. They first condition them (and overfeed them again).
They let them spawn in a small fishbowl - then they're surprised then Daddy eats the fry.
I read a post where the poster said they wanted to kill Daddy for eating the babies. PURE IGNORANCE.