Though I grew up with a variety of pets, mostly furry ones, I had the misfortune lack of foresight to marry someone with allergies to most types of "companion animals". And so I've blundered along for a number of years sans pets.
Until now.
Though I may eventually explore the wide world of reptiles and amphibians, I've started by buying a fish. A Betta fish. Yes, yes, I know - a fish is a far cry from a cuddly cat or dog but, a Betta fish has other qualities.
It makes a great household decor item!
Rather than buy a fish bowl, my fish's home is a rarely used "floating candle bowl"( a relic of the time before I had kids when I could actually consider using floating candles without worrying about the house burning down). You can just as easily use a large vase, a glass ice bowl or even an old spaghetti sauce jar since Betta fish actually prefer small spaces.
Our bowl is tastefully decorated with colored glass stones and a tiny castle for our fish, Atlantis. Artfully arranged in a grouping of fresh flowers and a crystal decanter, I think even Martha Stewert would be proud.
For more great Works for me Wednesday ideas visit Rocks in My Dryer
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Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Decorating with Fish
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6 comments:
I absolutely love those fish! I used to keep one on my desk at work, but I kept killing them off one at a time. Not sure why, and it was getting distressing. I sure miss Ed the fish!
I know this is an old post, and you may not get this comment, but I am *appalled* at your treatment of a living creature. Betta fish are not decorations, and should never, EVER be described that way. The whole "they like small spaces" thing is also a total myth, and a dangerous one too--tiny tanks are virtual fish death traps. 1 gallon is the absolute minimum tank size for a betta. Bettas are also tropical fish, and need heaters to stay healthy and active.
Please, PLEASE read up on the proper care of an animal before you get it. Here is a link that describes how to properly care for bettas:
http://www.ultimatebettas.com/index.php?showtopic=17970
If this is a pet, albeit not furry or cuddly, it should still be treated like a pet, not a decoration.
I am happy for you that you found an animal friend that won't kick up the allergies, but what you have for your poor fish is just inadequate.
Runan said it perfectly. Please please please, look into a better housing situation for your betta. His life will be much longer & fulfilling for everyone that way.
A far cry from a cuddly dog or cat... yes, in that he lives in water and isn't furry. Bettas are remarkably intelligent, inquisitive fish who like interacting with people.
Some let you pet them:
link to youtube video.
This is how bettas act in a properly sized, heated tank vs the tiny, unheated cups (or decorative bowls.)
If you'd done even basic research on betta fish before buying one, you'd know how inhumane that setup is.
And the fact that you say, apparently seriously, that he (sorry, it) "makes a great household decor item"... well, I certainly hope you choose not to explore the "wide world of reptiles" or any other pets.
I suppose you'd treat, say, a hamster better, but why? Why is a hamster more worthy of care than your fish? A properly cared-for betta (not yours, apparently) can and often does outlive hamsters. Their intelligence and ability to perform tricks or show attachment to their caretakers is similar. The only difference, really, is a betta lives in water-- which actually means he requires more attention to his specific needs.
Additionally, betta fish have quite perceptive vision and easily learn to recognize different people. They can hear, essentially, by sensing sound vibrations, and since sound travels four times faster through water than it does through air, a busy or shaky environment (like a kitchen table) can easily stress him out.
Stress, cold and inadequate exercise lead to early deaths in many bettas, and could have easily been prevented just by doing research.
Oh, and bettas do NOT prefer small spaces. That is a huge myth. They're kept that way in the stores to separate them, and those ridiculously small betta "homes" are not sold with the fish's well-being in mind. A betta's natural habitat is in shallow, LARGE bodies of water: rice paddies. Acres and acres of water. In the tropics. A far cry from the little uncovered bowl on your table.
Due to their price, I suppose, bettas are treated as disposable, decorative items that aren't worthy of the care they deserve as our pets. But hamsters, gerbils and other small animals do not cost much more than a betta and have a similar lifespan. Yet I assume, if you were able to get a hamster, you would care for it as a pet and not use it in some "decoration." I'm not really sure why, but it's very sad.
Goodness, All of a sudden this post is getting a lot of action! I thank all of you who wrote with information!
As an animal lover, I DO want to treat my pets humanely and despite some research did not see the information you all provided.
Incidently, his bowl is about 1 gallon (not a rice paddy but larger than the bowl in which he came) and we have come to find out how full of personality this little guy is.
Thanks for all of your comments - I will read up -
Thank you so much for responding. :) I am glad you are doing research. I am sure you want the best for your fish, and I know it can be hard to find the right information on the internet. A great site: nippyfish.net
Very accurate information from a betta pro.
Best of luck to you and your fish.
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