Betta fish centerpieces??

[TianTian]

So I was browsing my craft store yesterday and I saw these "vases" that look more like 1 gal. goldfish bowls.

I then thought, "gee, I bet people have used Bettas for weddings". Sure enough, a Google search later that evening proved my hunch correct.

Then, I thought, "well, I don't see an inherent problem with using Bettas for a one-night wedding reception." I mean, the temperature indoors (oh yes, I'd have mine in a ballroom) can be regulated, so heating isn't too much of an issue.

My idea was to use a large, square vase, 1 silk (fake) flower, decorative pebbles at the bottom and just one Betta per vase (NO floating candles).



I figure if I did that for my wedding (in the far, FAR future), I could rescue a few Bettas of my own and then send one or two guests home with a Betta care booklet of some sort and Betta food.

Thoughts?

[dramaqueen]

Well, that WOULD be a good way to get more bettas. lol

[Noko]

It should be okay for the bettas as long as no one tries to do anything with them. You never know what people would end up doing.

Heating would be an issue though. The temperature of the water is always less than the temperature of the air. I don't think you would want to keep the temperature at 70 something degrees. It would get really hot and nasty.

[TianTian]

Unless I used one of those portable heating pads to place under the vase. Would that work?

[nochoramet]

I've thought about that myself, because it looks really pretty. The only reservation I'd have is what are you going to do with all of them afterwards? I don't want to have a bunch of bettas I can't look after, and I definitely don't want to doom them to someone who won't take care of them. Still looks pretty though...

[kelly528]

Yeah I think the MAJOR problem with bettas as centerpieces is that they are often given away to wedding guests at the end which for obvious reasons raises a lot of eyebrows as far as animal welfare goes.

But if you plan on keeping them all its a different story. I would still be cautious because

a) Lots of noise, vibrations, lights, strange smells and even fumes at a wedding table.
b) Temperature will be yo-yoing.
c) Potential for accidents ie someone knocks it over
d) Nowhere for the betta to hide
e) The new tank might scare them.

[TianTian]

Well, they'd be heavy vases at the center of the table.
Also, I'm an asthmatic so NO SMOKING at my wedding reception. :) Fumes from candles won't be an issue because I don't think I want them too close to the fish, anyway.

Also, the vases aren't permanent homes. They're bigger than fish store cups for one. :)

And I saw a suggestion elsewhere to return the fish to the store when done. Good/bad idea?

[vaygirl]

I'm going to sound mean and I really, really don't intend it that way but I don't think an animal of any kind should be used as a decoration.

It's your wedding though (congrats by the way) and having been a bride myself once I know that we all want it to be special and beautiful and bettas ARE both.

At least make sure your guests aren't going to keep the bettas in a vase. Make sure they know they need a heater. I know you said you'd give a care sheet, please put both those requirements on it. Or keep all of the bettas and tell the guests you want X amount of 2.5 or 5 gallon tanks for them as wedding gifts. :D

[TianTian]

Haha, just get a bunch of critter keepers as wedding favors. :D


Oh, I'm not getting married anytime soon! I was at a craft store the other day and I just got to thinking about it randomly. Thanks for the kind thought, though!

It's either that or I go with fake swimming fish.


Which, if done right, would probably look just as elegant. :)

[kuklachica]

You could just get, let's say, 10 bettas and only put them in the vases at the head table and cake table and then just put similar vases minus the fish at the guest tables. that way you'd have less, then you could have a raffle or "anyone with the sticker under their chair gets the bettas" at the end and give them a large kritter keeper and heater along with the betta. that would keep costs down but still convey the fish idea/theme.