[VivianKJean]

*Sigh*

i was over at a friend's apartment yesterday and she was talking about how she is trying to redecorate and make the apartment more "home-y"

She has a spare wall in her kitchen area and she was saying how "gorgeous" it would be to get a table and put a betta in a small tank on it.

So naturally being the betta addict I am I started asking all these questions like what size tank do you want, what heater she was think of getting, if she was going to cycle her tank, if she was going to plant it with live plants, etc

Somewhere in the middle of this she stopped me and was like "woah wait a second, i just want the fish as decoration"

I wanted to scream at her but I just calming explained what the fish would need to be healthy. She was like "oh that sounds like a lot of work. I didn't even know about cycling or that they needed a heater."

I even offered to get the tank started at my apartment for her and once it was cycled and ready to go, I would move it to her apartment and help her get a healthy fish, etc.

Her response was "oh no thats too much work. I just wanted something pretty to put there"

 

[Zuzu]

At least she didn't ignore you or blow you off! You've educated one more person!

 

[VivianKJean]

Yes, I am glad that she didn't ignore what I said.

its just always aggravating when people think of bettas as "decorations"

 

[averyecho]

I hate that. I really do. At least you were able to talk her out of it, most people just ignore it and stick their betta in a tiny bowl anyway. It's even worse when the person wants a goldfish.

 

[VivianKJean]

It IS worse when people want a goldfish! Goldfish release SO much ammonia. They need even larger tanks than bettas.

 

[InStitches]

My cousin is in a sorority that give betta fish as gifts to new sisters (their new "Littles"). They are gifted via flower vase. I ended up giving her my hospital tank to keep hers in but I think he died anyhow.

 

[Kim]

Well, that person would not be my friend anymore.....I have strict policies when it comes to the treatment of live animals

 

[VivianKJean]

I think I talked her out of it once I told her how much work an unfiltered 2.5 gallon tank would be (what she wanted to get).

She also has a cat who she is in love with and i said you wouldn't keep your cat in a bathroom for her whole life so why would you keep a fish in a small bowl?

Bottom line, I don't think she is getting a fish anytime soon. And if she did, that fish would QUICKLY be relocated to my apartment if she wasn't taking care of it.

 

[kjg1029]

wow nothing that's alive should ever be decorative!!>:[...okay maybe plants but no animals!:,( atlesst she listened tho!c: goodjob!

 

[VivianKJean]

I agree. Only plants should be decorative because they are designed to be pleasing to look at (you still need to take care of them though).

 

[kjg1029]

yeah!! Pluss when you take care of them there beautiful! Haha

 

[Sathori]

I get that a lot actually - a lot of customers in my area still believe bettas live in vases and eat plant roots.

I had one customer who "found pretty little bowls at the dollar store" and wanted to put them all in different rooms, in these little bowls, as decoration. My co worker and I tried SO HARD to convince her that it was NOT safe for the bettas. They would not be happy or healthy, and she would have to change the water in the bowls EVERY DAY. She bought bettas anyways. I wanted to kick her in the knees and drag her out of the store - but I'm not able to do so obviously...

I once told a customer that the little electronic fish toys that swim in water would be more suited to her needs. She was not impressed with me xD

 

[VivianKJean]

OMG! i would for sure tell someone that an electric toy fish was better for her needs.

There really needs to be some sort of change is how people think bettas are supposed to be housed.

I'm glad you work at a pet store so that costumers get correct information.

The last time I went to petco, the "aquarium specialist" tried to sell a mother with twins a DIVIDED .5 GALLON tank by saying that each of her kids could pick their own fish.

 

[Bailmint]

Oh my Gosh that reminds me of a story! It's really aggravating to me still.

A few weeks ago I went over to my friend's house and I was talking to her mother at the kitchen island. Her mother owns mini horses in her back yard, so we started getting into hobbies. She said "I can't do anything with them (the horses)-can't ride them. They're just art to me."

I said "That's why I prefer the bigger horses...well, I keep Betta fish..."

Then she said: "Yeah, because they're art to you. You can't do anything with them, you can't take them for a walk or pet them, they're-they're art."

I said: "Well-I don't really agree. My fish can tell me apart from others and they love me."

-She stares in fascination-

"Yes but they're art. They're beautiful but you can't do anything with them."


It's a little aggravating-I love her and all, every rose has it's thorns. But I thought this would be a good thread to share xD...

 

[VivianKJean]

It drives me crazy when people say that Bettas are just good to look at!

All of my fish recognize me over my friends. Actually they dislike my friends. The only one of my friends they like is my best friend but she has this special touch with animals and all animals LOVE her.

All my fish KNOW when it is feeding time and know EXACTLY where the food will be.

Betta fish are SO smart and people don't give them enough credit.

 

[Bailmint]

I totally agree! My fishies know when feeding time is too xD, one of them jumps out of the water and bites my finger. *cough* Kano *cough*

They're definitely smart, people are just to caught up with themselves to realize they're living creatures.

Also the thing that got me is that she referred to horses as 'art'.

 

[VivianKJean]

horses as art is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heart.

Living creatures are not art, they are living creatures.

 

[Bailmint]

I agree. She disagrees with everything I believe in-but there's no way to change her mind I guess.

Art doesn't die or suffer, or swim for that matter.

 

[VivianKJean]

yeah, some people are just too stubborn to listen to others. Its sad that she thinks of her horses as art, rather than living creatures.

 

[TripleChrome]

I totally agree! My fishies know when feeding time is too xD, one of them jumps out of the water and bites my finger. *cough* Kano *cough*

They're definitely smart, people are just to caught up with themselves to realize they're living creatures.

Also the thing that got me is that she referred to horses as 'art'.

How can someone refer to horses as art? Even bettas? I own three horses and I will never call them art. And I will never call my three bettas art. My sister, who is a year younger than me of course, calls her male betta 'art' and says that is why he is in a ten gallon tank with few plants and hideaways so he can show off his 'prettiness'. The first time she said that, I slapped her so hard across her face (didn't hurt her though), and every time she says that anymore, I want to slap her even harder.

People who think animals are art, I just wanna slap like I did my sister.