Goldfish & Beta Fish As Pets... Plus A Funny Fish Story
I was reading Jenn's blog the other day, and I noticed her posts about two different fish they have (or had): "Punkin Head" and "Indiana Jones".
The blue one reminded me of the fish my mom got "for Karly to enjoy"...
Beta fish. These beautiful blue fish must not be mixed with each other or with other fish in a container because they are meat eaters. Place a single fish in one bowl, and do the same as with a goldfish, only feed it protein instead of bread crumbs. Slice raw, low-fat meat (not ground beef) in small amounts to feed.
-- Source: HGTV: Caring for Small Pets
Questions I Have...
After admiring Karly's fish in the fish bowl, I found myself wondering:- Does a fish mind only having a tiny amount of water to move around in?
- How do they feel about people tapping on the glass?
- They don't live very long in a bowl do they?
- How much of a pain is cleaning that bowl anyway?
Then, I found these interesting answers to almost all of my thought-provoking fish questions:
Can a Beta fish be in a tank with bubbles?
How do you keep a fish bowl from smelling like fish?
Do fish really only have a 3-second memory?
What are some tips for choosing the right goldfish?
Meet Albert, the world's smartest goldfish
Fast-forward to the funny part...
When we were at my mom's visiting for Christmas, we all went out to eat.
During the meal, Karly frequently talked about her fish (whom she'd affectionately named "Blue Boy" -- cuz he's blue, duh!)
So, when we are in the car heading home I deside to strike up a conversation with Karly about her fish.
I asked her:
Whoops!
To which she replied, "No... It's Blue Boy, silly!"
She's 3.
Does a fish mind only having a tiny amount of water to move around in
Hi J Bullivant,
It sounds to me that your fish is likely suffering from a swim bladder problem. There are many diseases that can cause this. Sometimes it is due to constipation. It is especially common in some of the fancy breeds that have a rounder body shape, although any gold fish can be susceptible to swim bladder problems. Ask your local pet store about possible medications. I have lost a couple fish to this so it would be best to give the fish prompt medical attention. Good luck.
I have a pair of fancy tail goldfish named Smith & Wesson. My question is; Is it normal for fish (Wesson) to sleep upside down? It scares me when she does that. She does not appear to be in any distress. Sometimes when she dives she shoots right back to the top like a raft had just been deployed. Funniest thing I have ever seen. Normal at all? Thank you for any insight.
Who wrote this article, a second grader? Where did you get your misinformation? I agree with these guys. ALL FISH NEED FILTRATION!! Even bettas and goldfish. Also, don't feed slices of meat. They need fish food designed with the proper vitamins and nutrients for them to thrive. Folks, do NOT believe this article.
Goldfish (Carassius auratus) and Bettas (Betta splendens) can be kept in bowls, but they will live short lives. A mature goldfish would prefer a pond. Bettas could live happily in a 20 gallon for life. Neither need slices of meat. Different variety of pellets and sometimes vegetation.
Hey thanks to all you betta fish experts out there who've taken the time to share some helpful information! Much appreciated.
Agree with all above comments. Keeping goldfish in bowls is ANIMAL CRUELTY. Bettas are slightly more suited to life in bowls but it's still tragic to stuff such a magnificent animal into a bowl. ALL fish need at least a 10 gallon aquarium, an adequete filtration system and frequent (at least weekly) partial water changes.
No no no no no, all fish should have a filter!!! If not to keep the water clear then to keep it from going stagnant! Bowls do not allow good enough gas diffusion. The only reason people say bettas can go in them is because they are labirynth fish and can breath directly from the air. As for goldfish in bowls, they produce so much waste its like having a mini cesspool in your room- yay! No creature should be housed in such cruel confinement
Goldfish shouldn't be kept in bowls, and neither should Bettas. Goldfish can get over a foot long. If they are kept in a bowl, they will be severly stunted, if not die. This is because in an unfiltered tank, toxic ammonia would build up quickly from fish waste and uneaten food. A tank needs bacteria to break down the ammonia. Goldfish have a life expectancy of around 20 years when properly taken care of. They will be lucky to live 1 inside a bowl.
Also, Betta's shouldn't be kept together because they are territorial and will kill each other, not because thay are "meat eaters." If you are interested in keeping fish, a good site to learn proper care for them would be www.aquariacentral.com
I agree with Wurm. Bettas shouldn't be in bowls.
Goldfish CANNOT live in bowl. You know the 25 cent kind? Those can get over a foot. The fancys get about a foot also. Goldfish ESPECIALLy canot be fed chopped meat. It'll kill them. Bad for bettas too. It would be EASIER and cleaner to go out and buy pettets.
I agree. Goldfish should not be kept in bowls either. All fish need a biological filter to remove the toxins produced by fish waste.
Betta's should not be kept together because they are solitary fish and are agressive toward each other; not because they are meat eaters.
BETTA fish should not be kept in a bowl. They can survive in a bowl, but it is not even close to the optimum situation. I am sure your dog would survive in a closet, that doesn't mean that you would do that. Do not feed them sliced meat, feed specialty betta pellets.