Neon.Tetra
Fish Fanatic
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2007
- Messages
- 187
- Reaction score
- 1
Ok, So, I really want a betta. I have done for a while. If I'd go out shopping I'd usually end up finding my way to the pet shop and having a nose around. My friend recently got a large tank from her mum from her work (which she got for about £20 and this included a filter, heater, lid, gravel, the whole set up etc. Which I thought was rather good) and asked me to come with her to help her choose some fish to put in there. She already had a goldfish given to her as a present and decided to stick with goldfish and so bought 4 more. We visited quite a good local pet shop and I was thrilled to find bettas in thier aquariums. I've never seen them in any of our local pet shops before and they had a few for sale, and yes, I did get quite excited.
Anyways, Life story aside...
I sort of lost faith in getting a Betta mainly because I couldn't find them in supply anywhere, and I know my parents aren't to keen on adding another animal to the family (We're doing quite well seeing as I was told to never expect an animal to set foot inside our household with a dog, a history of 3 cats, a rabbit, a hampster and 2 fish) So I wasn't expecting my dad to want to pay for a betta to be mailed to me, let alone get one at all.
My obsession died down, but now, It's in full flare again! (Like a betta...Get it?). I know full well my folks probably won't let me get this fish so being a devious little fellow I set up a little plan. I'd kept goldish before, In quite a large plastic tank which sits in my garage right now. Those goldfish were immense and lived quite a few years.
Another friend owned a goldfish aswell a few weeks ago. She didn't really want it and often I'd come round to find it in a half full tank (Must have been about a 2 Gal tank when full) of green water. She had offered me the fish to keep simply because she wasn't interested in it and I was more than happy to look after it for her. I told my folks about this fish (not mentioning it was a goldfish) and they un-surprisingly said no. I later found out she had then given the goldfish to her neighbours to put in their pond ¬_¬. I haven't told them this and they still think she has the fish. Now heres where my little plan kicks in
I told my mum that my friends tank cracked and the fish in it was then moved out and placed in a small container. I also kinda said that she didn't want the fish and was prepared to flush the live fish down the toilet because she didn't have anywhere to put it, or a proper tank. I asked my parents if I could take the fish because she offered me it just a few
minutes before-hand via a phone call. At first on the phone it was a solid NO! but then my mum listened, especially when I told her about the flushing. Once my mum or dad gave me the 'Yes, Ok' I planned to go to the fish shop where I saw the bettas and buy one pretending it was the fish she had offered me. I would have bought the food, the heater, the gravel, the filter, the plants, the fish blah blah, blah blah. With my own money aswell, (might I add!).
It's like a sodding mission. I've researched bettas, and I feel I know more than enough to care for them, and reading many posts and threads in this section of the forum has really helped that. It's rediculous and I should really tell the truth but I guess people will do anything for a Betta!
Any Ideas on how I can pursuade them to appreciate the beauty of a betta at home? (Or any further additions to my plan!?)
I've recently recieved my GCSE results a few weeks ago and I'm set to go to college next tuesday, thought that might work well in my favour, And I've been hoovering, Aren't I good?
Wow Essay.
Anyways, Life story aside...
I sort of lost faith in getting a Betta mainly because I couldn't find them in supply anywhere, and I know my parents aren't to keen on adding another animal to the family (We're doing quite well seeing as I was told to never expect an animal to set foot inside our household with a dog, a history of 3 cats, a rabbit, a hampster and 2 fish) So I wasn't expecting my dad to want to pay for a betta to be mailed to me, let alone get one at all.
My obsession died down, but now, It's in full flare again! (Like a betta...Get it?). I know full well my folks probably won't let me get this fish so being a devious little fellow I set up a little plan. I'd kept goldish before, In quite a large plastic tank which sits in my garage right now. Those goldfish were immense and lived quite a few years.
Another friend owned a goldfish aswell a few weeks ago. She didn't really want it and often I'd come round to find it in a half full tank (Must have been about a 2 Gal tank when full) of green water. She had offered me the fish to keep simply because she wasn't interested in it and I was more than happy to look after it for her. I told my folks about this fish (not mentioning it was a goldfish) and they un-surprisingly said no. I later found out she had then given the goldfish to her neighbours to put in their pond ¬_¬. I haven't told them this and they still think she has the fish. Now heres where my little plan kicks in
I told my mum that my friends tank cracked and the fish in it was then moved out and placed in a small container. I also kinda said that she didn't want the fish and was prepared to flush the live fish down the toilet because she didn't have anywhere to put it, or a proper tank. I asked my parents if I could take the fish because she offered me it just a few
minutes before-hand via a phone call. At first on the phone it was a solid NO! but then my mum listened, especially when I told her about the flushing. Once my mum or dad gave me the 'Yes, Ok' I planned to go to the fish shop where I saw the bettas and buy one pretending it was the fish she had offered me. I would have bought the food, the heater, the gravel, the filter, the plants, the fish blah blah, blah blah. With my own money aswell, (might I add!).
It's like a sodding mission. I've researched bettas, and I feel I know more than enough to care for them, and reading many posts and threads in this section of the forum has really helped that. It's rediculous and I should really tell the truth but I guess people will do anything for a Betta!
Any Ideas on how I can pursuade them to appreciate the beauty of a betta at home? (Or any further additions to my plan!?)
I've recently recieved my GCSE results a few weeks ago and I'm set to go to college next tuesday, thought that might work well in my favour, And I've been hoovering, Aren't I good?
Wow Essay.
). They really are interesting pets, even for people that think fish are mundane and boring. Convincing them that you are willing to provide adequate care and explaining how much of a passion it is to you would certainly get you on the right track. A week of betta talk will make them cave in just so they wont have to hear about it anymore 
. I would be more inclined to let my kid have a fish if I understood that they weren't just doing it on a whim and it was something they were truly passionate about. 
