Items you can't live without

[smb7676]

Hi All
I know people are always on here complaining about the way fish are treated in stores and tvshows. IE Elmo in Elmos world Seaseme Street where they keep a goldfish in a fish bowl, or The cat in the hat with the same problem. Even though I feel that they should show the correct way it never really got under my skin. However when I flipped through my Parents mag April 2005 and found Items Parents can't live with out and got to #5 I was sooooooo upset here is what #5 said

Fish make great low-maintenance first pets. I like Betta fish , which are particularly easy to care for. They are colorful and can live for two or three years in a bowl without filtration. When my kids were babies they'd sit mesmerized in front of our fish tank.
Anthony Grosso, Co owner, Exotic Pet Warehouse

What the heck 1st of all the guy I'm sure is not training is employees to give good info on fish.

2nd what kind of fish tank does the guy have ?A filthy smelly one with dead fish. Prob, not so the guy must have a slight clue about fish care?
The man is a fool!!!! I wonder if he tells his customers you can put a Lab or a greyhound in a crate with no playtime and they will live long HAPPY lives.
Write to Parents Mag and maybe we can get them to print an article on proper care. AND DON"T BUY ANYTHING FROM EXOTIC PET WAREHOUSE

 

[MAM]

Well, seeing as how the comment came from someone who owns an exotic pet warehouse, my guess is he was talking about additional actual fish tanks and not the betta bowl.......................... And why you assume then he does not take care of his fish and that his tank must be just awful, I have no idea. He says nothing about putting other fish in bowls, he specifically mentions a betta. And as for the size of that bowl, you can't just assume the worst here.

But writing a letter to parents magazine on proper beginner fish care isn't a bad idea. Since fish are indeed an ideal first pet, they are relatively easy to care for once you know how, and they are very educational pets. Children can learn not only about fish species and care, but they can also learn more about the science of water and what not. An angry letter won't help, but an education letter might not be a bad idea.

 

[FrAnK3333]

Being that he is the owner of a fish store, its a 1 gallon bowl. All the lfs owners I know, are very knowledgble when it comes to fish. But if you werent why and how would you run a fish store?

 

[smb7676]

Well, seeing as how the comment came from someone who owns an exotic pet warehouse, my guess is he was talking about additional actual fish tanks and not the betta bowl.......................... And why you assume then he does not take care of his fish and that his tank must be just awful, I have no idea. He says nothing about putting other fish in bowls, he specifically mentions a betta. And as for the size of that bowl, you can't just assume the worst here.

Let me explain MAM

That was my point that the guy is saying he has a tank so he must know enough about fish that he understands they need filtration!! Unless... the guy has a tank full of dead fish. I assume he has a big tank becuse most people don't call a 1 gal a tank. The "The guy is a fool" was a statment not part of the prev sentence. I'm sorry you miss understood

 

[MegTheFish]

Whats wrong with keeping a betta in a bowl? Bowls come in many different shapes and sizes, and maybe he is talking about a 2 gallon bowl and not a 1/2 gallon bowl. I think 1 gallon bowls are fine. If you keep the ammonia down with water changes, and give the betta a healthy diet, and make sure the water is not too cold, then I would think the betta would be ok.
You could even buy a nice 2-3 gallon bowl, and put a sponge filter or an airstone in, and then it would be practicly the same as a 2-3 gallon tank.

 

[MAM]

Actually smb, i think you may be misunderstanding the comment. I read it as saying this guys likes fish as a pet for kids, fish in general. Then he goes on to say that he specifically likes bettas because, in comparison to other fish, they are very low maintenence, and can indeed live in a tank without filtration (they breath differently than other fish). I have to assume he knows well enough to therefore keep the tanks clean. As for the fish tank that mesmerized the children, I would have to assume he is talking about a regular larger actual fish tank, not unheard of for a fish shop owner to own multiple fish tanks.

 

[smb7676]

I know all of you have knowledge about fish but......
I just think that this is going to tell people that the little cups you see every where are ok for fish! Not all people know about fish or take time to read anything about them before they jump in. I just think that this sends the wrong message but I will change my DON"T BUY ANYTHING FROM THE STORE TO be careful with the info they give. But other than that I think the stament sends the wrong message to those that are new to the hobby, esp with out any other info.

 

[bkk_group]

well, a betta can live 2 to three years in a bowl with no filtration, providing water changes are maintained, perhaps that should have been added by the person writing the article.

 

[BettasRFriends]

smb7676, please dont be offended by our comments. First, Anthony Grosso, Co owner, Exotic Pet Warehouse said "in a bowl" not in a cup so how would that send a wrong message? Bettas can live in a bowl like Bkk said and provided with the daily water changes. And yes, there are some petstores that gives the wrong message to people such as "Bettas are decorations" or some other crap like that but there are some that truly love fish. For example, my small lfs that is run by Thailand people love all the fish especially the bettas. There is never a dead or sick betta on their counters and their containers are CLEAN with clear water. There are bubble nest too

 

[clutterydrawer]

I don't think it's that bad. Plenty of people here keep bettas in bowls without filtration and they do fine. It's better than him saying "goldfish are great low maintenance fish, you can have three in a bowl" which is a common misconception. *shrug*

 

[smb7676]

My point was not does this guy know how to take care of a fish betta or other. It was If I read this and didn't know about fish, or care to do any research like many people fail to do.(Look at all the people in the newbie section saying they don't know why there fish are dieing but hey I didn't knowanything about cycling " I guess I'll try that " )I would go buy a betta in a tiny bowl and call it good.Or maybe buy a bigger "tank" an add a couple betta fish into it. I think that with no other info it sent the wrong message. The guy should of said he couldn't live with out his fish tank and that with some knowledge there are fish out there that are easy to maintain.

 

[clutterydrawer]

i just dont think he said anything that bad, certainly not bad enough to warrant boycotting his store. i doubt he expects people to rush straight out and buy a fish without seeking further advice, he never recommended they do that, if they do then it's their own fault.