An end to fairground goldfish?

A lot of people began their fishkeeping hobby with a goldfish, many of them won at a fair. While many don’t see a problem with this, they also don’t know the reality of fairground goldfish. These fish are given to anyone with no directions for care. Most don't even come with a tank. Many of these fish are simply thrown in the garbage, left to suffocate after being tossed to the ground, or poisoned with chlorine when they are flushed down a toilet. The “lucky” ones are put in a goldfish bowl and languish for a few weeks before succumbing to ammonia poisoning. Maybe one of a thousand will be helped when its owner seeks out help for the poor creature that has come down with an illness as a result of the terrible living conditions.

What is his fate? (shawnogram @ flickr)

If you hate this as much as I do, there is some hope. Rome has banned goldfish as fairground prizes, and a young girl in England has started a petition to stop goldfish and other live animals from being given away as prizes. Shouldn’t we be teaching our children to cherish life and not that is as disposable as a toy won at a fair? Stop Fairground Goldfish

Works Referenced

Clarke, Matt. 26 October 2005. "Rome bans bowls and fairground goldfish." practicalfishkeeping.co.uk. Retrieved 9 July 2012. 

Stoodly, Tim. 13 May 2011. “How can we stop goldfish frombeing given away as prizes?” practicalfishkeeping.co.uk. Retrieved 9 July 2012. 

Betta Fish Awareness Day 2012

Today is Betta Fish Awareness Day 2012! Time to get out and spread the word about proper betta care!

Click to enlarge (American Betta Fish Association)

This lovely brochure created by the betta enthusiasts and breeders at the American Betta Fish Association also comes in a black and white form that can be printed out. Post this brochure around town at local pet stores and vet clinics to spread the word about proper betta care. Always remember to be kind and courteous when you do. As my grandfather likes to say, you get more with sugar than you do with salt.

Another way you can participate is to sign and let others know about this petition to convince Petsmart to stop selling tanks that hold less than a gallon of water. Stores in the UK don't sell these tiny tanks. Let's help US chain stores jump on the bandwagon. Just to be clear, the petitioners have no problem with breeders keeping fish in these small tanks because breeders understand the needs of these fish. But when a large store like Petsmart markets these small tanks to new betta keepers and doesn't properly explain how to clean and safely heat tanks like this, it leads to unnecessary mistreatment of the fish.

Let's face it. There is a problem with the way most store sell bettas (and goldfish). While regulations against small tanks might do a bit, a betta in a dirty, unheated 2.5 gallon bowl isn't better off than a betta in a clean, heated 1 gallon bowl. The only way to save these beautiful fish from that horrible fate is to educate the public and pet store workers. And that is what today is all about. 

(copperarabian @ Deviantart)