Sami and Griff's First Pet a Fighter
I bought Sami and Griff a Betta Fish [wikipedia.org] tonight. They’ve never had a pet before, so this is their first. They’re also known as Siamese Fighting Fish. You’re not supposed to put two males in the same tank because they’ll kill each other.
I bought a neat little fish bowl that came with a light that shines in it. Sami is really excited to have it in her room as a second night light. When I suggested that she could use it as a night light, despite the fact that she already has one, she shrugged her shoulders and proclaimed, “I can’t really see with my other night light anyway, so I need the fish night light, huh daddy.”
I worked with Sami and Griffin for about 20 minutes to make sure they knew they couldn’t touch the fish, nor should they even touch the shelf that it sits on. I have no doubt, however, that Griffin will pull the tank onto the floor at some point and the fish will die a horrible death. I’m half tempted to buy another male Betta fish and let them duke it out if it is going to die anyway. It’s going to be either Griffin or another Betta fish, might as well save Griff getting in trouble and get a little entertainment. (Or perhaps that’s illegal or I’ll get the animal rights people calling the police on me? I’d better not find out.) Apparently in Thailand fish fights abound, but not within city limits where it is not allowed. Such a fight was described as follows:
When fighting is agreed upon, the fish are scooped our of their bottles and carefully put into a large tall jar. Coming face to face, the opponents are transformed into wonderfully beautiful creatures, their colour deepening their gills quivering and widening, their fins and tails spreading out and assuming a warm glow. Every part of the body becomes vibrant. They lose no time in getting at each other, biting fiercely and cruelly. With mouths locked for minutes or sometimes even hours, they fit up and down the water in the bottle manoeuvring for positions. Parts of gills, fins, tailsmortal combat, the enthusiasts would bet basing their calculations on the amount and severity of the injury inflicted and received by both sides.
It’s hard to believe I bought such a fierce fighter for my kids’ first pet. I guess if I were to buy them a dog it would be a pitbull. (Obviously I’m joking, just in case somebody questions it.) There are some posts on this page that suggest that these fish aren’t the fighters others say they are [aquahobby.com], so don’t worry…I’m not going to buy two males and put them in the tank with each other.
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14 comments »
I hate when People like you buy a betta and mistreat it. I’m so sick of hearing about people who buy bettas and put them in a little bowl, and think it’s okay. You people make me sick.
Comment by Angry 13 year old. — September 23, 2006 @ 1:10 pm
Yeah, I regret getting them the fish, too. Keep in mind that it’s just a fish. Kids learn a lot from having to flush them down the toilet and move on with life, which is what happened just a week or two ago with our FISH.
Yep, it’s gone now, having fulfilled its life in a tiny fish bowl for less than 6 months. Most people EAT fish, but we just tortured ours by looking at it for months on end and then flushed it down the toilet when it died.
We’re so cruel.
Comment by Tyler — September 23, 2006 @ 3:49 pm
As long as the bowl is big enough, it’s fine. The fish is happier than it was in those tiny, pet store cups. Bettas don’t need a whole lot of room, though I feel better for them when they do.
Too bad about the fish though, that’s always sad.
Comment by Anonymous Woman — February 4, 2007 @ 8:08 pm
Too bad about the fish. The bowl is definitely better than letting the poor thing rot in a cup somewhere. As long as it is happy, nothing else really matters.
Comment by Woman — February 4, 2007 @ 8:15 pm
Hi, sorry abt the fish…
I would really hope that you will ensure good care for a pet if you are ever gonna get another one, for yourself or for kids. Whether it is “just a fish,” just a rodent, or a dog, they all deserve the best care. With proper care a betta can live 2 years or longer, and that isnt even a long time to care for.
I was very sad to hear that one of my friends had 2 betta fish, and they were kept in tiny bowls for months on end, uncleaned! They died because her little brother thought it would be amusing to just flush them… poor bettas =( I just wanted to share that because it’s been bothering me. Thanks.
Comment by That Gurl — April 14, 2007 @ 11:38 pm
hey if your going to buy a betta give it a live it deserves! you shouldnt but that kid a betta if they are going to be killing it! no animal should die a horible death but in the bowl they lived and were happy in! you should think of how other fish feel! how would you like it if someone did that to you! bought you so someone could get a experiance of killing you! think about it!
Comment by a 13 year old pet lover — April 25, 2007 @ 6:48 pm
Hi, It’s so sad that your fish died. Did it have a name? Was it male or female? How much does a betta cost? Sorry for all the questions, I’m just a bit curious.
Comment by Bethany, 12 years old — June 6, 2007 @ 12:22 pm
I have 3 betta fish now, Garnet, Opal and Topaz. Topaz has lived for 1 1/2 years with me and is dying of old age, I am so sad for him. Opal is old too but I got her when she was already a year old. Garnet is the youngest, he is healthy and lives in the biggest tank which is 10 gallons.
Comment by Michelle — June 12, 2007 @ 2:09 pm
The picture you have up is actually a CROWN fighter fish, you can tell by the way the fins seperate at the ends. The SIAMESE fighter fish are less extravagant and cheaper, their fins don’t seperate at the ends, therefore don’t fan out the way a CROWN’s do. =)
Comment by Anna — July 12, 2007 @ 11:33 am
that is one heck of a crowntail
where’d you buy him??
that betta could rival some of the one’s i’ve seen on bettatalk
and faith is like the best betta breeder!!
too bad he died =((
Comment by Hyunyung — August 25, 2007 @ 6:10 pm
Will a beta also kill a “tank cleaner” fish?
Comment by nancy shafer — December 6, 2007 @ 10:33 am
What is WRONG with you? If you’re so incompetant and either pet care or parenting uh…return the fish to the pet shop. Yeah, that was a difficult solution. Hope your kids never end up in danger, you’re liable to just shove one into the street and get it over with.
Comment by Me — December 23, 2007 @ 3:36 pm
LOL! I’ve apparently offended quite a few adolescent fish lovers. I think I’d like to keep this tension alive, so allow me to give you some more info about our pet fish.
I just asked my kids if they remembered their pet fish. Their response was, “What fish?” Upon further pressing my little Samantha said “Oh, the one that died?” I asked her if she felt sad about it. She said, “They’re just fish.” What a smart little girl. That’s right! They’re not human beings…they’re fish! We enjoyed the fish for the time that it lived, but now it’s dead. She’s learned to cope and move on.
Keep the funny stuff coming. It’s very entertaining.
Comment by Tyler — December 23, 2007 @ 4:37 pm
We used to buy feeder goldfish and squeeze them between our fingers. They would pop like caps.
Comment by D. Sirmize — January 15, 2008 @ 9:27 am
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