MissMTS

Today I went over to my parents' house for dinner and I decided to go and check on my sister's fish in her room. Her 10 gallon tank, with 2 glowlight tetras, 2 neon tetras, 2 platies, 1 molly, and 6 molly fry were all sitting in about 6 gallons of water (the water had evaporated so much that it was 5 inches from the top of the tank)!!! The tank is already way overstocked, but they weren't even in a full tank of water. Her bettas was in one of those horrible 1/4 gallon glass globes with the water 2/3 of the way gone and dirt encrusting the entire inside of the globe. I filled up her 10 gallon tank, vacuumed the gravel and fed her fish (they acted like they hadn't been fed in days). Then I unscrewed her betta globe to do a 100 percent water change and the hole at the top was so small I couldn't even net the fish (the small net wouldn't fit inside). I had to scoop him out with my hand and put him in a bowl of water. The poor guy was freaking out I cleaned the inside of the globe, filled it with water, added amquel plus, and then put the little guy back in and fed him. He looked so much happier. I was so sickened by the way she let her fish live. The thing that gets me is that she is a veterinary technician. She has a huge place in her heart for animals, but for some reason, fish aren't included in that. If she would let me, I would be happy to take the fish off of her hands and treat them right. Grrrrrrrr! She makes me so angry sometimes!

COBettaCouple

She shouldn't have fish and should really know better.

Lucy

That's really sad, it's a good thing you checked on them.
It surprises me she is a veterinary technician, she should be ashamed of herself.


My daughter's friend has a betta in one of those horrid vases. Last time she went over, I asked her to check on it and offer to take it off her hands.
When she got home, she told me she has two of those vases now
At least, according to my daughter, is she apparently keeps the water pristine and it has philodendrums growing out of the vases. The house is very warm, so temperature is not an issue yet. They have a little room to swim, she said the vases are about 2g and she said their coloring looks good. I know my daughter has tried to talk to her about getting tanks, but it hasn't done any good.

I wish people would realize, when they get a pet it is their responsibility to make sure they give the very best care they can.

sirdarksol

This is really sad.
A lot of people only have that special place in their heart for the cuddly animals.
Hopefully something was learned from your intervention.

COBettaCouple

Yea, they miss out on great pets when they do that.

sirdarksol

I agree. I mean, I understand that some people think fish are gross or whatever, but they aren't going to keep them as pets, so they don't concern me.
I suppose this is partly due to the mistaken belief that fish are really easy to take care of, when they actually take more attention than your average cat requires.

MissMTS

I agree. My fish take up 10 times more of my time than my cats do. This is the thing that frustrates me:

She came over to my house one day and I had a tetra that was really sick. It had popeye and its stomach was sunken in. I had medicated the tank several times and it hadn't gotten better. At that point it was just laying on the bottom of the tank barely breathing and the other fish were nipping at it. I used euthanese to euthanize it because I thought it was kinder than letting it suffer. My sister freaked out and gave me such a hard time about killing this fish. I don't think that she understands that the way that she keeps her fish is considered animal cruelty and that the fish are being tortured. In my oppinion this is way worse. I was just putting an animal out of its missery and she is making her animals misserable.

sirdarksol

"But fish can't feel pain." I'm sure that someone somewhere in the world is thinking that right now.

Really, I can't understand why someone would get upset about an illness circumstance like that. If anyone ever accused myself or my family of doing anything wrong by euthanizing Spike, I think that my pacifism would be sorely tested.

MissMTS

Seriously! My sister euthanizes animals all the time and completely understands that in many scenerios that is the humane thing to do. Why should this be different for a fish I feel like going over to her house, bagging up her poor fish, and taking them home. I know she'd kill me though.

Martinismommy

That's a shame....One would think she could use her loving sister as an example of how to love and care for her fish.....

sirdarksol

No way. You're a Malaysian Trumpet Snail. Nothing can get through that shell of yours. Even puffers have problems with MTS shells.

This is one situation where, try as I might, I just can't comprehend what your sister was thinking. If she was an extreme version of the folks who believe that all life should be preserved at all costs, I would understand what she was thinking, even if I didn't agree with her, but a person like that wouldn't be able to maintain a job like hers, so that can't be it.

Allie

People still think that fish are ornaments not pets.

ShaynaB

I agree. I have a friend that still lives at home with her mom and they have 3 tiny vases (and I mean seriously tiny. like the betta cups at the store tiny.) with betta fish. The poor fish look so sad when I go there. The worst thing? She has cats and they drink out of the cups. I caught one on the counter and shooed it away.

I offered to take them, I offered to help them set up tanks, I told them about FishLore. They don't care and it's frustrating. I've stopped going into their kitchen otherwise I'd probably sneak them out in ziploc bags and blame their cats.

Allie

I wish people would just realize what we all know about fish. Fish are exactly like any other pet. They express feelings on all levels.

Richard

Some folks get it and some don't.. from politicians to pet-owners, there're some people for whom the true meaning of life, on any scale whether human or animal, is measured in economics or aesthetics.

I sure hope you let your sister know where she was going wrong regarding her fish.

sirdarksol

You mean it isn't? I need to sell my vast amounts of stock in cosmetics and silicone implants, then.

MissMTS

Lol!

But seriously, I don't think that she is an extremest who wants to preserve life at all costs because she actually agrees with euthanizing animals to put them out of their pain, but for some reason, she flipped out when it pertained to a fish. So wierd..........

MissMTS

Yup, and that is such a sad thing to me. I get so upset if I know that my fish are unhappy and suffering. I could not imagine being one of those people who are indifferent to it.

MissMTS

Its awful! Today I went over to my mom's house and asked her if my sister said anything about her fishtanks. This blew my mind. She honestly said that she didn't know why I bothered cleaning out the betta tank changing the water because technically bettas can live in 2 inches of water!!!!! That is not only so wrong, but so inconsiderate. Sure a person could technically live locked in a closet, but they would die early from disease and live a horrible life of torture. I couldn't believe she didn't even call me to say thank you

I know what you mean. My family looks at me and thinks that I am wierd because I care about fish so much, when I believe that everyone should! I care about them because I actually know a lot about them and know that they are capable of pain, suffering, sadness, happiness, nervousness, etc.

I definetly did let her know! The only problem is that she won't listen. Maybe sirdarksol is right on some level about me being a malaysian trumpet snail

Yeah dude.....you better get on that! How many times do we have to tell you

Angela_96

Its sad to see how many people out there view fish as household decor, and for a vet tech to not care for her fish? That stumps me! There is a vets office about 20 min up the road from my house that sells guppies,angels, and tetras, and she keeps her 75g tank clean! and not to mention she makes sure the people she sells to are quality fishkeepers. Thats where my mom takes her rabbit, she usually buys fish there.

Have you noticed if you do a search on criagslist for fish the tanks come up under "household items" and not under pets? its sad!

COBettaCouple

I hate that so much! It's very sad to see any of our fish suffer or die and I just don't get how people can be so heartless as to not care or be so close-minded as to not understand the little fish in front of them showing that fish are intelligent animals with feelings and personalities that feel pain and make great pets.

Angela_96

you know, I believe thats why ebay sells fish, along w/ walmart.. then you have peta that I turned the ebay tatoo fish artist into and guess what, they would knock down my doors to follow up if it was a cat or dog.... or chicken, hampster, rabbit... even I think a pet rat!
no email, no phone call.... nothing!

not only that but in the states here animal planets pet shows are showcasing nothing about fish aquariums at all!

I know there are a ton of fish people out there! why don't we get the time on tv too for fish shows?

oh, wait.. fish are home decor to most people...

COBettaCouple

Yea, it's pretty stupid.

Sabi

Thats so sad! What is more suprising is that she is a veterinary technician, i would think she should understand better.
Still lots of ppl do it and something i cant understand!

sirdarksol

At least eBay requires certain certification to allow people to sell fish. That's a small ray of hope.

MissMTS

Good News!!!! My sister came over yesterday and asked me if I would take her fish when she went away to school next semester!!!!! That means they only have to make it through 6 more months (crossing my fingers that they survive that long) and they will have a much better home!!! Yay!

COBettaCouple

Tell her to go to school early.

MissMTS

I know, right!!!! She is going to Israel for two weeks next month, so maybe I'll ask her if I can babysit them........and then just not give them back! hehehehe

shortcut mary

Oh my goodness...It is so sad when people treat any pet poorly. When we lost fish last month, I was devastated. I can't tell you how many people thought I was crazy. The feelings I had were no different than any other pet of ours that passed away.

Good job in taking care of the tanks!

MissMTS

Thanks. I get so sad when people don't treat fish like they would any other pet. They are living creatures with feelings too and treating them poorly shows a huge disregard for life itself if you ask me.