Fishes kept in small glass containers are used as décor in many homes, offices, and restaurants. These are placed as centerpieces for us to watch and enjoy. Many people say that watching fish reduces their anxiety and stress. But fishes undergo a lot of stress in these unfamiliar, artificial environments.
I had a pet fish called Robin when I was young. He was a red Siamese fighting fish that is also known as the Betta fish. He lived in a small glass bowl that was about the size of a soccer ball. I loved to see him swim around in the bowl. He used to release bubbles very often. Someone told me that betta fishes do that when they are happy. I naively thought that he liked the fish tank. It turns out that betta fishes make bubble nests based on their natural instinct to mate irrespective of whether they like their environment or not. It makes me sad to think that he lived his whole life in a small, confined space.
Betta fishes are often kept alone because they are very territorial and aggressive. But now, I feel that Robin would have liked to interact with other fishes, at least with potential mates. I never thought about how he might feel, to be confined in a place far away from the paddy fields and shallow marshes of Thailand which is his ancestral home. He lived for a total of four years. In the wild, betta fishes usually lead shorter lives but at least they are free to move around anywhere they want.
Have you ever thought about whether your pet fishes are happy in small glass containers? Here are some facts for you to think about.
Fishes are sentient and exhibit complex behaviour
Fishes do exhibit complex behaviour. People may think that fishes don’t have the same intellectual abilities as larger animals like mammals, birds, etc but they do. Scientists have found that fish are sentient beings and are capable of thoughts and feelings. They can perceive pain and have strong family bonds.
For instance, the clown fish that are popularly known as Nemo after the film ‘Finding Nemo’ form strong bonds with their mates. Both the male and female work together in clearing an area for the female to lay eggs. Then, they fan their eggs with their fins. They do this so that their babies get enough oxygen to hatch and survive. How adorable is their teamwork? Likewise, most fishes bring up their young with great care and love. So we have to make sure that they are physically as well as mentally happy.
Keep fish in large tanks
One reason to not keep fish in small tanks is that they have higher death rates when compared to fish in larger spaces. This is because wastes and toxins accumulate rapidly in a small space and make the water quality very poor. The pet goldfish that I had a while back died because of toxin buildup in the water. They couldn’t stand the toxins in the small tank and died after a few weeks even though I had placed a water filter inside the tank.
Moreover, the aquarium fish trade also affects their ecosystems in different ways. So making sure that the trade is sustainable is incredibly important.
Keep freshwater fishes
Freshwater fishes are mostly bred in captivity while marine fishes are usually caught in the wild. Marine fishes are caught by spraying cyanide to stun their senses. This makes it easier to collect them. This spray adversely affects corals and other creatures nearby. The corals are already depleting due to bleaching and this method of fish collection further adds to the stress faced by corals.
Fish populations also become vulnerable to extinction due to over-collection. Fishes are over-collected to supply the highly demanding aquarium fish trade industry. In addition to that, most of the fish that are caught in the wild die on their way to the pet shop due to stress, diseases, or injuries. These deaths during transit reduce the supply and create never-ending demands.
Do not release exotic fishes in water bodies
Certain fish species are popular as aquarium pets all around the world due to their adaptability to any environment. These are called exotic fishes. Exotic fishes that are not native to your region can become invasive pests if you drop them into your local waterbody. This will threaten the survival of the native fish that live there. Goldfishes which are the most popular aquarium fishes are very invasive. They were once found only in China but today they are found as pets on every continent because of the global fish trade.
In 2012, researchers in Australia found feral goldfish that were dumped in the Vasse river over 20 years ago. These goldfishes were found to be enormous and heavy because they ate any food they got and did not get eaten by predators in the river. They are harmful because they uproot aquatic plants by swimming along the bottom, outcompete the native fishes for resources, and also transmit diseases to native fishes.
So, you should never throw away exotic fish into any of your local water bodies. If you don’t want them, you can always give them to a friend.
Replicate their natural environment
If you absolutely love to have pet fish, you should keep native freshwater fishes in large tanks or ponds with plenty of space to roam around. The pond should resemble the fishes’ natural environment as much as possible with many aquatic plants and pebbles that would serve as hiding spots. You should make an effort to only buy native fish species that are suitable for your local climate and environment.
I advise you to get to know all you can about fish care, before buying them. Each fish species has different space requirements depending on its size. They will also need a variety of food to keep them healthy. Maintaining the pH, temperature, and oxygen levels in the water is crucial. Consult your local pet store about their requirements and how best to care for them.
By doing this, you can keep your pet fish happy, healthy, and stress-free. What else do you do to keep your fish happy? Tell me in the comments below.
