You go to the local fair, win a carnival game and are given a claustrophobic plastic bag with an extremely stressed goldfish, whose lifespan is a day. 

What you do after you win that fish says a lot about the animal industry and the distribution of proper care for these little lives. One goldfish needs a minimum of 20 gallons plus a proper filtration system that takes months to cycle, creating a healthy underwater world.

Many people do not do their research when getting a fish and will impulsively buy one as a boredom buster. They do not understand how they have to do weeks of research and time setting up a proper tank to ensure the best lives for them. They do not understand how pets aren’t just a gift to be unwrapped by their young children.​

Owning a pet easily impacts your life, both positively and negatively, and the purpose for getting them in the first place. Sometimes a family will go to a pet store and be hypnotized by the idea of having a pet to call their own. There is a possibility that the store’s workers are not informed about the proper care for the animal, sharing outdated information that will make the future owner not give the pet the best care it deserves.

This is also relevant to betta fish, who reside in uncomfortable, dirty cups at the store, and normalizes the unacceptable habitat for these smart swimmers. Betta fish are one of the most popular fish species for beginners because of the belief that they are easy to care for. The conditions that pet store breeding facilities put them through are typically traumatic and there are many risks. 

According to AZ Animals, “Much of this has to do with the beautiful colors the fish come in.” 

Bettas “are being bred in huge numbers, and in many cases, the fish do not survive to be sold in pet stores.”

People can be easily influenced when it comes to purchasing a fish. This is not a way to shame those who have had a fishbowl without the proper necessities as long as they grow and understand that it is wrong. Previously starting off with a 10-gallon tank for my longfin betta, Ghost, was an exciting start.

The tank could have, however, been better, and with more research, I was able to come up with the most comfortable environment for my fish. After the death of Ghost, who lived for around two years, I wanted to improve even more. With the help of my mom, I purchased a 20-gallon long tank along with natural rocks and wood, Fluval substrate stratum and gravel, a filter and a heater, all of the items I knew were necessary to upgrade.

It took a month of time and patience and it was finally complete and cycled with beautiful plants laid out across the floor of the tank. At the same time, it was time for a reset in my 10-gallon tank, a new start after getting over the loss of my betta. I put the filter in my 20-gallon tank so it would keep its beneficial bacteria, as I completely redid it.

​I emptied everything and, in return, put a good layer of substrate, which encourages plant growth and a cozy home. I boiled rocks from my yard to make sure they were safe to add to the tank and made an aesthetically pleasing cave. Once the entire tank was complete, after a month, I went to purchase a new betta fish.

​My light-colored koi longfin named Sidon, whose colors changed drastically to a royal blue and red as he became more comfortable and went on a healthy diet. In the 20-gallon, I transferred my Corydora Catfish, my Bristlenose Pleco and Mystery Snails. Watching them swim freely and have more places to hide makes my heart happy.

​Fish are delicate creatures who should be treated with proper care that doesn’t make owners feel guilty. That is why understanding the implications of the life-changing hobby you are getting into is crucial for those interested in beginning their fishkeeping journey. 

My changes and adaptations to my fish show how proper research and an actual interest in being an aquatic caregiver have a positive outcome and are possible. All fish and every pet in general deserve a humane home and a loving owner.