Mediterranean Miss

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Kalimera dearlings!

I’m sorry for the title, it looks like I can’t resist an awful pun. It’s a problem, and I should get myself to a support group, but I feel as though a group of witty (or less-than) jokesters together would be more punishment than solution. Boom-boom-tshh ^~

The theme of this post, in case you hadn’t noticed, is the beautiful Betta fish, also known by the scientific ‘Betta Splendens,’ or “Siamese Fighting Fish.” I know it seems kind of random, but the context here is that I went to our local pet store to snag a new collar for Dolch and got pretty upset staring at the sad fish in their microscopic containers.

I myself own two of these beauties, one on my desk called Apollo, so named because he’s beautifully sun colored, and one in my bedroom called Casanova, as he’s exceedingly flirtatious and, well, enjoys being by my bedside ^~ They’re just stunning, take a look:

Apollo

Casanova

Now I want you to compare my boys to the small blots of color hanging listlessly in teensy pots at your local Petsmart. I apologize in advance, but this. drives. me. CRAZY! It’s all I can do to resist scooping all of those fish babies up and filling the loft with floor-to-celing aquariums to house them all, haha. Bettas are wonderful pets; mine keep me company while I’m working away at my desk and reading before bed.  They’re also quite hardy, which has led to their unfortunate abuse.

Bettas are advertised as the ideal “first fish,” needing next-to-no space to exist as they are naturally found in teensy rice paddies. Some pet stores go so far as to sell them in tiny decorative  vases and explain that this carnivorous fish will simply nibble on the plant roots to survive. Neither are true. To begin, let’s take a look at a “teeny rice paddy:”

Definitely puddle-like

Now let’s compare:

That's the same idea... right? Right?

I was flabbergasted when I started researching the species and their natural habitat because I, too, used to be one of those people who bought a little aquarium kit complete with fake plant, a bit of water, and a sad fish that only lived for a couple of months. Bettas can actually live up to five long, healthy years when taken care of properly, a fact that I was somewhat horrified to discover (fish murderess, fish murderess!)

Here’s what I learned through trial, error and research and am hoping to pass on to all of you who have these little guys in dorms, at your offices, or in your homes. Feel free to add to my list in comments with tips of your own!

1. Betta fish have personalities. They follow you around, flare up and ‘wag their tails‘ when you approach, and are time-trained to know when it’s time for dinner or a tasty treat.
2. Betta should not be kept with other bettas or fish with long-fins (ie guppies) or tail-biting traits. They do exist peacefully with certain fish species, snails, frogs, etc, although this may depend on your betta.
3. The males are the beautiful ones you see in stores; females are cute, but much less attractive with shorter fins and duller colors. Do not keep males and females together!
4. Males will blow bubble nests for you when they’re happy with their conditions. They’re essentially asking you to be their fish mamas! Yayuh
5. Betta fish should be kept in aquariums with gentle filters (their beautiful fins act like sails in rougher water and buffet them around) and temperature control to keep the water regulated at around 80 degrees. Warm bettas are happy, active bettas. You’ll notice a difference straightaway!
6. Regular partial and full water changes need to be performed on uncycled tanks to keep dangerous chemical levels low for your little guys. I do 1/4 tank changes weekly and full tank + filter changes monthly.
7. Most importantly, therefore saved for last, Bettas like a little room to swim around in! I would house them in a 2-gallon aquarium – minimum. My boys enjoy 3&5 gallon aquariums respectively.

I’ll be back tomorrow with a recipe for one of my favorite side dishes of roast cauliflower, onion and garlic (the description pretty much being the ingredients and directions,) as well as some pictures of beautiful Montreal. Thank you for bearing with me on the rant ^^ I hope I taught you something new! It pains me that some pet stores train new betta owners so incorrectly.

We know so little about the sea and her inhabitants. I once read that we are more familiar with space than we are with the majority of our earth’s oceans. Crazy, no?

When I was little, I wanted to be a Marine Biologist: read, I wanted to be a dolphin trainer at SeaWorld. Today, my attitude is changing towards the way we care for marine life, both in a smaller, personal scale, as well as a the massive entertainment-based park industry. Have you read the documentary “The Cove?” If you haven’t, I suggest that you do so. It’s hard to get through, and will make you feel like a horrible person, but I highly recommend it. It opened my eyes to a plight I had no idea existed.

Luc Besson's "The Cove"

When I was little, SeaWorld was one of my -favorite- places to go visit. Now, I’m not so sure… :\ I shudder to think of what else I am seriously oblivious to as I continue to realize how naive I still am… The Cove did for me what Food, Inc. did a couple of months ago. The bravery of the people going against these powerful indstries is commendable. I understand that sometimes things are blown out of proportion, but as an individual, I’m glad that I know what to do my best to avoid.

A more upbeat post tomorrow, promise. For now I look forward to reading your answers!
xo