The novice
fish keeper often has no previous experience with caring for fish. A few facts
may have been picked up over the years, hearsay that may or may not be true,
but that is all the knowledge the novice may have upon walking into a pet store
to begin the fish-keeping hobby for the first time. More often than not, the
first choice of a fish is one that is easiest to care for and/or requires
little expense in comparison to the rest. This typically narrows down the
beginner hobbyist’s choice to one of two starting fish species: goldfish and
Betta splendens.
Unfortunately,
neither species is well represented for their true needs. Both are commonly
misunderstood and have a variety of rumors surrounding their care that are
endorse by popular culture, word-of-mouth, and inappropriate products pushed
onto the consumer. There are many choices for the novice aquarist and when the
choices become confusing or overwhelming, who is better to turn to than the
friendly pet store employee?
The answer:
the internet.
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| Photo from Flickr.com |
It may seem
surprising to some but a quick internet search with essential keywords is often
more reliable than the knowledge passed along from a pet shop worker. This is
because the average pet shop employee typically knows as much as the consumer
does. Yes, the employee has gone through training and probably has read a care
or two relating to the animals in his or her department. However, the
information provided through training by pet shops such as Petco or PetSmart is
often based on the incorrect myths of fish keeping in order to sell more
products. Petco, for example, cites on its care guide that Betta splendens can
thrive in 0.4 gallon (1.51 liters) tank. This is untrue for a variety of reasons. In short, Betta splendens require no less than 1 gallon (3.78 liters)
with regular, twice-weekly, water changes.
Why would pet stores purposely provide in correct information to their
employees and consumers? To sell more products. More often than not, the novice
fish keeper is not willing to pay the true cost of owning a Betta fish. These
fish are thought of as cheap, costing no more than $20 with supplies. Even
then, many beginners are not willing to pay such an amount of money for what
they see as no more than a colorful piece of interactive décor. And the employee,
knowing this and having been trained to take advantage of this, will push the
idea that these animals are cheap and
do not require a lot of work or dedication. This results in an easier sale.
There are more people willing to spend a few dollars on the aquarium hobby than
there are people who are willing to spend a lot of money for it. Quick, cheap,
sales end up as a larger profit than rare, expensive, sales.
It is not
uncommon, as a result, to be told that Betta splendens are more likely to
thrive in low water volumes, do not need heaters, and do not need to be fed
that often. The beginner fish keeper may not even be told about the necessity
of water conditioners or even what the differences between them are. The pet
fish industry relies on the selling and reselling of fish species. It is a sad
cycle of death and/or pain for the living creatures involved because business
is telling consumers that these animals do not need what is required for their
care and that they live shorter lives than their actual potentials.
Novice fish
keepers would be better off finding reliable sources on the internet. Although correct
information is hard to come by in a world full of fish myths, more often than
not it is easier to find life-saving information through online communities,
forums, and websites. Even better is when information from multiple,
non-related, sites begins to match up and when trust worthy sources are cited
in claims. Benefits of researching online are greater than the risk of following pet store advice blindly. While some websites are better than others for advice, there is a lot of correct information out there. Many of those websites or official sources are cited on this blog and its Facebook page.
True facts are out there. It may take some time, and some research,
but all animals deserve to be cared for in a way that will allow them to
thrive. Taking the time to fact-check pet store employees can vastly improve
the quality of life for Betta splendens at the least and save their lives at
best.
