Swimmy’s Golden Ticket
I don’t like going into pet stores because it makes me sad to see the animals confined to tanks and cages. Recently though, I’ve found myself inside a few. Betta fish especially, in their tiny tanks, pull at my heart. I had the thought, “Maybe I should save one.”
For months, the notion of bringing a fish into my family had been swirling around my mind like a persistent current, growing stronger and stronger until the direction was clear. I would save a fish. My floating thoughts meshed together into an exciting plan. I would choose a Betta that was in the smallest tank. The fish that was least showy. The fish without vivid colors. The fish without the beautifully fanned fins. The most sickly fish. I’d choose the fish that was the least likely to be bought and I’d give him the golden ticket.
I named him Swimmy before I met him. I’d give my lil, runty special dude the most beautiful home in a huge tank. I’d feed him the best blood worms and make his home a luxurious oasis. I’d build him a lawng-Island McMansion!
Swimmy livin’ large in his McMansion
I sourced pretty much everything for Swimmy’s opulent McMansion for free though. It started with a post on Instagram asking if anyone had a 10-gallon tank they’d like to give away – thank you Alexis for coming through! I scoured the beach for eye-catching stones and pebbles, which I then meticulously boiled and sanitized for fear of killing Swimmy, off the bat. At night I’d comb Facebook marketplace for a vintage rod iron fish tank stand. Nothing panned out. But a better idea manifested – Swimmys’ home would sit atop a stately DIY bookshelf that I already had.
The construction of Swimmy’s home was complete. I was finally ready to find Swimmy. I walked into the pet store. It didn’t take long. There he was, sad and stangnet in what looked like a stemless 8 oz. wine glass with bits of gross things floating all around him in the water. Swimmy looked exactly as I pictured – drab maroon coloring, sagging fins and a hopelessness in his gaze.
I brought Swimmy home and plopped him in his McMansion! He was clearly in shock by the size of his palace. He hid alongside a rock for hours. I was concerned. I put a few drops of holy water in his tank. The next day I woke up and went straight to Swimmy praying he was alive. He was!
I observed him over the next few days and he seemed off. I started watching Betta fish Youtube videos incessantly before bed. I learned so much! Betta fish, also known as Siamese fighting fish, originate from the rice paddy fields of Southeast Asia, where they have adapted to thrive in shallow waters. In their natural habitat, Betta fish encounter fluctuating water levels, which prompted them to evolve unique survival skills. One remarkable trait is their ability to breathe atmospheric air using a specialized organ called the labyrinth! This adaptation allows them to extract oxygen from the air when oxygen concentration in the water is insufficient. This is why pet stores and people feel it’s ok to put Betta fish in very small tanks. While they will survive, they will not thrive and it is an inhuman practice long-term.
The cultish online Betta fish community also taught me that these solitary fish are known for jumping remarkable distances (for a fish). They do this to navigate between isolated puddles during the dry season or escape predators. Betta fish thrive in the lush vegetation of rice paddy fields and in warm waters, which brings about their vibrant colors and lively personalities.
Meeting his brothers.
My research informed me that Swimmy’s McMansion required renovation. He was freezing! He needed a heating system STAT. He also needed more home decor… plants.
After the reno…it happened. Swimmy started Swimming! He’s living his best life in his beautiful, ecologically appropriate, new home.
The cats and I enjoy spending time with Swimmy, watching him twirl and swim around his cute plants. There’s something about the soothing presence of flowing water that brings calmness to me. Swimmy’s McMansion has not only enriched his life but has also brought me many moments of joy and serenity.
