Last weekend we made a trip to Petsmart to buy goldfish.

We didn’t come home with goldfish, we came home with Bettas. I am always wary of these big box stores, where you generally find uninspired and/or young staff who might direct you where to go for what you asked for, but heaven forbid you actually want any advice. 

This time was different. The first staff member we met was young, but she immediately told us what we didn’t want to hear: 

“If you get a goldfish you will need a 12 gallon tank. For one”.

“Then you’ll need to set it up 2 days in advance before you put the fish in it”. 

Apparently this is why goldfish are getting flushed down toilets across the country. Not welcome news for two children who have grown up reading books and watching TV programmes featuring goldfish in minute bowls, and who were looking forward to taking home their own in a little plastic bag. 

Thankfully this store clerk didn’t stop there. She pointed us towards the bettas. And the little plastic aquariums - they need one each but they don’t need to be big and they don’t need heating or aeration - then loaded us up with the best food and water conditioning drops that money can buy. She was good at her job. She had us buying and she had us leaving the store with what we wanted - a fish each for Baby Sister and the T-Bot, in individual plastic tubs. 

Meet Charlie: 

and Goldie: 

A week later, they are still a source of excitement and fascination to the whole family. Charlie is a boy (hence the beautiful plumage). He likes to puff himself up. He is not a big eater. He just nibbles his food and then hides behind his plastic plant. Goldie is a girl. She likes to gulp! She isn’t as impressive but she can sure swim fast. 

Best of all, you can feed them, a little bit, one to three times a day (no fighting with the kids about overfeeding), and clean their tank out once a week. And that is it. It doesn’t seem complicated and they hopefully won’t have an ultra-short lifespan, like other pets we have had.

I don’t know why I had never heard of these little fish, but I sure am enjoying taking care of them.