WaterBaby
04-02-2007, 8:21 AM
This has taken me 2 days to write, because I wanted to do it without getting myself in a tizzy… it’s not working…
I went to my cousins wedding Saturday night. I was having a great time until someone pointed to the center of the table and remarked “how great is that”… large brandy glasses with bettas in them.:eek:
At that point, I ceased to have such a good time. There must have been at least 15 tables at that wedding, all with these betta centerpieces on them. The head table had 3. I was livid. For the rest of the night, I protected “MY” betta from my relatives (and others) who were taking theirs and putting 2 in one bowl while betting on the winners. There were others I observed putting salt, pepper, food, shots of alcohol, and other things in the bowls with their bettas.
By the end of the night, I was exhausted trying to cease this cruelty, and was being called “PETA Woman”. Also by the end of the night, about 75% of the fish were not taken by the guests. I did take the one on my table and tried to convince others to take theirs. I even asked the valet parkers and waiters. The women’s bathroom attendant even took one. I also had to tell everyone that took one home how to care for it. Of course there were no instructions on the tables on how to care for them.. It pains me to think of what happened to the rest of the bettas that weren’t taken by people. :(
When I asked my Uncle (who is the grooms father) what the He** they were thinking when they came up with this idea, he could not give me an answer. Now a little background… This is the same uncle that got me into fishkeeping many years ago. I always remember him with a tank in his bedroom growing up, and I always thought it was so cool. I have kept fish on and off since then. I was so disappointed….
The kicker was that I found out that originally there were to be goldfish in these bowls, and the night before the wedding, they were purchased, put into the bowls- WITHOUT DECHLORINATING THE WATER- and they all died. The next morning they purchased the bettas….
I am still seething….. :mad2:
Thanks for letting me vent,
Michele
I went to my cousins wedding Saturday night. I was having a great time until someone pointed to the center of the table and remarked “how great is that”… large brandy glasses with bettas in them.:eek:
At that point, I ceased to have such a good time. There must have been at least 15 tables at that wedding, all with these betta centerpieces on them. The head table had 3. I was livid. For the rest of the night, I protected “MY” betta from my relatives (and others) who were taking theirs and putting 2 in one bowl while betting on the winners. There were others I observed putting salt, pepper, food, shots of alcohol, and other things in the bowls with their bettas.
By the end of the night, I was exhausted trying to cease this cruelty, and was being called “PETA Woman”. Also by the end of the night, about 75% of the fish were not taken by the guests. I did take the one on my table and tried to convince others to take theirs. I even asked the valet parkers and waiters. The women’s bathroom attendant even took one. I also had to tell everyone that took one home how to care for it. Of course there were no instructions on the tables on how to care for them.. It pains me to think of what happened to the rest of the bettas that weren’t taken by people. :(
When I asked my Uncle (who is the grooms father) what the He** they were thinking when they came up with this idea, he could not give me an answer. Now a little background… This is the same uncle that got me into fishkeeping many years ago. I always remember him with a tank in his bedroom growing up, and I always thought it was so cool. I have kept fish on and off since then. I was so disappointed….
The kicker was that I found out that originally there were to be goldfish in these bowls, and the night before the wedding, they were purchased, put into the bowls- WITHOUT DECHLORINATING THE WATER- and they all died. The next morning they purchased the bettas….
I am still seething….. :mad2:
Thanks for letting me vent,
Michele