I kinda got interested when I 'saved' 2 goldfish at a church thing when I was 14. We didn't have internet yet and dad claimed he knew about taking care of them cause he'd had a tank of guppy's (like 50 years ago, lol), so all we did (lil sis got one too, but she didn't want to take care of hers as much) was 'age' the water by letting it sit out overnight/allday and I had 2 'bowls' (one was a crystal ice bucket, the other was a large acorn shaped anchor hocking glass jar). I changed the water 2 a day completely and washed their bowls out with hot water everday. No aeration, no filtration. They lived about 3 months.
But, at the carnival, older sis and I were there to help, every time the fish buckets water was low they told us to fill a large bucket with cold tap water and pour in with them, so I'm surprised they lived as long as they did.
It took a while before I was interested in fish again.
Some years ago lil sis brough over her new red betta boy. THIS is when I decided I needed fish, lol. That's also when I decided I'd get female betta fish instead of males (at least mostly), cause they are so overlooked. Unfortunately, the 'research' I did was nearly all wrong, but luckily for the surviving fish, I found this place not too long after. (and later found out about cycling, whoops!)
Thus my love affair and betta addiction began...
(Fishkeeping is not a hobby, it is a life-style choice, and it is mine!
)
