Dear Business Owner….

Dear Business owner

Please don’t feel that the person who sent you this link is criticising you. There is a myth that fish are easy to care for, and that they’re somehow like insects that they can’t feel pain or suffer.
But we need to have a word. You’ve got a tank, or bowl, of fish, and someone is concerned. For you and any staff or customers that might come into contact with said bowl or tank, for your business, and yes, for the fish.
Fish are complex creatures, they feel pain, they need things to do, some need company, some really don’t. They eat each other in certain situations, often they need specific water, and overall they are animals, pets, that need a lot of care.
Let me lay out some points to you, and then some options, hopefully, some of these will sway you, and then you will find a great solution to your needs.

1. Fish can carry diseases, and some of these are transmissible to humans, you are in effect storing a container of water, pee and poop. With good maintenance this isn’t a risk, but the second you start to miss out on regular cleaning it becomes a risk. No the filter doesn’t remove this, and just because the waters clear it doesn’t mean it’s safe.
2. There are an estimated 10 million fish keepers in the UK, that means that 1 in 6 people visiting your premises knows about fish, and if you’re not taking care fo your animals it will reflect badly on you.
3. All that equipment is electricity in water, this means the water needs to be at the correct level and it needs maintaining.

From the point of view of animal care.

1. Goldfish grow large, the double tailed variaties about the size of a large grapefruit/small melon, the single pond variety about 30 cm or longer. They also live well over 25 years, if they have the proper care. The ones in shops are babies. If yours aren’t this size after a couple of years and they don’t live that long, it’s likely you’re not taking care of them correctly. I personally keep mine in a 500l tank at that smallest. That’s a 150cm x 60cm x 60 cm, and that’s for 6 of them.
2. Even if you don’t have goldfish, all fish need space, the right tank mates, and the correct water conditions. Some fish will thrive in hard water, others in soft, and all of them need it to be free of toxins.
3. There are laws about this, animal cruelty is a crime, and the fact a lot of people break this law doesn’t make it any better.

But do not despair there are great options.

Get hold of a 30l or larger tank and look to stock it with some lovely plants and a single betta fish, but only after the tank has been set up correctly, this takes 6 to 8 weeks, and someone in the business is in charge of weekly water changes and daily checks and feeding.

Go much larger, have a stunning display tank, with lots of plants and a great community of fish that suit your water. Again it will need maintenance, but fish tanks are shown to reduce stress and improve mental well being. Plus a stunning tank set-up makes you look professional and a cut above others. You can look for a specialist company, but make sure that they’re not one of these offering tiny tanks and large fish.

Rehome all the fish and get a nice orchid for the space, or if no one can find the time for watering etc, a nice piece of art.

If you’re looking at making things better for your fish join our group and find out more about fish care, or join our mailing list for more info on upcoming courses.