We Got a Pet! And He Does NOT like Me…

Meet Joey…

As a part of being a National Geographic Kids Insider, PetSmart sent us one of their cool, new National Geographic fish tanks to try out!   We received the National Geographic Aqua Oasis Betta Aquarium .  I love the cool Tutankhamun mask in the background!

Of course, you can’t have a cool National Geographic fish tank without a fish…

So, Joey joined our family a couple weeks ago as a reward to my boys for completing all their household chores with a good attitude (we reward the attitude rather than the completion of the task).  They worked hard and got em done so we headed to our local PetSmart to pick out the perfect Betta fish.

Joey seems to like it too.  Unfortunately, he doesn’t like me much.  Well, he did until I took him out of his new National Geographic Fish tank to change his water.  Apparently that was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

He went from being as excited as a dog waiting to play fetch when I’d approach his tank to swimming up aggressively trying to repel me from his territory.  Maybe someday he’ll forgive me for giving him clean water thus prolonging his short little fishy life…someday.

In the meantime the kids love to feed him, probably more than they should.  And the baby (who really isn’t a baby anymore) is absolutely in love!  Goodnights aren’t complete without a goodnight to Joey and a wave goodbye.

I am enjoying having a pet that really requires almost no maintenance.  I change his water when it needs it…or several days after.  :/  I feed him once or twice a day…Joey is a delicate eater and prefers just a tiny bit of food twice a day.

If your kids are begging for a pet, but you’re not really pet people or can’t get a pet for whatever reason, try a Betta.

But first…

Here are a few fun facts and things you need to know about Betta fish.

1. Bettas actually breathe by gulping air from the surface of the water.  This means they can live in non-aerated bowls and aquariums.
2. Bettas have an average lifespan of 2-3 years.  (Our last Betta lived about 18 months.)
3. Don’t put male Bettas together.  They like to fight with one another.  Females can cohabit in large aquarium.
4. Bettas only need to be fed once a day, what they can eat in 2-3 minutes.
5. Keep the Betta’s water temperature between 74° and 82° F.
6. Just like humans, Bettas require 8-12 hours of light a day.
7. In addition to a tank and tap water, you’ll need: 2 lbs of gravel, water conditioner (liquid or tablets), and fish food.  You can also buy special fish treats to add a little variety to your fish’s diet.

You can purchase the tank above at a PetSmart store or online.