UKC

When I was young nearly every family had a goldfish in a bowl, often won at a fair and carried home in a plastic bag. Even as a child I felt sorry for it and demanded toys and plastic plants to make it's life more interesting. Eventually we got two and a slightly bigger bowl, they were called Max and Harry after a double act on working mans clubs that used to lodge with us.
This came up because I am just watching a TV programme (What Remains) that has a solitary goldfish in a very empty small bowl swimming around aimlessly in a little goldfish bowl on the desk.
Why do we do this? As a species we cannot think that it is humane, or even very interesting. I can see the point in a well stocked aquarium, but a fish in a bowl?

In reply to Al Evans:

I don't know what 'What Remains' is. Is it a drama? In which case, perhaps the goldfish is actually an actor and is being paid a good wage to swim around looking solitary and aimless, and afterwards will return to an interesting aquarium filled with toys, plastic plants and other goldfish. Is it the same goldfish in every shot? Maybe there are several goldfish job-sharing?

In reply to Welsh Kate: Kate, I don't think so, in any case that's , as you know, not the point of this post.

In reply to Welsh Kate:

Given what they say about their memories, would they mind being on a zero-hours contract? Or are their memories better than popular prejudice would have it?

In reply to felt: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldfish#Intelligence
three months apparently

In reply to Welsh Kate:

At least the goldfish won't have to remember that last scene for longer than 3 months. I think the answer to the title of the prog is "bugger all".

In reply to Al Evans: Would it be much more boring being in a goldfish bowl than in the middle of an ocean? If you're a small fish in the middle of the Atlantic I can't believe there's that much to see. In real life oceans don't always have plastic wrecks within easy reach. At least in a bowl you can look out.

I think your empathy and identification with the fish in this case is perhaps misplaced.

In reply to Al Evans:

Its not humane and can be stressful for the fish as it has nowhere to hide from potential threats, which in a bowl can come from all angles. Also the shape of a bowl doesn't allow much gaseous transfer at the surface reducing oxygen levels in the water, exacerbated by hot studio lighting (unless a bubbler is used). As well as that, goldfish get large and like lots of space to swim, the 'grow to fit the tank size', is a myth and they are actually stunted with health effects.

But under tv production rules, the fish will be provided by a specialist animal wrangler who will likely remain during the filming to ensure the animal's welfare. The fish probably has its own trailer and will explode into a rage any time a runner brings it a can of diet coke, opened, but with the opening tab not bent back out of the way

Still, it's not great to perpetuate the idea of keeping goldfish in small bowls and with no decor.

In reply to Rob Exile Ward: At last a sensible reply, maybe not a correct one but at least sensible.

In reply to Al Evans:
Moist fish are much more intellegent than we give them credit for.

Many fish, including Goldfish have the capacity to learn and this needs the ability to remember.

Carp (the same family as goldfish) can easily remember what they were caught on previously and will refuse any subsequent baits/hooks/or methods for more than a few months!!. - ask a carp angler.

Many fish are quick to learn. I've taught wild carp to come to the hand to feed and it has recently been discovered that some fish can recognise types of music and learn to respond to some types whilst ignoring others.

In reply to Al Evans: Think I should dob my parents in, we came back from a holiday to find said fish dead.(It was before the internet)

http://www.rspca.org.uk/utilities/faq/-/question/ENQWADAWAFishInGoldfishBow...

In reply to richyfenn: And yours is of course sensible too richy.

In reply to Rob Exile Ward:

A freshwater fish in the middle of the ocean probably has more pressing things to worry about than scenery.

That aside, I'm reasonably certain that deep water fish don't get kept as pets.

In reply to Rob Exile Ward:

Being a goldfish in the middle of the ocean would be fatal. They die of dehydration by osmosis in saltw*ter.

At least in the bowl they don't have to worry about being eaten either! :0)

In reply to Dave Perry:



As opposed to dry fish?

In reply to tlm:

well a dry fish would obviously be very stupid for not staying in the water

In reply to tlm:
Well done!!

In reply to Al Evans:

ok I give up ,trying to think of a connection between fish and climbing as this is in rocktalk section ?.
surely this thread should be moved to the "climbers and their fish" forum?

In reply to colina: Errrr! I thought I put it in the Off Belay forum?

In reply to Al Evans:
it was in the off belay forum.apologies my mistake. harry and max still with you?

In reply to Al Evans: train some mice..
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=f85_1379483335