Betta Change?

Say hello to Sigmund Too. He is a Betta Fish, otherwise known as a “Siamese Fighting Fish.” These colorful, flowing fins and tail fish are decedents of less elaborate looking fish that live in the rice paddies of Thailand and Cambodia. The males are aggressive and if two are put in a tank together they will fight to the death. Females are said to not be aggressive although people have reported that they have seen the females fight with other females. I’m not big on the fighting thing so I only have one. Bettas live 2-4 years. I acquired Sigmund Too about a year ago after the first Sigmund died and an appropriate period of morning passed. He was a pet and as with any pet, they become part of the family. Sigmund Too lives in the same bowl as Sigmund did with the same gravel. His bowl has a plastic plant because, when I got him, his little plastic box tank came with a small tree and he liked lying under it. As Sigmund Too grew, he no longer could fit under it and my wife felt bad for him. So I put a fake plant in and he seems to enjoy it. Often times I will catch him resting or sleeping on the leaves. It’s not a big bowl but he seems to enjoy the small space and he hasn’t displayed any behaviors that would suggest discontent. Aside from the colors and the flowing fins I like that Sigmund Too responds when I come near the bowl. He quickly swims to the top and waits for food. Although this is most likely basic conditioning, it is a behavior that usually does not occur with other fresh water tank fish. As anyone who has ever had freshwater fish in a tank knows, the fish don’t even know you have your face up to the glass. Mostly, they just swim back and forth and eat the food placed in the tank as it magically floats down past them. I tend to lean towards the intelligent life forms. Sigmund Too’s tank does not have, or require a filter for the water. All that is necessary is to change two thirds of the water once a month and wash the gravel and plant. Low maintenance. Something else I like about Betta Fish. As I said earlier, Sigmund Too came after the first Sigmund. It is very important to the survival of these fish that when cleaning the bowl and changing the water that a third of the water they have been living in remains. It seems that there are necessary bacteria in the old water that the fish requires. Bacteria? We were always told it was bad. I think what might have led to the first Sigmund’s premature demise is that I did not leave enough of the old water in on the last water change. So this change protocol is extremely vital to the Betta’s survival.
     Both Sigmund’s have kept me very conscious of how necessary change is and that it can be a good thing. Changing ones surroundings, environment and the way one does things can bring about feelings of refreshment, renewal and awareness. I have also seen how growth, good growth, can come from change. What I have also become more aware of is that drastic change is not always a good thing. It is risky. It reduces the chances of survival. Keeping some of the old when making a change brings about a level of comfort that reduces stress and makes the change more tolerable. When people change their residence they usually bring much of the furniture from the previous house. When people change jobs they pack up the items from their desk or locker or wall and bring them to their new job.
     Recently I retired from my job. Being aware that retirement can be a very stressful change I have made an effort to reduce that stress by keeping up with the literature, consulting with people about their school age children and remaining in contact with many of the people I worked with. This plan seems to be working because, so far I have been enjoying myself and welcoming the changes that have come so far with retirement.
So, while I continue to change the water in Sigmund Too’s bowl, I am always conscious of the, Water Change Protocol.