Memorial for a Betta Fish
The call to help by SquidAid for the Southern California Fire victims and The Humane Society prompted a personal memory that I've decided to share here.
As a young girl, my family lost our home due to a devastating fire. We were lucky, everyone got out but the Betta.
All profit from this Betta fish accessories lens is being donated to the Humane Society by way of SquidAid in his honor.
Thank you for doing all that you can!
Photo found at betta-fish.net. Direct link below.
Leaving a Burning Home
When you first realize that your home is on fire, you panic. You aren't thinking clearly. At least I did. I was 13 at the time.Our fire started in the basement and was caused by mixing aluminum and copper wiring during a recent remodeling job on our house. This all took place back in the '70's.
The smoke became noticable from underneith the door leading downstairs into the cellar. I remember being told by my Grandmother, who lived with us, to go and tell Daddy that the house was on fire. That's when the panic started. I ran up to the second floor of our home, told my parents, and we all started grabbing the younger children and pets to get them outside.
We had quite a few pets including a bird and a snake which my father had to go back into the house for.
With everyone safe, we ran to the neighbor's house to call the fire department and then sat outside on the curb and watched the fire grow until it was billowing out of the second story windows.
The firemen were great but the fire damage was quite severe anyway.
We spent the night with friends and didn't return to the house until it was deemed safe.
Returning Home to a Burnt House
The structure of our home remained after the fire but most of the contents were beyond saving. We lost many precious things that can never be replaced including all of our baby photographs.While some of the rooms of our home were untouched, others were burned beyond recognition. I'll never forget the sight of my baby brother's burnt crib, or our kitchen telephone melted so badly that it now ran about 3 feet down the wall.
The thing I found most strange, after the fire, was that the clothing we gathered that looked only to be smoke damaged and dirty, completely disintegrated when we tried to wash it. The thread just disappeared and all that was left was a washing machine full of pieces of cloth.
When we found my sister's Betta fish floating in his fish bowl I cried. In the rushed panic, we had all completely forgotten him.
To this day, although I thank God that my family survived, I still feel badly about that silly Betta.
I made this lens to help the non-human victims of the Southern California Fires as a memorial to our lost Betta fish, Fishy-Fishy.
(Stop laughing, my sister was only 3 at the time. Fishy-Fishy was a good name.)
This Lens Supports SquidAid and The Humane Society
All profit from this lens is being donated to The Humane Society by way of SquidAid at Squidoo.SquidAid helps those in need after a natural disater such as the most recent Southern California Fires.
Please do all that you can to help.
SquidAid Squidoodle designed by and appears here courtesy of:
© 2007 LensDoc (Kirsti A. Dyer). Some rights reserved. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 License.
Betta Fish Bowls
50 Ounce Glass Rose or Fish Bowl (89016AH)
Amazon Price: (as of 11/10/2009) 
Wall Mount Fishbowl - Clear
Saves counter space and adds a decorative element to your wall
Fill with water, flowers or plants for a fun display
Made of acrylic; includes a wall mount
Clean with soap and water
11Hx11Lx4.5W"
Amazon Price: $24.99 (as of 11/10/2009)
Handblown Glass Fish Bowl - Large
Express your creativity! This Handblown Glass Fish Bowl is an interesting conversation piece. In addition to being a beautiful bowl for your fish, this glass bowl is ideal for holding candy, snacks and other colorful items. Size - Large - 15"L x 8"W x 12"H
Amazon Price: $99.99 (as of 11/10/2009)
Marina Betta Kit in Purple Color:Purple
Create a dramatic aquatic display in just minutes with our Marina Betta Kit. Complete kit includes: Easy to maintain 1/2 gallon plastic tank with removable hinged lid and great ventilation. Features a maximum view design that lets you enjoy your betta from any angle and convenient hand grips for easy transport. 4" plastic plant. Coordinating gravel. 0.1 oz. NutraFin Max Betta Food. 2 oz. Betta Plus Bowl Conditioner. Instructions Suction plant to bottom of the tank and add gravel. Fill with room temperature water and add one capful of betta water conditioner. Add fish. Maintain a constant temperature of between 75 - 80 degrees (F) with the aid of the optional light unit. Monitor with an aquarium thermometer. Feed your betta no more than it will eat within 30 seconds, usually three to four bite size flakes.Change approximately one quarter of the water on a weekly basis. Add half a capful of betta water conditioner after each partial water change. Made in Malaysia.
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 11/10/2009)
Marina Betta Pals Aquarium Kit - Green
Create a wonderful home for your betta that is perfect for the office or your home. This kit contains: betta aquarium, betta bowl conditioner, betta food, an aquatic plant and gravel.
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 11/10/2009)
Betta Fish Helpful Link List
- Betta Fish, Learn All The Secrets
- Advice on how to keep a happy, healthy betta fish from an expert. Betta fish are amongst the most beautiful tropical fish around.
- Siamese fighting fish - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Siamese fighting fish From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Betta Fish and Betta Fish Care
- Betta Fish site for information about betta fish care and maintenance.
- Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta Splendens)
- A profile of the Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta Splendens), including habitat, care, feeding, and breeding.
- How to Take Care of a Betta Fish - wikiHow
- The How-to Manual That You Can Edit WikiHow- Betta Fish Care
- The Beauty of Bettas
- Betta splendens, aka Siamese Fighting Fish, are a colorful and easy to care for house pet. Learn more about these beautiful exotic fish.
Betta Fish Care Books
Caring For Betta Fish
Amazon Price: $26.97 (as of 11/10/2009)
Bettas: A Complete Introduction (Guide to Owning A...)
Amazon Price: $8.95 (as of 11/10/2009)
Betta Fish Food
Betta Pellets - 1 oz.
Amazon Price: $2.99 (as of 11/10/2009)
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Everyone Got Out But the Betta Reader Feedback
Thank you for visiting!
Do you own a Betta? Looking to buy one?
Please leave all of your comments and recommendations here.
KimGiancaterino wrote...
What a sad story. I'm sorry to hear about your fire. This is a great way to honor your lost pet.
Posted November 13, 2007
Comfortdoc wrote...
Strange the memories that resurface. I had a Betta during graduate school who kept me company when I was studying for my oral exams. I had to spray the new apartment that I moved into for ants...needless to say I didn't think about the Betta and he didn't make it. :(
Thanks for SquidAid.
Posted November 05, 2007
by rms
Hi! I'm Robin, one of Squidoo.com's Giant Squid Community Organizers and the Squid Citizen, Giant Squid Mentor which means I'm ready, willing and able...
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