Is This A Stupid Idea?
Betta Fish: Image credit: Chess
I recently read a blog from a friend who had been diagnosed with cancer a few years back, and it had a real impact on my thinking. She mentioned the ways others’ had helped her and her family during the worst phases of treatment, and she put particular emphasis on starting small. She highlighted some of the deeds she was most grateful for during her convalescence, and they were very small indeed.
A few weeks back, I posted 5 Random Acts of Kindness Planned for 2012, and these things are great, but I’d love to do more. Last night I had a brilliant idea, but when I awoke this morning I wasn’t so sure if it would work or not, and I need some advice. Let me explain.
A few days ago we purchased a betta fish for my daughter, Ivy, as a reward for good behavior and finishing her school work timely. My daughter is a lot like me, headstrong and stubborn, so it helps to reinforce the things she does appropriately. The betta fish was a complete surprise, and he was well-received immediately.
Ivy promptly named him “Fluffy” for reasons unknown (maybe secretly wishing for a puppy), and the first few days were a little rough for ole’ Fluffy. My husband almost killed him by turning the heat off the first night when temperatures dipped lower than optimal, and then Ivy’s friend dumped half the container of food into the tank the next day. Amazingly, Fluffy survived. I then bought a nicer tank set-up complete with pretty pink gravel, warm lighting, fake plant and water filter, and he miraculously survived THAT transition, too. This lets me know he is one tough fish, which will play a key role in the success of my plan.
Yesterday I had a terrible day for reasons not worth whining about, and after bedtime I went into Ivy’s room to check on Fluffy and make sure he was still alive. The first thing I noticed was Ivy sleeping peacefully without her customary light, and then I inspected Fluffy’s new betta palace. I felt high-strung and irritable before I checked on Fluffy, but after a few minutes of watching him gliding fluidly through his colorful, clear environment, I felt an amazing sense of calm.
The negative energy died away, and I was captivated by his shimmering blue beauty for several minutes. As I left the room, I marveled at the lack of turbulence I felt. I thought to myself, If one little fish can have such a positive impact on me, couldn’t he can do the same for others’?
I climbed into bed and grabbed the iPad and did an internet search on the therapeutic benefits of aquariums, and the results were too numerous to count. Regardless of ailment, disorder, or situation, aquariums have been a proven therapeutic tool. Many hospitals have large aquarium set-ups in their lobby areas, and you can sometimes find aquariums in the activity area of nursing homes. My best friend even told me her colicky baby had been soothed when she placed his swing in front of an aquarium, and research has proven that pets help people live longer. Well, why can’t the pet be a fish?
This is my idea. I want to start a small-scale charitable organization that provides small aquarium set-ups to the afflicted and the elderly–two types of people who really need more support. My support currently lies in the form of cancer walks, giving small donations, and supporting through general contributions, but I am not doing anything where I see the direct benefit to the actual sufferers. I know more money should be raised for causes and cures rather than aquariums, but in the meantime people need some form of comfort and peace during the wait.
A desktop aquarium set-up complete with the essentials plus a hearty fish or two is the idea. I envision small aquariums in the living quarters of nursing rooms and in the homes of of children and adults suffering from disease. I want to find a way to provide these things to people who are willing but can’t afford to, and for those who never considered the idea. The aquarium I bought for Fluffy fits perfectly on any nightstand, and because he requires little maintenance, He makes for a great pet. The soothing properties of an aquarium is an additional bonus.
I have no idea how to go about getting supplies or funds yet, or even thought of how well-received this idea might be in my community. I think it is small but awesome, but there might be a ton of flaws in my reasoning. Other than a tentative name of the organization, “Fishes for Friends”, I haven’t done any legwork, homework, or groundwork on the project. I thought I’d reach for guidance from my great readers first, because I really need some help.
Is this a stupid idea? What are the pros and cons? Why or why shouldn’t I go for it? I’d be grateful for your insights in the comments section.
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I bought my daughter a little aquarium and a gold fish when she was 3 years old. She loved the little gold fish and the bubbles that came up and the colorful rocks and watching goldie swim back and forth was soothing. I like your idea but have no idea how to go about doing something like that.
Mary, I’m not sure either, but I am still in the “thinking” stages.
Great post! I think it’s a great idea…I grew up with aquariums and if it weren’t for having determined felines I would probably still have one. They are a great idea, the only downside is keeping them clean but they are easy enough to maintain. I love the fact you look for ways to improve the lives of others! You truly are an inspiration!
Thank you, Belinda, I just hope to be more helpful.
Not a stupid idea at all, Many nursing homes do a have aquariums or aviaries in the common areas. The only problem i see is in the hospital setting where possible mold growth and bacteria could be an issue. Aquariums are terribly messy and even with a well kept up tank there is the possibility for contamination. In nursing homes we had several Betta fish jars with the plant in the top.
Stacey, I wonder if the betta jars are less maintenance? I’m looking at all potential options that would be least stress on the recipient.
I think it’s a great idea. Anything we can do to help people in general is worth doing.
Bill, thank you. I’m hoping to find a way that will work. I appreciate the comment!
What an absolutely lovely idea Amber. Am the incoming president for my Rotary club in July and have been trying to think of something different for my fund raising efforts. I have never liked ‘the usual’, preferring something slightly off the wall. I rely entirely on fate which has never let me down. Came to your blog yesterday by chance. Obviously meant to be. Am going to investigate your idea. Promise I will credit you however.
Sue, that would be wonderful. Be sure to let me know what you find out, too, as I am still in the preliminary thinking stage.
I think it is a great idea. There is a website that you can ask for donations to help set up this project. People can give in increments of whatever you set up and you can put a goal that you need for people to give. I forgot the name of the website, but I’m sure you can google it. You could make some calls to nursing homes/hospitals and see what they think of the idea and just start small, make the deliveries to a few people yourself, make a business card and hand it out to the front desk if anyone else would be interested in donating an aquarium to someone at the hospital or nursing home. Keep us updated!
Ag, absolutely going to need to start small. I think testing the waters first would be wise. Thank you for the great comment!
That’s so not stupid, it’s actually borderline marvelous. While I’m no specialist regarding the therapeutical value of aquariums, I know that I’ve never seen angry, edgy people in front of an aquarium.
GO FOR IT!!
Thanks, Tony, if there is an interest I’m going for it!
Have you had a beta fish before? They are wonderful! They live forever, are very low maintainence. I have 5 of them in a big fish bowl. You don’t need warm water or a filter or anything. Their small beta bowls at walmart are super cheap. The water doesn’t need changing alot. They are cheap as cheap. The food lasts forever.
I think it’s an excellent idea.
Try getting in touch with your local cancer center at your local hospital. See if maybe they can give you some direction? You could just work locally and see how it grows.
Great idea for adults and children alike.
Jill, I had a betta fish as a kid. It lived in a bowl with gravel and tap water and lived for two years. Cheap and awesome is what I am going for.
It’s a great idea but there’s two reservations I have:
- Is there a threshold of misery past which an aquarium isn’t going to make a difference? I suspect it wouldn’t have dented mine during the pregnancy from hell. A dog DID improve my misery during one hospital stay, but I believe it’s also proven that cats and dogs are the MOST beneficial of pets – in terms of the benefits you’re talking about. I’m not saying this precludes your idea, just that you might need to target the people who can most benefit from an aquarium;
- Aquariums need to be emptied, cleaned and refilled from time to time (unless you want fish for dinner…). Aquariums are full of water and even a small one can be heavy. Consider if the people you’re wanting to give these to will be capable of this kind of physical exertion. Unless you’re going to offer a tank clean service.
I’m not suggesting these are reasons not to do it, they are just possible problems that you might need to think a way around.
Ciara, I appreciate you bringing up real concerns. This is what I hoped to glean from the post. I do think there is a threshold for comfort, so if I go forward, I’ll target the people I want to help and make sure they are able to perform the simple duties or have a caretaker who is willing. Thanks for your awesome insights.
I totally love this idea! We have a little aquarium set up because it is so soothing to my daughter (and hence, me) who has Asperger’s Syndrome.
I think Beta fish are definitely the way to go (and please, can you call the business Fluffy’s) because they require less tank cleaning than regular fish. Our tank requires an every 2 week cleaning/water change/etc.
I’d love to help you with your idea!
I think Fluffy’s would be great, and as soon as I decide how I’m going to go about it, Jenn, I’ll be soliciting you for help
It’s a fantastic relaxer. We have them all over the hospital where I work, long term care, cancer center, ER, and waiting areas on the different wards. I would check with the nursing homes first about fish in the actual rooms though, there may be codes against it (and may not).
Dee, I am definitely going to check into the codes. There might be issues, and I’d hate to be going full-speed ahead only to hit an insurmountable obstacle. Thanks for your comment!
I have one phrase for you, Make-A-Wish. Does it cure their illnesses? No. Does it cure someone in the future’s illness? No. However, it lifts the child’s spirit. It gives the entire family something to focus on other than the illness for however long the wish process and wish lasts. God forbid the child should pass, it gives the family a positive memory not related to the illness to look back on. It gives the child something to look forward to and something to look back on for months and years. Also, the doctors actually do say that it’s an essential part of the treatment process because it does have an impact on how the child is doing.
So, if you’ve seen a positive impact, making somebody feel better while they are going through a process or simply life, it is just as important to make that happen. What is life if you’re not happy in it?
Oddly, Make-A-Wish tweeted this today “75% of parents observed that the wish experience increased wish kids’ physical health and strength.” I’m still getting used to Twitter, or I would have copied you on my retweet.
I say, if the logistics work on cleaning tanks and so forth (I have skimmed some of the responses.), go for it. It DOES help health!
Just saw this comment underneath. Yes, if the logistics work then I’m going to go for it! Thank you, Debbi!!
Debbi, you are absolutely right on all counts.
It’s a thoughtful idea but as with all living things, there is a considerable amount of work involved in maintaining even a small aquarium. Aquariums have to be cleaned regularly, temperatures have to be maintained and chlorine removed from the water. Not much of a problem for those who have the time and energy but many seniors and shut-ins don’t.
It is very easy to kill tropical fish, even gold fish and that can lead to frustration and unnecessary expense for the person who was given the aquarium.
I commend you for your thoughtfulness but offer up a suggestion that perhaps there is a better way.
Maggie, you bring up valid concerns, along with Ciara above. I really think my idea has some validity, but maybe I’ll carefully target who should be the recipients of small aquariums. Certainly they would need to be physically able to care for a fish or have a willing caretaker. If I do anything, it will be very small to test the waters. Thank you very much for this insight. I want to explore all aspects intelligently.
Amberr, this is a wonderful idea and I agree with Jennifer, you have to call it Fluffy’s. Just the name alone will make folk smile and it will also make Ivy feel included in your project. Through your caring lead, you will inspire Ivy too and she will then also bring cheer to those who most need it. Good luck!
Lottie, I would totally call it Fluffy’s. Maybe even Fluffy’s friends?
We have a large lovely tank of fish. (In fact, two gave birth and we’ve up out little school by five). When I’ve had a stressful day, I just sit in the office chair and watch them. It is peaceful and does ease the tension. I believe your idea is wonderful and you should act upon your feelings and inspiration.
Connie, I think I am, but I’m going to take baby steps. I think it is an incredible thing for the right recipients.
This is not a stupid idea, it’s an excellent and very thoughtful one! One thing you should consider is the time commitment because I know you’re really busy. I also know that if no one ever took steps to start an organization, then nothing would ever happen. So assess the time and commitment you can do. You can always start small and work your way up to establish an official non-profit (lot of paperwork involved there). Dabble in it a bit on your own and then decide if you want to launch a full-scale non-profit. Either way, your thoughts are in the right place!
Maria, yes, the time constraints could pose a problem, so if I go with it, I’m going slowly. Thanks for your great advice!
Hey Amberr, Its a great idea!! I think http://www.kickstart.com is the website AG is referring too, and that would really be great once you got your plan together.
Shanta, thank you so much! You are an amazing resource and lady
Hi Amber,
Here in Australia, we know these fish as “Samurai Fighting Fish”. I had actually never heard the term “betta fish” before.
I have had close up experience with cancer (family member), and I can tell you, the will to fight and beat the cancer is *very* important. Recently, a friend of mine passed away from Cancer, he was in his 30′s.
A fighting fish, as a gift to a cancer sufferer, would be very poetic and meaningful!
Nate
Nate, it would be kind of symbolic, wouldn’t it? As I’ve mentioned in other comments, I am going to take baby steps so I don’t jump in full-on to something that might be well-intended but disastrous.
I think that this is a very sweet an altruisic idea! Good luck with your project!
Rita, thank you!
This is God, Amberr. Wow. Such an incredible idea. Okay first you need to speak with a tax professional. There are IRS forms that would need to be filled out before you can open an account with the bank. There are also multiple reports that would need to be filed annually (to the IRS) and sometimes more frequently. The tax professional should have a list of how you can’t raise money, but I believe you already have a good medium for it (your blog). I’m in the car and pulled over to respond, lol, gotta get back on the road. This is a fantastic idea, but it will be a lot of hard work. Chat more later.
Thank you, Krystal, small steps before I get into an IRS-type scenario. Haha! Thanks for the amazing comment!
I do think that is a wonderful idea. they have a very calming effect. My daughter has a betta fish right now she got two weeks ago as a gift from my aunt. My uncle has cancer and she bought several and put them all over her house. It helps to calm her, having fish as pets is tranquil and helps with stress. The wonderful thing about bettas are you really do not have to worry about alot of care. They eat every two or three days…..three or four pebbles and you really do not have to have oxygen for them. You can put them in a big decorative vase and they are good to go…though its nice to add water lillies and such for extra food and oxygen. Alot of people do not know that bettas actually breath air from the top of their tank or bowls. The only thing you have to worry about with one or more bettas together is that if you put a male and female together you have to remove him right away after he fertilizes the females eggs or she will ultimately fight and kill him… its just how they are. I myself have had several bettas through the past few years and love them. Im not sure about two females or males together… i hope that helps you alittle if you did not already know. i think its a wonderful thing you have thought of. the best part is that they are inexpensive and not hard to care for.
Leslie, thank you for the wonderful advice. Do the plant roots also act as a filter? I want to say I’ve read that they do. I’m going to doublecheck though.
A lovely idea, Amberr! My husband has kept fish since he was ten years old. It’s time consuming – you need to research to get the temperature levels, plantlife etc. correct for your little world, but can also be very enjoyable and rewarding.We also call these fighting fish and have kept them. They are beautiful fish, but two males in the same tank will fight.
Jane, so far Fluffy seems ecstatic in his new environment (after the initial boo boo), and I wouldn’t dream about pairing two males unless I wanted one or both dead. They are beautiful but quite feisty. I’m going to take it small and slow, because there are a lot of things to consider, and as Maggie mentioned above, there might also be a better way. Thanks for your insight!
I’ve had aquariums – big ones – on and off for many years. They were alot of money and work – ’cause mine were salt-water and they’re much more complicated. But, they had the same calming affect on me that you’re describing.
I think your idea is great. A bit complicated in that aquariums require care and many of those recipients who need it most certainly may not have the reserves to offer that care but, maybe, it becomes a project that involves local children who then care for the fish and visit those people who have the aquariums?
Bruce, I think it would be wonderful to have someone involved, and if my husband lands a better job, I’ll make weekly rounds to tend them myself. I especially love the idea of helping the elderly community feel less lonely, and a human visit with a fish might be even better. So much to consider! I am glad I posted it here first.
Fabulous idea! I don’t see a downside. A friend of mine is looking into starting a non-profit for animals and I’m helping her weed through the tons of websites on the subject. The following link helped clear up some of our questions: http://grantspace.org/Tools/Knowledge-Base/Nonprofit-Management/Establishment/Starting-a-nonprofit
They have listed links to other helpful sites, so it might be a good place to start. Best to you!
Intricate, thanks for the helpful link. I really appreciate that!
Sounds like a great idea to me!!! You’re on the right track – start slow, make sure the right people receive them and have a plan for cleaning. Many, many life changing organizations have started from a simple little idea. If you improve just one person’s outlook, you will have succeeded!!!
Tracey, there is a lot to consider, but I’m going to start small!
Amberr,
My dad had tropical fish for decades…and the Japanese Fighting Fish or Beta Fish are poetry in motion. As children, my sister and I were fascinated with them…my dad actually had a male and a female…when the babies are borm, they are too small to survive and swim around so the father fish positions himself under the mother and catches each baby in his mouth and blows it up to the top surface in an air bubble (because the mother would eat them). He guards this nest of bubbles, until the babies are a little more mature, and then they break out of the bubble. At that point, you need to remove the father fish, as he will now eat them, but the mother won’t. At least, that’s how I remember it.
What a beautiful idea! Yes, there are many considerations such as tax implications and paperwork for you…and the care and cleaning-up for the owner of the aquarium. But your loving thoughts should be encouraged, not shut down.
Perhaps aquariums could be given to hospices (where there are staff that might be able to take care of them) or children’s hospitals. But I do like the idea of small individual aquariums for cancer patients.
If you have the time, Amberr, I would encourage you to pursue the idea…it is an inspired one.
Vivian, I love your ideas, and I think it would be best to provide aquariums where there is the physical ability to care for them, or a caretaker willing to care for them. I didn’t consider hospices, but I should. Thank you!
I think it’s a great idea and once you get started with it the pieces will come together. It should be possible to get companies and shops to donate aquariums out of their stock, too.
Tat, that is a wonderful idea, and I’d be willing to bet there are people who would be eager to let go of fish tanks no longer in use in their homes. There is a will, so there must be a way. Thank you!
Thanks, Kristen!
You are onto something Amberr. There is a large aquarium in the rehab hospital my grandmother was staying in last year and the new one she is in has birds. I work with adults with developmental disabilities and many of the care homes use therapy dogs or other animals. It is amazing how animals can calm us. My grandfather had severe arthritis and I bought him a beta fish. He loved it! He would tap on the glass just to make it mad. He thought that was the funniest thing ever. I hadn’t seen him enjoy something so much in years. I wish you the best of luck!
the fish room in our inpatient hospice facility is the most peaceful place! the hospice pays someone to provide upkeep — but i have seen many a family member, and even patients who can get around, sit in silence, considering the fish, and the sounds of the aquarium, and the life it represents!
also, don’t underestimate the power of human presence, and the importance of interaction while the fish are being presented, and cared for. patient listening, simple presence, has immeasurable worth to folks who are struggling with health and similar issues.
Thank you for your wonderful insights, Nancy. The fish is a nice idea, but nothing replaces human interaction–particularly of the loving variety.