I'm A Little Angry

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That One Guy
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On the banks of the Yellowstone
One of my Granddaughters graduated from high school this past weekend so we went over for the celebratory barbecue and what do I find ? A Puffer ! ! ! Yes, one lone little puffer. Very small it was, maybe an inch if you squinted your eyes. It was in a glass vase flowerpot kind of a container with no heater , no filter or aeration of any kind and a few plastic plants to go with the two puny strands of half dead anacharis in there. Oh , and a handful of some type of marine rock / substrate . I absolutely cringed at the sight. Where you ask did this come from ? From one of the aforementioned Granddaughters well meaning teachers. This learned person kept this fish on their desk as a decoration or object of curiosity and gifted it to the Granddaughter at the close of school. I don't know the first thing about puffers other than there are many freshwater species from all over the tropical old and new world. They are a social fish that thrives best in groups and are carnivorous but slow moving fish that get stiffed for food by faster moving fish. I see a fish that should be in the care of an advanced / experienced aquarist in a species only tank. From the looks of the poor thing it is not long for this world. No amount of proper care at this point would make up for its prior neglect. It was kept as a curiosity , something like a living butterfly pinned to a piece of cardboard and that really honks me off. A curse on the shop or pet warehouse that sold this creature to its doom and another curse on the doofus who bought it without informing themselves of a living creatures needs. I just had to vent about this.
 
I feel and share your rage! The concept of a "class pet" is not always such a terrible thing, but from the things I've read, it's rarely, in practice, actually teaching any good lessons about the natural world, animal care, or the responsibility involved in keeping a living being captive. Quite the opposite in fact.

Sounds as though it's likely a pea-puffer. I'm no puffer person either, but they're cheap-ish, tiny, and often sold as an "easy" curiosity that doesn't need a lot of special care - and while they're easier than most other puffer species, of course that doesn't mean keep them in a vase of stagnant water!

I hope you can help your granddaughter set up something more suitable for it. I *think* even a 5g is okay for a single pea puffer, but others would know more. Poor little guy. I suggest a strongly worded letter to the teacher and the school about animal welfare and the lessons they are really attempting to teach to children when they buy a class pet, only to neglect and mistreat it.
 
I'm a little too good at strongly worded letters. I think I'll leave that alone but I will educate my Granddaughter about these matters so that , at least , she will be one less person who does such things.
I would unload on the teacher. As you said, this "learned" person... is in a position of authority and provides an example to the kids in her charge. Unacceptable and should be called out on her ignorance and cruelty.
 

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