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Here's a sample of an interesting article in the National Post (Canada).

A fish-eye view of the world
A city in northern Italy is defending a widely ridiculed new law that makes it illegal to keep goldfish in glass bowls because it gives them a "distorted sense of reality."

The article actually points out there are other reasons why bowls are bad for goldfish other than the existential.

The part of the article I wanted to ask about is later on (I couldn't get it from the e-version) that quotes an Ontario petstore owner who says bowls are fine for gold fish b/c they actually breath air from the surface. He gives a few other reasons why bowls are fine for goldfish.

So, is it true? Are goldfish labyrinths?

[span class="edited"][Edited by johnsmith 2004-07-26 12:19][/span]

No. they are not. They may apear to, but this is called gasping, and is a sign of stress and disease.

that pet store owner OBVIOUSLY knows nothing he's talking about

my little sister even kows that goldfish Labyrinths dotnexist!

I'm glad to hear that - I was starting to think I didn't know anything.

I wish you could read the whole article. The person defending the law actually makes very good points about teaching young children the proper way to treat pets, including gold fish. He talks about gold fish needing proper filters and such and the guy who owns the petstore says bowls are fine, people have been using them for years.

people have been killing goldfish in bowls for years, too.
Most people are shocked to learn that goldfish can live beyond a few months. Many people are even proud that their goldfish lived past 2 years. woop-de-doo.

Another good bit of news for the goldfish...but why not tell the truth, how many people realistically are going to care how the goldfish views the world, why not report on how there is not an adequate oxygen supply or the fact that the goldfish is being slowly crushed up inside, as it has no room to grow...I cheered as I heard the first part of the news report, and then came the bit about why they where banning the bowl. I don't know what to say really]:|
I suppose it is a step in the right direction, even if it isnt for the right reasons.

The good news is the bit I posted was just the part they showed in the e-version, to get people's attention I guess, the actually article in the newspaper did quote the person responsible for promoting the law talking about the actually poor living conditions for the goldfish, such as low oxygen - which is why the petstore owner added his comment about goldfish going to the top to breath air.

Unfortunately I don't subscribe so I could just get the preview.

I think the "distorted sense of reality" bit was just to get the readers attention.

[span class="edited"][Edited by johnsmith 2004-07-28 11:15][/span]