alt Hacker NewsGoldfish are what stereotypically served this purpose in the UK and Ireland, though this seems to have got out of fashion as pet shops no longer sell goldfish to be kept in tiny bowls.
Goldfish are what stereotypically served this purpose in the UK and Ireland, though this seems to have got out of fashion as pet shops no longer sell goldfish to be kept in tiny bowls.
Sometime in California of the 1990s, goldfish were superseded by Bettas or "Siamese Fighting Fish". You could find them lounging boredly in those same tiny goldfish bowls, even though they were probably better served with a filter, pump, furniture, and tropical water temperatures.
If you brought together the bowls of two male Bettas, each would viciously attack the glass to get at the other fish. I suppose there were actually people who set up cockfight-like contests, and bet on which fish would survive the fights.
I think I had one of these at some point. They are ornamental, in bright colors and long, flowing fins all over the place. They probably don't live long, no matter what.