Towards the end of my parent/teacher conference today, I couldn't help but notice out of the corner of my eye some rows of 2 litre bottles filled with what appeared to be anacharis and duckweed. As we wrapped up our meeting, I inquired about the project in the corner with the aquatic plants. As I got closer, to my great dismay, I could see it wasn't only anacharis in those bottles...also up to three zebra danios and two nerite snails. The 2 litres have their necks cut off, and then another 2 litre which is a planter is inverted onto the other. It's looks as though some water drips through the soil, when you water the plants on top, and comes down into the "aquarium". The water the fish/snails are in is never changed, and they are never fed. The teacher explained to me how this is a self sustaining eco system. I said I didn't think this was possible, that the bottle couldn't possibly create enough natural foods like infusoria to sustain the danios long term. I also added that they are schooling fish that should really be in a tank about 30" long or so. I guess they've been doing this for years and he told me that one student reported their danios lived for many years after they took them home.
So folks, I'm pretty much horrified. I wonder if anyone else has seen this in the schools?
So folks, I'm pretty much horrified. I wonder if anyone else has seen this in the schools?