It annoys me when people say fish are decorations I love fish and other invertebrates I will not eat any water life in the wild most bettas only survive 1 year at best a few live for years and in captivity if properly cared for can live 7-8 years I read the world record holder for goldfish lived 43 years in a fish bowls I am not saying fish bowls are best oldest Koi lived over 200 years in an Asia