Philadelphia Writing Project
Supporting Civically Engaged Argument Writing with Primary Sources
Text Set
Tropical Fish in Aquariums
Do tropical fish make good pets? Dive deep into questions about the sale and showcasing of tropical fish.
FEATURED PRIMARY SOURCES
TEXT SET
Introduce the Issue
Teachers may introduce one or both of the featured historical primary sources above alongside more current news articles to introduce the issue and jumpstart inquiry.
Why fish make great pets for kids by Tim Kerrigan. Blog post about caring for tropical fish at home. (Pet Perrenials, 2021).
Is it cruel to keep fish in tanks? Here are the startling facts. Informational text from advocacy group on how to care for tropical fish. (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, 2024).
Beta fish: The best pet fish? Clip from informational video about Beta fish as pets. (1 Minute Animals, 2024).
Walmart commended for ending sale of live fish as pets; Petco urged to follow suit. Press release from advocacy group about a company choosing to no longer sell live fish. (For the Fishes, 2019).
Go Deeper
Students may use these texts—or excerpts from these texts—to identify additional perspectives on the issue.
Selecting a pet fish. Informational text about buying tropical fish for the home. (American Veterinary Medicine Association, n.d.).
Don’t buy this: Why tropical fish can make terrible pets. News article explaining some of the issues with keeping tropical fish as pets. (Vice, 2018).
The therapeutic benefits of having a pet fish. Blog post about positive impacts on human mental health of caring for pets. (Mental Health Association in Delaware, 2022).
Why you can walk into a store and buy a nearly extinct animal. Magazine article about the buying and selling of exotic fish. (Smithsonian Magazine, 2018).
Go Even Deeper
Students may also consider whether or not we need public aquariums.
Why zoos and aquariums are beneficial. Informational webpage arguing for the importances of aquariums and zoos. (Association of Zoos and Aquariums, 2020).
Do aquariums really help with conservation? Blog post arguing that aquariums are harmful to fish and other marine life. (Northwest Animal Rights Network, 2023).
Humans take out more wild species than any other predator on Earth. Magazine article on human's effects on other organisms. (Smithsonian Magazine, 2023).
Additional Planning Resources
Primary Sources
Mrs. Herbster's main hobby is breeding tropical fish. Photograph. (Library of Congress, c1941).
Woman looking at piranha fish tank inside a store. Photograph. (Library of Congress, between 1949 and 1967).
Guide to the New York aquarium. Book. (Library of Congress, 1877).
The Fairmount Park Aquarium. In A Guide to Philadelphia. Book. (Library of Congress, c1935).
Classroom Informational Texts
Real rainbow fish! (Scholastic, 2019).
Picture Books
My best friend is a goldfish (2018)
Welcome to the coral reef (2017)
Getting a pet (2017)
This website features resources created by educators affiliated with the Philadelphia Writing Project (PhilWP), supported by a Teaching with Primary Sources grant from the Library of Congress.
The following Philadelphia Writing Project teacher consultants contributed to this page: L. Lapina, J. Ross, and J. F. Smith. Additionally, teacher consultant T. Anderson, helped with editing this page.
Some of the resources and approaches referenced on this page were developed by the National Writing Project's (NWP) College, Career, and Community Writers Program.
Teacher Consultants in the NWP Write Now Teacher Studio and members of the Teaching with Primary Sources Teachers Network have provided feedback on and suggestions for this page.
This page was updated 25 August 2024.