The Tartan

With her snout and eyes, she looked at me, then at the small jar of food, and repeated this back-and-forth motion until I sprinkled fish pellets into her tank. Though she could not speak to me, her bodily contortions communicated her hunger. Astonished as I was, I felt proud of her. I never thought of fish as intelligent creatures but my pet fish had just proved me wrong.

Living in a small apartment in a densely populated city does not make for a great living condition for a dog, who may need more space to exercise, play, and take potty breaks. While cats are a great alternative for those living in an apartment, landlords often find a way of ruining the fun by having a “no pets allowed” policy (which you can always ignore, but I digress). Fish, on the other hand, don’t get complaints. Not from your mom, nor from your landlord, and, let’s be honest, that poor fish wanted to leave the plastic bag it lived in anyway.

That’s why I can sympathize with the residents of Bedford- Stuyvesant and their (almost) eponymous Bed-Stuy Aquarium. When life gave them a leaky fire hydrant, they turned it into a mini aquarium for the entire neighborhood to enjoy.

Our story begins in early Aug. 2024, in a city you want to live in but can’t afford — New York City — where a leaky fire hydrant on Tompkins Avenue in Brooklyn formed a large puddle on the sidewalk. What at first seemed like a city’s lack of fire hydrant maintenance became a “cultural landmark” on Google Maps when locals, among them Floyd Washington and Jequan Irving, decided to add roughly 100 goldfish from a local pet store to the puddle. Gradually, residents of the area added flowers, sea shells, and stereotypical fish tank decorations such as a scuba diver, castle, and treasure chest. A plastic barrier and miniature fence were eventually added to help protect the fish, along with seats to enjoy the view and a sign above the scene that read “Bed-Stuy Aquarium.”

Though the mini aquarium brought joy to many on the internet, fame often brings with it trouble. For the Bed- Stuy Aquarium, it attracted vandalism (the real people executing animal cruelty of this story in my opinion). The perpetrator(s) of the vandalism tossed around decorations, leading to the death of several innocent fish. Social media attention also led a few locals and online commentators to flag the aquarium as an act of animal cruelty.

I can comprehend their concerns. Water flowing out of fire hydrants is the same as the water pouring out of our faucets, and though New York City tap water has a reputation for being clean, it still has a small amount of chlorine to prevent the growth of microorganisms. Do not fret, as the amount of chlorine present in the city’s water system is safe enough for humans to drink — but may be an acute hazard for aquatic life according to the material safety data sheet for chlorine. (Shout out to all the chemistry students.) That being said, I think a bit of innocent fun should not be deemed animal cruelty and besides, all drains lead to the ocean, so perhaps all these naysayers should stop worrying about the Bed- Stuy Aquarium and should focus their attention on our planet’s oceans.

But all good things must come to an end. For the Bed-Stuy Aquarium, the end came on the early morning of Oct. 25, when the city’s Department of Environmental Protection removed the fish and decorations from the aquarium, poured cement into the pond, paved over a new sidewalk and added a lock to the fire hydrant to prevent further leakage. (No fish were hurt in the making of this sidewalk.) City officials wanted to ensure pedestrian safety and claimed that a leaky fire hydrant could lead to low water pressure.

I am surprised they didn’t cite the place as a fire hazard, which is a more probable cause for concern. If water pressure had been an issue this whole time, I am surprised it took the city three months before deciding to fix a leaky fire hydrant. You would think city officials would have gotten wind of a leaky fire hydrant going viral on the internet sooner. Moreover, if the city really wants to ensure pedestrian safety, they could, for one, make the subway safer. There are bigger fish to fry in the city.

Finding nature — the nature that doesn’t come with an admissions fee — can be hard in New York City, and finding room to place it in can be even harder. Fish are great! They’re great beginner-level pets for kids in search of a friend, great for those living in a “no pets allowed” building, and for those who want to spruce up their gardens (or houseplants). It can even be great for cat owners who want to be entertained by their cat’s desire — but failed attempts — to catch a fish. Downsides to having a fish only include occasional cannibalistic tendencies and rare attempts to jump out of their tanks.

If you are seeking to add life to your home, stop fishing for answers and get a fish. Fish are low maintenance, require little attention, and tanks, decorations and food are affordable. You can use filtered water as a water supply for your fish too. So instead of purchasing one of those fake fish tank mini aquariums you might have seen online, why not buy a real fish tank and fill it up with some cute goldfish, or GloFish if you’re thinking of replacing those dorm room lights you have. (You know who you are.)

As for the Bed-Stuy Aquarium, it is alive and well, as the puddle was moved inside the tree guard adjacent to the original fire hydrant. It now sports a miniature fire hydrant that leaks water in honor of its origins. So remember, even if you live in a densely populated city, life finds a way.