Hubby had given me permission to get a new fish the day that Fishy passed away but I knew that I was going to be visitng my parents for Thanksgiving and I was planning to bring May, my official fish sitter, with me and I didn't know who else to ask to care for my pet so I had purposely put off getting a new one. However, holidays past, I was excited at the prospect of getting a new fish. While there had been more room on my coffee table for Christmas decorations, I was missing my buddy. This probably sounds dumb and way too sentimental since as many have told me "he was just a fish" but I enjoyed his silent company and I look out the window to where he is buried every once and awhile and miss him.
I told Hubby that if it was ok with him, that I wanted to buy our new fish at PetCo this time. Hubby had purchased Fishy as a surprise for me one night at Walmart on the way home from work and I had walked by the bettas in Walmart several times over the past few months only to notice that each time, most of the bettas looked dead or dying. This did not seem like a good way to start out to me and I have wondered if Fishy's Walmart origins somehow contributed to his neurotic tendencies. Hubby laughed at my rationalization but agreed since fish are generally the same price regardless of where you buy them.
We went to PetCo one afternoon and as we walked into the store Hubby suggested that we look at the other animals before we picked out a new fish. We looked around at lizards, turtles, and bunnies, gerbils, mice, and hampsters. I think we even saw a guinea pig. Hubby wanted to look at puppies since he knows I want one some day but unfortunately they did not have any. They did not have any kittens either. Eventually we made our way to the fish section.
I asked the guy working there if it was normal for bettas to jump out of bowls and if I needed to purchase a bowl with a lid. What he told me surprised me a bit. I had known that bettas are fighting fish but he told me that one of the reasons why bettas are so hardy is that they live natively in asia.. in muddy hoof prints left by cows. He said that when they run out of food in one hoofprint or need to avoid being stepped on they jump to a new print/puddle. The employee told us that sometimes bettas just get it in their heads to jump. He said that we could get a bowl with a lid but most people don't. He said that he would advise filling the bowl up a little less but he said that the bowl we were using was plenty of space even with his fake coral deocoration. He did tell us though that bettas usually live two to three years so Fishy did live a shortened life. :( I think Fishy jumping out was just one more of his neurotic tendencies but that could just be me trying to make myself feel better. We also found out that there are several different types of bettas and Fishy's species is the hardiest of them. We were also told that it is recommended to only feed a betta once every other day. We had been feeding Fishy twice a day every day. I guess this was too much?
Armed with our new info we went to look at all of the different bettas. They was quite a big selection. I didn't know how to choose. I knew that I wanted a male and the same type of betta that Fishy had been since it is the hardiest variety (and also the least expensive!). I also told Hubby that I wanted one that seemed healthy. Most of the fish at PetCo looked pretty good compared to what I had seen at Walmart but I was still a little nervous about picking one that was unhealthy.
At first I was drawn to the dark blue/purple fish that looked like Fishy but Hubby suggested that we get one that looked a little different and I knew that he was right. I didn't want to replace Fishy; I wanted a completely different fish. The red fish didn't spark my attention. They just didn't seem right and Hubby and I searched the containers for the right fish to keep me company when Hubby went back overseas.
After a few minutes Hubby held up a container for me to see. "What about this one?" he asked. I looked into the container in his hand. The fish it held was smaller than Fishy had been but his body sparkled a teal green and blue coloring as the light hit him. I knew this was our new fish. I excitedly agreed with Hubby that he had found our new fish and we paid for him and took him home.
I was conflicted about what to name our new pet. I knew that I would more than likely call him Fishy a few times without thinking about it. After all... that is how Fishy had gotten his name. I had begun calling him that and it stuck. What was I going to call this new fish without feeling like I was replacing Fishy? My sister wanted to name him Fish Face and I thought this would be cute. I also thought Bubbles would be cute since bettas make bubbles. Hubby told me that I could name him whatever I wanted but finally admitted that he was not fond of Fish Face. So the name Bubbles won. I am a little worried that it is to feminine of a name but he doesn't seem to mind.
In the few weeks that I have had Bubbles I have noticed a several things about him that are different in comparison to Fishy. First off Bubbles is far more active than Fishy was. Not only that but he was also very curious about the coral decoration in his bowl and was able to explore it without hurting himself on it. Bubbles also likes both types of betta food that we purchased for Fishy. Fishy was afraid of one of the foods and refused to go anywhere near it. Bettas are supposed to like food variety which is why we bought the second food but Fishy only liked his pellets. Go figure. Bubbles however likes both types and attacks them with a fervor when he is fed. Bubbles also does not spend excessive amounts of time at the bottom of the bowl. He loves staring at me and during the day when the light plays with the water in his bowl he likes to fight his reflection. I think Bubbles is smarter than Fishy was or maybe Fishy really did have neurological deficiencies! I still loved Fishy but I am glad that Bubbles doesn't share his oddness. I think each fish probably has his own personality like people do.
Oddly enough... here is one more difference between my two fish. Whenever Fishy went to May's house when I was out of town, her cat liked to drink from his bowl. The cat never tired to eat the fish and in fact would run away if Fishy swam to the side of the bowl he was drinking from but for some reason her cat really loved fish flavored water. Last week Bubbles went to stay at May's and when I came home she told me the oddest thing... her cat doesn't really like drinking out of the bowl anymore. He tried it but apparently Fishy tasted different. How weird!
All in all I am happy to have Bubbles and I am hoping that I am able to keep him alive and happy longer than I was able to do for Fishy. Thanks for the gift Hubby. Welcome to the family Bubbles!
