#fish thing

I want to talk about her some, so this might get long. <3

She was a koi style female betta fish I got from a petsmart in late 2018. White red and black in color with short fins. She had original tankmates of 2 glass catfish and three hatchet fish. I did a lot of research and decided on a female betta because they are calmer and less likely to abuse tankmates.

She was always friendly and curious and mostly left her tankmates alone. Though she starts out three colors the white in her scales turns to red and black over time, although she also gains an electric blue shimmer to some scales that reminds me of that storybook the rainbow fish.

My very favorite thing about her was her 'cuddliness' Because she was so curious she always swam toward things coming into her tank, not away, and I was always afraid that during water changes she'd get knocked around by the water and get injured. So I started sticking my hand in to block her to one side, to my suprise she swam right over and sat in my curled hand. I'd never had a fish that was like 'ok! hold me!' That became what we did every time there was a water change.

In late 2020 we decided to move from FL to WA. Usually a significant move necessitates rehoming fish, and that was originally the plan, but the closer move date got the less I wanted to separate. So I decided to take the risk and take the fish with us. Into a bucket goes the Princess, 3 hatchet fish and the remaining glass cat. 7 days and over 3000 miles later we arrive in WA, only the glass cat didn't make it.

The new tank is a 40Gallon tall, and it's a wonderful amount of room for 4 fish. The hatchet fish all eventually pass and it's just her left in that big tank.

In late 2022 she becomes ill and starts struggling to swim to the surface of that huge tank to breathe the air as betta need. So she moves into a 10gal tabletop tank on the bay window for treatment. She ends up recovering, but with her favorite plants and leaf hammock and the windows sunshine she is happy so she doesn't move back to the big tank.

In april 2024 she gets ill again, and after treatment recovers physically, but her personality has changed, she's listless and fearful, laying near the surface and seeming to panic whenever food or new water goes into the tank. Last friday I moved her into a hospital bowl for a last effort treatment, knowing it was likely end of life and not sickness. She was 6 years old.

Sunday I knew in my heart that she would be gone soon. So I put my hand in the tank to say goodbye and after a moment of panic she calmed and swam over into my hand. I got to hold her a last time. Monday night when I went to check on her she had passed. She'll be buried under the cherry tree with her favorite leaf hammock.

Many people think of fish as disposable pets, and betta especially. They're sold in little cups with incorrect care instructions. In truth they're amazing little companions who are worth the time and effort to really care for them.

I'm glad I got to spend 6 years with Princess Sakuya and I'll miss her dearly.

-The Shape of Water-