I Am WAY Too Softhearted

[Kiarra]

Well, I have an evening class on Tuesdays, and, as it usually gets out quite late, I didn't think I'd have a chance AFTER class to exchange the dead Cambodian, so I went to Walmart on my way to class.

Most of the Bettas there were healthy, so it was hard finding one that really needed to come home with me. There were cases of mild finrot, but nothing really outrageous, nothing that stood out and said "take me home!!!!!!!!!"

Until I found my new boy.

He's missing over half of his tail, and it's not much of a mystery how this happened. I found a piece of his tail caught in the lid, like it had been closed on his tail out of carelessness. It was an old piece...dry and barely recognizable as his tail. But it was definitely his tail. The tail still attached to his body has a mild case of finrot going right now because of infection, but I can cure it, I'm sure. What struck me was the fact that it looks like he chewed his own tail off, due to the pattern of marks on the remaining tail. Other than that, he appears quite unharmed. He's friendly, curious, and, while he won't flare at my pen, he surely flared at my Mountain Dew bottle when it was sitting next to him.

I don't think this injury actually occurred at Walmart. I think it occurred when he was being packed for shipping, but I COULD be wrong. I sincerely doubt I am wrong, though.

He actually went to class with me today because I most certainly was not going to leave him in my car, and was flirting it up with my classmates and flaring mildly at my Mountain Dew until I took it out of sight.

 

[BettaMomma]

Interesting.
Why am I not surprised? It still disgusts me but doesn't surprise me.
I have a sneaky suspicion I know another fish who lost part of himself in the same way.

That's awesome that you took him to class with you.
Probably one of a very small number of fish in the world who have ever attended a college class.

 

[Kiarra]

He's my little collegiate Betta.

And he's actually doing quite well this morning. So is the little red boy. I woke to find them both cheerful and hungry, and very happy to see me.

Do you think the same thing happened to your Lucky?

 

[wuvmybetta]

Do you think the same thing happened to your Lucky?

That was my first impression of what happened with Lucky but it was dismissed as next to impossible. I knew they had to get their tails caught on occassion!!

Glad you found someone who needed you,Kiarra.

 

[Kiarra]

The mustard gas (the Cambodian's replacement who's missing much of his tail) blew me a crappy bubblenest overnight, and he eats voraciously. He's already learned that I mean food, and so I get the "feed me!" butt wiggle every time I wander in his direction. I think this little guy is going to be just fine.

The red boy is still in a sitting position on the bottom. I changed his tank to something with higher water, but I also gave him a place to perch near the surface that he should be able to reach easily. He can swim around if he really tries, but it's a lot of work for him, and he would rather just barely stretch up to the surface. Found bubbles scattered in his tank, too, and then a little tiny cluster of bubbles that I would assume was his attempt at a nest. He, too, eats voraciously, whatever I give him, though he has trouble getting to the pellets, so I'm mostly feeding him live & frozen food, and peas. He's taken to flaring and wiggling his dragging bum at the girls next to him, so I'd say he's in extremely good spirits, all things considered.

 

[BettaMomma]

Do you think the same thing happened to your Lucky?

That was my first impression of what happened with Lucky but it was dismissed as next to impossible. I knew they had to get their tails caught on occassion!!

Glad you found someone who needed you,Kiarra.

Me too.
I kinda thought it was just too horrible to be true, but I guess not, huh?

Glad to hear they are doing fine, and I can't wait to see pics of both of them.
Have you named them yet?

 

[Kiarra]

The little red guy has the unofficial nickname of "Flop." Because that's pretty much what he does.

The mustard gas doesn't have a name yet. I have the hardest time naming Bettas. There's a little red girl I have that I've had for a few weeks, and she JUST got a name. And then there's that little Crowntail rescue who just barely got a name today, too (I'm calling him Lazarus, because I really thought he was dead when I first saw him, and, low and behold, he LIVES).