I am happy to introduce a new member in my family — Poni the betta fish! When I brought him home from the Petco in Cambridge in October, he was so happy. I can tell because he kept wiggling his tail in a way that reminded me of hula dancers moving their hips (?) Which, of course, led me to come up with a suitable name, one that describes his “purple/violet” color and his lively movements. With the help of Randy and a Hawaiian-English dictionary, we settled on Poni (the color of purple).
I haven’t had a pet for several years now. The last betta I had was in 2006 and it didn’t last very long. Maybe it’s because of experience, or my old age, that I’m becoming more aware of how I take care of things. I have to admit that I didn’t do much research before getting Poni, but once I got him, I knew immediately that I needed to take care of him the proper way. I read many many different blogs and discussions boards on betta care. I made sure to get a good size tank (2.5 and 5G) and some reputable tank heaters (by Marineland). I swear by Amquel and Novaqua for conditioning the water and getting rid of ammonia. I’ve also stocked up on meds when disaster strikes. With such basic items, I made sure to look for quality and value. I think Poni deserves all the best things a pet store has to offer.
The things I love most about Poni are his positive attitude, voracious appetite, and his attractive dance moves. He makes a great practice buddy and lets me know that he is listening to every mistake I make! He’s been through some tough times in the past couple months that has taken a toll on his physical appearance. For Thanksgiving, he had to live without food and water changes for 5 days. At that time, he was sharing a tank with another betta, Jaide, who passed away. Luckily, he didn’t get infected and I was able to nurse him out of depression. Over Christmas/New Year’s, Poni had to stay with my brother. I think the commute from Boston to Providence was tough on Poni and his fins started shrinking. He looks like he got a haircut!
Now we’re back to normal life on a semi-regular schedule (he still stays up til 1AM with us) and we’re a happy family. I change his water and move his temple around so he doesn’t get bored. For V-day I’ll get him some yummy Betta pellets to indulge on and maybe a new silk plant to play with. Enjoy your moments with your lovable pets! I sure do… :)
