Fish Puberty
Joelle said before her coffee on April 18, 2008
Ladies and gentleman, after reviewing your incredible suggestions, observing my fish and going with my gut feeling, I bring you…
Neil Patrick Harris and Hashbrown
“Huh?” you might say. “I thought you wanted two-some names!” I did and still do kind of, but here’s the thing: I couldn’t shake NPH. I had to name my fish Neil Patrick Harris. I just did. And Kathy and I have this whole “Hashbrown Friday” thing and it just struck me funny to have a fish named Hashbrown. It suits him.
Which brings me to another reason for no two-some names: Hashbrown is looking… well, sickly. He won’t eat and he just lays on the bottom of the bowl all full of ennui. Occasionally he’ll swim slowly to the top and then just let himself slowly drift to the bottom. He’s not nesting (blowing little bubbles along the top), he’s not swimming, he’s not eating. He just lays there, quietly hating me like a teenage son. I switched him to a different shaped bowl last night (same as Neil Patrick Harris’, who seems quite happy), hoping that would help. I even put a plant in there so he had something to look at/hide in, but this morning, I found him lying languidly under the plant, writing on his blog about how I ruined his life. Typical.
So you can see why I didn’t name them Hall & Oates, which was high on my short list. What do I do if Oates bites it? I can’t just have Hall! Poor Daryl. If they were both happy swimming, nesting and eating, I’d have done it, but I can’t risk breaking up the set in the event of a water burial (*flush*). Plus, I can’t fit a tiny mustache on him.
Here’s hoping Hashbrown starts acclimating and eating. Live, Hashbrown, LIVE! There’s a whole world out there! Or… well, not for him, but one lap around the bowl and he won’t remember anyway.
Moxie Design Studios™
I hope Hashbrown makes it!
Are you using any kind of water treatment to remove chlorine when you set up the bowls?
Was Hashbrown active at the store when you bought him? Maybe he’s just a laid back mellow kinda dude?
from San Diego, CA • Cocktail: slightly dirty Grey Goose martini
@ktpupp: yeah, I’ve used the chlorine remover.
I’ve had bettas for a long, long time. I’ve also recently done some reading and this kind of behavior is relatively normal for a new fish. He should eventually ‘come around’ and get settled. Some it happens for faster. It’s hard to tell if they’re active in the store, considering they’re in like, a Dixie cup. haha!
I had him in a tall cylindrical vase, which I used to use for all my bettas, but I read that they need to be able to swim to the top easily and if that requires too much effort, they tend to just lie on the bottom all pitiful. So that’s why I switched him to the same kind of bowl NPH has. He’s happy as a clam!
I’m going to give this bowl a few more days and see if he eats. If he still refuses to eat, I’ll switch the food to a worms and see if he takes to that. If that still doesn’t work and he doesn’t come around, I might bring him in and see if they can recommend anything for him.
Or, maybe he’s just a mellow dude.
Have you tried grounding him, or taking away privileges? Damn teenagers ...
from Buffalo, NY
Dude, I don’t comment often, although I read regularly, but I had to say...except for the obvious sadness of the possibility of Hashbrown going to the Big Toilet Bowl in the Sky, this entry made me laugh out loud. Seriously. I’m sitting at my desk with a case of the giggles, all thanks to you. Thanks for making my Friday that much better!
Um, bring him in and see if they can recommend anything for him? How about, uh, replacement? If’n Hashbrown doesn’t snap out of it, they sold you a defective fish.
Or else I’m with tj. A stern warning and a timeout might do him some good.
from NJ
Good choice of names. I’ve got one who lives in a *giant* wine glass/goblet - his name is Elton - a flametail (get it?). Ok, ok - he’s really a crown tail - but he’s still flaming. Elton hangs out on the bottom too, or butts up to the side of his bowl next to the pink feather pen on the other side of the glass. He’s perfectly healthy, just a little “shy.”
from San Diego, CA • Cocktail: slightly dirty Grey Goose martini
@Racheal: haha! Thanks.
I can’t take credit for the tiny mustache joke, though. Ross actually said it first.
@dkaye: yeah, he could be shy, too. but I’ve had shy ones before. I’m hoping he starts moving around a bit more. My main concern is his lack of eating.
Great names. We have a pet betta named Charlie. My oldest named him that a over a year ago when the neighbor brought him over to us when he was two. It’s amazing that fish is still alive. We are so NOT pet people. I’m not a plant person, either - all my plants die. Gah.
from Los Angeles
I can live with your choice to not use any of the most excellent names that were offered. But Neil Patrick Harris and Hashbrown?
I can’t go for that. (No can do.)
Here’s hoping little Hashbrown weathers this storm. We’ve been through so much together—the divorce, the bankruptcy, the addiction years, the allegations of sex with a guppy....
from San Diego, CA • Cocktail: slightly dirty Grey Goose martini
@Darren: Well, it’s unfortunate my choice isn’t up to your high standards. lol. I like the names I’ve chosen. Except Hashbrown is no more.
from Pasadena, CA
Oh no! I’m sorry to hear about Hashbrown… :(
I actually had rabbits named Hall & Oates when I was younger. Oates went on to the great carrot patch first, but Hall was always my favorite anyways.