Meet Chai

While my parents were down for the weekend, my mom and I went to IKEA (we needed napkins & scrubby brushes, that's it, honest!). Right next door to the IKEA in Burlington is SuperPet - where I worked one summer a few years ago. This is also where I bought a fish last fall ... but it died within a month when I switched it containers.

So I decided to get a replacement fish while I was there - why not? The bettas, or Siamese fighting fish, are extremely beautiful and easy to look after. Plus, they're entertaining. So I chose the brightest red one with gorgeous, large fins. So large that when he settles on the bottom, his bum/tail end sticks upward since he won't "close" his fins.I named him Chai - not after the tea, but after some Thai (AKA Siamese) monarch. I was searching for Thai names (since he is a Siamese fighting fish) and found Chai on some website. I like it! OK, and because I like the tea. He's doing quite well - very active, big appetite (I love how he sticks out his gills and "attacks" his pellet when he's feeding). He's even working on a nest of bubbles: I love how he's always super excited to see me - and comes to stare at me until I pull out the box of food. He's good company, sitting next to my laptop. All he needs now is a plant or something to hide in...