Our Finned Friends

The hum and gurgle aquariums can now be heard from the rooms of my children. Yes, Corwin and Clara finally got their fish. They received their tanks (2 gallon hexagon shape) for their birthday, but we waited until after Thanksgiving to get their fish. First, I had to take them to choose their gravel. Who knew that this would be such a difficult choice? Clara settled on a natural-looking beige stone that has some naturally occurring pink in it (kind of a pink quartz colour). Corwin chose the most hideous neon rocks - blue and green and pink and yellow and orange, all fluorescent colours. I almost had him convinced to get black rock with the fluorescent mixed in, but hey, it's his tank.

Once I got the tanks set up on Saturday, we let them run overnight to get the water to room temperature so they were ready for fish. On Sunday, we made the trek to Big Al's Aquarium Services. They knew ahead of time that Nemo was not available for their tank (too small, not salty enough!), and were looking for either one goldfish or a Beta and a shrimp. Once they saw the male betas, they were sold. Clara picked a beautiful maroon-bodied fish, with a maroon, purple, white and black tail. Corwin's beta is a peacock-blue/green colour, which can look more blue, green, or even purplish depending on how it is swimming. And they each got a freshwater shrimp, which are kind of freaky because they are transparent.

It was difficult for the kids to be patient when we got home. They wanted their fish to be swimming in their tanks right away, but it takes a while (float the bag for 30 min, snip the bag and add water for 15, slip in. Repeat for shrimp). Finally . . . they were in, and the naming suggestions were flying around. Ladies and gentleman, the final selections were:
Clara's beta: Poisson (that's French for fish)
Clara's shrimp: Whiskers (sounds like a cat, yes, but he does have long whiskers)
Corwin's beta: Blue Boy (from the movie "Big Fat Liar". And, according to Weasley, also a gay porn mag!)
Corwin's shrimp: Washington

One day, I will get a digital camera and post pictures. God, I hope these fish aren't floating any time soon!!!