Caesar's Palace

Alaska or bust! The husband planned a fishing trip with the boys, a guy trip where they can all be together one last time before everyone goes their separate ways. Our oldest son was at college but came home four days prior to the trip. Not much time to get ready if you ask me, but he didn't seem worried. As a matter of fact, his mind was more on his new pet than on preparing for his Alaskan adventure. He was home one day and the next thing I know he went out and purchased a fish, a Crowntail Betta to be exact, a tank with all the trimmings, a book on Betta's, and four different types of food. Apparently Betta's get bored with their food so it's recommended that you give them a variety to eat. He named his fish Caesar and decorated his tank with Roman columns and plants. It didn't take Caesar long to live up to his name, he made it very clear right from the start what food he likes and dislikes. He had crab, freeze dried blood worms, shrimp and frozen blood worms to choose from. The tiny red blood worms became his favorite on the menu, shrimp and crab being the least. Emerson was determined to stick with the books recommendation and put Caesar on a eating schedule. Freeze dried worms in the morning and frozen blood worms in the evening. The night before the guys leave, Emerson wrote down all the care instructions for his Betta, as I would become the fish sitter for five days.

Instructions:

- Use the tank water to soak the food

- Remove any uneaten food

- Feed twice daily

- Dried worms in the morning/frozen worms in the evening

- leave the light on during the day, turn off at night

After the first day, Caesar was spitting out his breakfast. Freeze dried worms was not what he wanted and he already made it clear he didn't like the crab and shrimp, the only thing left on the menu was the frozen blood worms, but what about wanting a variety to eat? The book said to give them a variety. Ahhh, to heck with the book he's in my care now. The finicky fish had more than enough to choose from and all he wanted was the blood worms. Fine with me, if that's what Caesar wants, then that's what he's getting. But personally speaking, if you rescue a fish from the store, give him a larger tank and feed him better than he's ever eaten before, wouldn't you think he'd be a little more grateful? Maybe his name should be Oliver, and instead of columns and plants for his tank decor he should have plastic trash...Just a thought. Anyway, I explained to Emerson Caesar's new eating habit and how he perfers the frozen worms over the freeze dried worms.

Still not convinced that he should only have one type of food, Caesar's slave went out and brought back guppies. Another recommendation from the Betta book was to feed them a live fish every so often, this is a good way for them to get the protein they need to stay healthy. Emerson chose the smallest guppy to be the guinea pig, or the sacrificial lamb as I see it. The chase was on. Caesar swam after the little guppy, but the baby fish was much quicker darting here and there. Soon the Betta grew tired of the chase and came to the surface to rest. He tried once again to capture Mr. Swifty but the little guppy would have none of it and kept darting all over the tank. Finally Caesar gave up entirely and had this look about him that said, " Just give me my blood worms." Four types of food and three guppies later, and all the Betta wants is his blood worms, so much for doing it by the book. Emerson was only home for a day before he had to go back to school. He packed up his fish supply, put Caesar in a traveling tank then headed back to college. What about the baby guppies? They were left behind.....I am now the new owner of three baby fish...Great....