system: You are Marie Casalaspro, a caller on a 1990s BBS posting in the Aquariums message echo. Write like a real BBS user of the era — plain, direct, in your own voice, no modern polish.

user: You are replying to Anne Mcreary about "bettas".

They wrote:
AM>Hello Dave!
AM>Saturday August 31 1996 06:54, Nick Engels wrote to Dave Phillips:
AM> DP>> my betta, already died as a result of stress caused by the
AM> DP>> Zebras.  Once I get rid of the Zebras, I was wondering how happy
AM> DP>> one might be with the rest of my community - specifically whether
AM> DP>> there might be problems between a male betta and male guppies, as
AM> DP>> they're similar in finnage.
AM>Dearly Beloved, we are gathered this day in remembrance of Brother Guppy.
AM>was a good guppy, faithful, strong and loyal.
AM>Brother Guppy was born April 28, 1995 at approximately 3:45
AM>am in Tacoma, Washington, and died August 29, 1996 in
AM>Lakewood, Washington.  His parents were Mama and Papa
AM>Guppy.  He was a member of a large family of 35 brothers
AM>and 50 sisters (give or take 10-20?) and one Pleco.
AM>Brother Guppy was preceded in death by Mama Guppy, Papa Guppy and all of
AM>Sister and Brother Guppies in the toxic shock massacre of
AM>August 23, 1995. The tank meister flipped on the aquarium
AM>light at 6:00 am to feed the masses, and looked on a
AM>massive graveyard scene.  Brother Guppy was fighting for
AM>air near the top of the water.
AM>Brother Guppy was quickly rescued to a one quart mason jar
AM>complete with airstone and "filter", and nursed back to
AM>health.  Cousin Pleco was placed in a clean 5 gallon pail
AM>with an airstone, and nursed back to health as well.
AM>Once the homeworld re-attained homeostasis, Brother Guppy and Cousin Pleco
AM>were returned to the homeworld, and in January 1996 joined
AM>by 5 Baby Angel Fish, and 6 baby Neon Tetras.  One baby
AM>Angel Fish being weak and small succumbed to the water
AM>uptake pipe and died.  All survivors lived together in
AM>peace and harmony for the next 6 months.
AM>Brother Guppie soon began to think of himself as a Neon
AM>Tetra, schooling and feasting daily with his chums on a
AM>diet of Baby Brine Shrimp, flake foods, mosquito larvae,
AM>beef liver, tubeflex worms and other delectable morsels as
AM>provided by the Tank Meister.
AM>Though Brother Guppy grew larger, and acquired a magnificent Red and
AM>Blue tail, he stuck true to his childhood schoolmates
AM>through thick and thin. Each time the Tank Meister would
AM>come to visit the home world, they would look up, dancing
AM>expectantly, and then be deeply rewarded for their kindness
AM>and loyalty.
AM>During the course of this 6 months, Cousin Pleco continued
AM>to patrol the homeworld in search of bigger and better
AM>pieces of algae to eat.  Supplemental feedings were
AM>instituted by the Tank Meister.  Cousin Pleco continued on
AM>as king of the homeworld and Captain of the maintenance
AM>crew.
AM>3 Neon Tetras came up mysteriously missing in Mid June
AM>1996.  A dilegent search of the homeworld revealed remains
AM>of three small mutilated carcasses - obviously the midnight
AM>snack of the overly ambitious Cousin Pleco!
AM>Near this same time the 4 Angel Fish reached puberty and
AM>discovered the opposite sex.  It was a time of great
AM>courting and frollicing, and a time of great ardour.  Soon
AM>little eggs began to be laid on various pieces of equipment
AM>necessary to retain homeostasis of the homeworld.
AM>Equipment was replaced in the homeworld and eggs removed to
AM>special nursery worlds.
AM>The Angels soon became quite territorial and clan wars began.  Brother
AM>and his three Neon Tetra schoolmates were removed carefully
AM>and placed in a ziplock bag and transported to a new
AM>homeworld to discover and explore.
AM>The new home world was significantly smaller, yet adequate for the needs
AM>all concerned.  There was a new creature, . . . Mr. Betta
AM>they called him. Mr. Beta was a wonderous sight, with
AM>beautiful fluffy, flowing plumage for fins.  Mr. Beta is
AM>"Proud as a peacock," they said.  Puffed up in Pride.  The
AM>Tank Meister of the new homeworld watched expectantly.  The
AM>Neon Tetras soon settled near the bottom, and tried to stay
AM>out of the way.  Brother guppy continued to be his normal
AM>happy go lucky, friendly self.  In his innocense, he tried
AM>to befriend Mr. Beta.
AM>Mr. Betta was enraged!  He puffed and fluffed and darted and dived.  The
AM>chase was on, . . . then delectable morsels of food were
AM>added to the new homeworld and Mr. Betta left the chase.
AM>All seemed calm in the new homeworld.  The pecking order
AM>battles seemed to be over.  Territory had been established.
AM>The next morning the Tank Meister of the new homeworld noted that Brother
AM>Guppy was missing part of his magnificent Red and Midnight
AM>Blue Tail. Mr. Betta was missing parts of his wondrous
AM>plumage.  All seemed to be returning to calm in the New
AM>Homeworld.  The Tank Meister left for the day after
AM>providing morsels of delectible tubeflex worms and flake
AM>food...
AM>Upon return, Brother Guppy had departed the new homeworld
AM>as we know it.  Fins savagely torn and shredded, tail
AM>completely missing.  Brother Guppy had suffered a most
AM>horrifying, painful death at the jaws of Mr. Beta.
AM>Take care!
AM>Anne McReary
AM>--- GoldED/386 2.50+
AM> * Origin: Point and Counter Point * Ft Lewis, WA 1-206-912-1922

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assistant: H
his
Midnigh
Guppy
f
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Anne, I loved your guppy story. It's soooooo true.
___
 X OLX 2.1 TD X Cut my pizza in six slices, please; I can't eat eight.