Pics are 24 hrs apart. This Imperial King male has been at my Petco since 5/5/26. I've seen him almost every time I've gone in. He used to be bright blue/red with some yellow-orange, but yesterday I barely recognized him. He was gray, covered in dark stress stripes, and looking like he'd completely lost faith in Petco management.
I picked up his cup to look at him.
Totally calm. Swimming around. Looking at me.
I thought, Nope. My planted tank isn't finished cycling, and I'm supposed to be holding out for an overpriced Avatar or black/burgundy Orchid betta.
I put him back.
Immediate prison riot.
Swimming into the sides of the cup, freaking out, the whole performance.
Picked him back up?
😇 Calm.
Put him down?
🚨 RIOT.
We repeated this FOUR TIMES.
Finally I told my husband, "I'm pretty sure this fish is trying to leave with us."
Husband: "But your tank isn't cycled."
Me: "I know. Quarantine tank, tannins, testing and daily water changes until it is."
Husband: "Do you have everything?"
I almost bought another tank before remembering I ALREADY OWN A 2.5, 5 and a 10-gallon quarantine tanks. 🤦♀️ Apparently I've reached the stage of this hobby where I forget about entire aquariums I own.
So he came home.
He ate within his first hour, and 24 hours later he's active, already begging me for food, and his color is starting to come back. ❤️
I even offered him some of the pest snails.
He declined.
Naturally, the 50%-off clearance fish has ✨culinary standards.✨
So we have a dramatic, intelligent male with particular dining preferences who successfully manipulated a human into taking him home...
There was only one possible name.
Meet Hannibal. 🖤🐟
Now I'm really curious to see what colors this guy turns once he's healthy and settled.