I'm quite sad. My poor, cranky old betta, Sushi, is not long for this world. He's been slowing down, and last night, when I came home, he was lying at the bottom of his tank. He'd swim up for air, then back down.

I put him in a shallower bowl with a little plant to keep him company for the night. That way, he wouldn't have to struggle for air. This morning, he was much the same. However, I had to put him back in the tank, which I did not want to do. You see, my room is absolutely frigid at the moment, and without my tank's heater, the bowl water goes ice cold way too quickly. I'm trying to think of some way to heat a small bowl over the weekend. I have an electric tea cozy that might work, but I fear frying the poor guy.

Well, at least it's just old age and not some terrible flesh-eating disease. Sushi was my first betta. I think that after two moves and six car rides, he just doesn't want to be displaced anymore. In his own way, I'm betting this is his typically cantankerous way of saying, 'bitch, please.'

I left him a little Buddha to keep him company.