Martinismommy

Did your new boy arrive yet? I'm waiting to hear all about him...And of course we want photos!

pamd

He didn't arrive today, although Zeph (Marc) shipped him yesterday via USPS Overnight Express, just as he said he would do. The dragon boy was supposed to be here by 3 p.m. Marc gave me a tracking number, and I was anxiously on the phone and many times on the Web trying to track him.

When it became clear from USPS that it was impossible for the fish to arrive today, I e-mailed Marc, who wrote back in less than an hour. He shipped six boxes yesterday, and they've all wound up not shipped next-day. He ships a lot of fish and said, "I can't believe it!!!" I guess this doesn't happen a lot.

I stated my anxiety about the little guy being in a bag and a box for an extra day. I was more realistically worried about the extra stress than the dragon not surviving, *if* he arrives tomorrow. I asked how long the little guy could survive or not suffer serious stress.

Zeph shared an interesting story. He shipped a fish to a young lady in Utah via USPS, but it wasn't there after two days. She couldn't wait around for the third day as she had to go to Texas. When she returned, she found the box at the front door, outside, 17 days after Zeph had shipped. They both thought the fish would be dead, and to both of their surprise, the fish were alive! The lady named the male Miricle.

Well, roses to Marc for his careful packaging, and thorns to USPS. Throughout the day, I kept calling USPS and checking their Web site. No updates either by phone or Web since last night. The customer service people were all courteous but all had this strangely nonchalant attitude. Not a single one seemed cognizant of the fact that most people who pay big bucks for overnight shipping without a compelling reason would do so. Not a single one seemed cognizant that there might have been a very compelling reason. Such as a live fish. They don't care.

Thanks, Karen, for thinking of me and the new guy.

MousePotato

Oh, Pam, that's rough! I hate dealing with USPS. I've had my mail returned "no such address" before and my house has been here since 1983.

Best of luck to you and your new dragon. I hope he arrives tomorrow (today, technically). I, too, am eagerly awaiting updates and pictures.

That's a really cool story about the 17 day fish delivery. I mean, it's sad that it took so long, but quite a miracle the fish survived. Did you get nasty with the USPS customer service people? Want me to call them?

pamd

I didn't get nasty enough! Want to call them?

Here are a couple of numbers:

Arizona Consumer Affairs Office:
602-223-3223

Robert Saler, USPS chief executive, Customer Service, Tucson Metro Area
520-388-5090.

I'm soooo upset. I hope the new dragon will be okay. Thanks if you can help!

You see I'm so upset as to have done some research. I'll send my tracking number by PM to both you and Karen!

pamd

He was in Phoenix at 2:33 p.m. yesterday!!! That was a very recent update, after midnight tonight. USPS tracking is awful.

But I guess that means he'll be here in Tucson and home sometime today!!! More than a day late, and in a bag-'n-box for an extra day but better late than never! At least for now it doesn't seems they lost him!

Martinismommy

I just tracked them and it says he'll be there today....I can't wait to see him!

Allie

Me too!

Lonely Angel

I hope he arrives soon, Pam! I know you must be anxious to get him, and of course the first thing you will want to do is take pictures...right?

I'm sure your boy will be fine though. My Miami Aquarium bettas took three days to arrive and they settled in quickly. Othello was a bit stressed, but he's always a very nervous guy, and the others weren't bothered at all.

jdhef

I've seen Miami Aquarium referenced a few times, but I'm unfimiliar with them. I googled it before, but came up with nothing. Do they have a website or are they just sellers on Aquabid?

Martinismommy

Pams boy did not come from Miami aquariums...I'm not sure what happened to them their website has been closed for a few weeks now...They usually sell on E-bay....I bought Crush and Patron from them..

jdhef

Thanks for the info

Devon

Wow Pam, how nerve-racking! And shame on USPS Seriously, don't they care that there is a living creature in that package!?!?

I's so glad to hear he's going to be safe and sound with you soon! Can't wait to see photos and hear the news!

MousePotato

I see your baby was delivered this morning, so no excuse for not posting pictures!

Sorry it took me so long to respond (and I didn't get a chance to call them up and gripe them out). I've been in conference calls since 7:30 this morning!

Please let us know how he is doing!

MousePotato

Pam? I'm getting nervous here. Is he okay?

pamd

He arrived today, and what a BRAT he is! I'm happy to report that he was fighting his plastic bag like crazy, biting it, and thrashing around. He wanted out!

I had to wait awhile to acclimate him to get a friend's help this evening. I was so afraid he'd be a jumper that I was scared to open the bag. Soon as I let him out into the tank, he looks like "ahhhhhh home." And wanted to eat, eat, eat. Just a few hours later, he already knows everything in the tank, how to get into and out of his cave, going between plants, and most of all begging Mom for more food.

He about knocked me out of my chair when I first saw him in the tank with the light on. Even more shimmery and shiny than I expected, although Karen predicted that. He's still flirting with me and asking for more food at the moment even though his light is off. Since he's right next to the computer, I need to log off and let the little guy get some sleep after his long, rough trip plus tonight's pigfest. No pictures tonight, but maybe tomorrow!

pamd

Oh and one more thing about USPS. The mailman also called the seller, Marc/Zeph, when he tried to deliver it and said I wasn't home! The mailman left the box in the hot sun!!! Moron! I had to take off yesterday and today waiting for the fish and WAS home all that time! I definitely would have heard the doorbell or a knock on the door, plus Scout, my dog, would have barked. The mail guy DIDN'T go to the front door to see if I was home, could have left it on the shaded front porch at the front door, but instead left the fishie by the front gate in hot sun, even though the package was clearly marked "Live Fish" by the sender. Yet another idiot USPS guy!!!

Ohhhh geez, this fish is begging for attention again at this moment. What's a new Mom to do?

MousePotato

LOL! Congratulations, Mom!

I am so relieved and can't wait for pics! I showed the initial one to Husband (who left for his new job tonight ) and I think I planted the betta seed. THAT'S how gorgeous your boy looks!

Personally, I love brats. That's all I have!

Edit: Just read your second post. I hope "Cliff Claven" loses his job soon! That's really horrible! We had a pizza guy call us up once and ask why we weren't answering. We were on the couch, in view of the front door, with the main door open and just the storm door closed. The vos Savant brother was at the wrong house!

pamd

Oh gosh, the Dragon doesn't want to sleep. I guess he's a night-owl like me! He's seriously too active, considering all he's been through. He keeps staring at me for more food! I am so grateful to see his activity, coloring and hunger, but he needs sleep.

pamd

Whew! He went into his cave just now! He must be exhausted! Oooops he's coming back out again this minute. Flaring at me even though the tank light is off. He's showing off his colors and fins to me. What a FLIRT! He's just gorgeous! But what a brat! I can already tell I've got a fiesty one here. He's attacking some imaginary something. Yikes!

I love him!

pamd

Update at 3:45 a.m.: His tank light is still off, but the Stealth heater was buzzing. I decided to move it. That made him MAD!!!! A couple of live plants got uprooted in the process and he attacked them viciously! MY HOUSE, MY HOUSE, you messed with MY HOUSE! Too funny! He's quite a character.

shellbell4ever

I'm so happy to hear that your new boy has arrived alive!!But seriously... where's the pic's (LOL)You know how we all love PIC"S!!!
He really sounds like a feisty one,I'm sure he's so excited to be in his new home with his new Betta Mom perhaps in time he will settle down some.

pamd

I was trying to give him a real mellow introduction into the tank, but he's not a mellow kind of guy. I doubt he'll be camera shy. Pics tomorrow, probably. Thanks for asking!

COBettaCouple

Glad that he made it and looking forward to the pics!

MousePotato

What a character! I want him! You were still observing this at 3:45 AM... Do you ever sleep, "Mom?"

pamd

Well, here's my favorite picture of him so far. Although it far from captures his shimmering beauty, it kind of captures his attitude! Staring defiantly at me and yes, that's his dorsal fin in the background behind his halfmoon caudal fin. Both are much bigger than they look in the photo, even though he's a tiny guy. Impossible so far to capture his shimmering iridescence. Ferocious brat! But he's not camera-shy.

Greatly reduced photo for the board.

BTW, he's now officially called Norbert. Even the breeder loved the name and wrote, "I love it. Why didn't I think of that?"

He also shared an interesting tidbit about dragons. They're notoriously aggressive. They are very difficult to breed for that reason, because even more than most other bettas, they nearly destroy each other in the process. Based on Norbert's behavior, very easy to believe! He's fascinating to look at even though he's not brightly colored. All those dragon scales, mostly silver so far with gold and a bit of lavendar shimmering on top, all scales outlined distinctly by black. His fins including his tail are something else, too, so shimmering!

Sorry, I just can't get a good picture of him so far.

He's real mean, though! I know he doesn't have a super-sweet little face, but I kind of find his fierce face endearing, especially for a dragon!

Attached Images

Norbert 036 PSP.jpg (198.9 KB, 25 views)

Martinismommy

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol......Norbert is so handsome Pam....He has a very masculine look about him.....I bet you are having a blast watching him...I can't wait to come see you both and get some awesome photos of the little guy for the next calendar!

COBettaCouple

He's a great looking Betta and we love the little bulldog face.

jdhef

He definetly has a "don't mess with me" face. If he were mine (but sadly he isn't and you live to far away for me to just wait in front of your house until you go out) I would have named him "Leroy Brown" after the character in the Jim Croce song. He's quite a find!

MousePotato

He is gorgeous and Norbert is a perfect name! I love a fish with attitude!

I'm with jdhef - fortunately, you live too far away for a stealthy "fishnapping!" If you breed him, though, you will be inundated with pleas for his get! Put me on the list!

pamd

I can't wait for you to come meet him, Karen. Unfortunately, not everybody is invited. They openly admit to aspirations to steal!

Norbert is not breeder or show quality, but what a huge personality he has! His colors are even more gorgeous and he's almost shimmering beyond belief! Strangely, he has developed a bit of green on his fins today. Perfectly matches my computer desk, which is frosted green glass, and his tank is located right next to me tonight. More begging for food!