Feature

Arlington Pet of the Week: Bubbles

Arlington’s newest Pet of the Week is Bubbles the Beta fish, who began the year in the second grade classroom at Nottingham Elementary School.

Here is what Bubbles’ temporary caretaker has to say about his life here in Arlington:

This aquatic resident of Arlington comes with quite a tale. Bubbles is a Betta fish, a type of fish originally from Thailand. We know he began the 2019 school year with his friends, in the second grade “Owls” classroom at Nottingham Elementary School.  His classroom friends all voted to give him his name, Bubbles, and it fits him perfectly — he regularly blows bubble nests on the edge of his tank.

Bubbles spent a happy school year paddling around his bowl, eating and sleeping and watching his friends learn from their teacher, who brought Bubbles to school to start the year.  All was well until a Friday in mid-March, when everything changed. Sadly, school had to close for a while.  Everyone agreed Bubbles would have been lonely spending all that time by himself in an empty classroom, so he had to move, fishbowl and all.

Fortunately, Bubbles was able to go home (for a while) with one of the Owls. We’re sure it was a bewildering transition to leave school, but Bubbles has settled in swimmingly in his new environment.  Bubbles now spends his days in the kitchen, actively swimming around the grass in his tank, or sheltering under his big pink leaf, or just napping on the surface or the bottom.  His temporary caretakers love how his vivid blue scales and colorful tank brighten up their home.  They also like having a new friend to keep them company as they wait for Nottingham to open again, at which point Bubbles can go back to swimming with his teacher and her new class of friendly Owls!