Alpha Has Died

Yes, Alpha the Beta has finally met the Omega.  The end.  Finé.  He is about to return to the great waters whence he came.

He was a good fish.  Always faithful, despite the turmoil I put him through.  He didn't care that the water was mucky most of his life, or that he would sometimes go days without being fed.  He was optimistic, and always wagged his fin when his master came around.

He managed to live 3 years, which apparently is average for his kind¹.  I think he died of embarrassment or fear.  Embarrassment, because Heather would frequently mock him.  Or fear, because in his last cleaning, I put a small plastic alligator in the water to keep him company.  We found him lying next to the alligator with his head very near his new friend's jaws.