I tried to reply earlier but it said my post needed to be approved by a moderator - trying again and hoping this doesn't end up as a double post.

Congrats on your new fish! I had a betta named Simba, he passed in 2015, but he had a good 4 years of swimming! Hope you don't mind some unsolicited advice: NO plastic plants. Even commercial fake plants sold at chain stores labeled as "silk" plants tend to be too rough and rip up their pretty fins. Your best bet is either real plants or splurging on really soft faux plants from an exotic fish store. I had a goldfish most of my childhood (Dorothy, thanks Elmo) that I won at a carnival, she lived for 7 years. The same carnival is about to come up in August and I'm fighting the urge to gamble $15 (entry fee and to play the game) on a $.15 feeder fish, but the nostalgia is tugging at me


Really happy to hear about Jill!

And Elly, I always find pet-praise a very useful contribution