RIP Tom.

Tom, 2 1/2, Fish, First Official Mascot of Mt. Tom's Homemade Ice Cream

Easthampton - Tom the beta fish, 2 1/2, of Cottage Street, Easthampton, passed away and was flushed away on November 18th, at Mt. Tom's ice cream shop.

Tom was the finned mascot of Mt. Tom's Homemade Ice Cream, beloved by scoopers and customers alike. He got his name from one lucky and creative customer who won a 'name the fish' contest and took home a swanky Mt. Tom's giftcard as the prize. Tom was a laid back character with a keen wit and a penchant for flaky, dry beta food flakes. He didn't say much but was always there with a vacant look and a good fin flap when your spirits were down. He never did get to fight any other beta's, but occasionally Jim would play the Rocky theme, and Tom would swim around his bowl really fast to create a whirlpool, then switch directions and try to swim as fast as he could the other way, fins flailing. He was an inspiration to everyone who met him, and he will be sorely missed.

A brief service was held in the bathroom of Mt. Tom's before Tom began the watery journey to his final resting place. Donations in his memory may be made to the Beta Fighting Fish for Peace Fund.




2 1/2 years, that's pretty good for a fish to live in a bowl, don't you think? I'm not sure what 2 1/2 is in human years, but I think it's safe to say Tom lived a full life.

Things didn't look so promising for his successor yesterday. Tom II, Tom Junior, Tom the 2nd spent his first afternoon enroute to his new home in what might be considered a fairly hostile environment for a fish. As you can see by the photos below, Tom II quickly discovered he wasn't in Petco anymore....




Fear not, Tom II was never left unattended and fared his introduction to Bre's cat Styx just fine. Here he is enjoying his first swim in the new digs. A mansion compared to that little bowl he's been living in for 'only a guy named Bill wearing a Petco badge' knows how long...

In the interest of full disclosure, I was planning to just get another blue-colored beta, toss him into a fresh bowl, and pretend nothing ever happened. Then I found myself standing in front of a couple dozen betas in little bowls, and I just liked this one. I was fairly certain someone would have noticed Tom's transformation which no doubt would have led to a host of conspiracy theories, whispers, and hurtful rumors. And I just thought Tom I deserved more than that.

On a lighter note, the crew and I welcome Tom II to the fold, and I hope you'll stop by to say hello soon.