Big Tymer or The Reverend

Let me go ahead and fill you in on the situation, and then I'll propose an interesting question.

I recently acquired two small fish: Big Tymer, a red-tailed shark, and The Reverend, a white-tailed shark.

Big Tymer was acquired a day before The Reverend. I didn't purchase him...he was banished from his previous home for attacking the other inhabitants.

The Reverend, purchased a day later, seems to be more methodical when it comes to destruction.

As soon as I put the two together, they attacked each other. The fighting continued for about 20 minutes...one would attack the other and chase him around, then he'd quit...25 - 30 seconds later, the other would would attack the previous instigator and the games would continue.

Big Tymer is a little bit larger than The Reverend and quite a bit more aggressive. The Reverend holds his ground very well and seems to hover on the bottom of the tank in his area...he doesn't appreciate Bit Tymer infiltrating this area and will not hesitate starting a feud if he comes near...however he never attacks unprovoked.

I like to think of Big Tymer as a gangster thug type of guy...and The Reverend of a criminal mastermind.

Of course, all of this is simple setup for the real question:

If engaged in a fight to the death, who would the victor eventually be: Big Tymer or The Reverend?

[Ugly Bastard]

Orgazmo, answer to your closing question there: Big Tymer, no question about it.
Now for my fish story:

The Code for Pets in a College Dorm is This:
No Pets (except for fishJ)

Being the coy young man that I am, I happened to notice that little loophole in parenthesis there.

So I went to Walmart and purchased two betas. Being the Seinfeld enthusist I am, I of course named them "Jerry" and "Elaine", what else?

Yeah Elaine ate Jerry's Neck, and this is where my story ends (I don't like to dwell on things here)

After Elaine dies (which I am encouraging now by not feeding her) I will be buying one male beta: Cosmo Kramer.

Don't Betas instantly attack each other and fight to the death?

I'm doing much the opposite to Big Tymer and The Reverend. I feed them a minimum of 5 times a day...as I hope for them to grow to be a record size in a short amount of time. It's at this point that I would show them to others and maybe enter them in fish fighting competitions. I think it'd be pimp.

[This message has been edited by Orgazmo (edited October 16, 2002).]

[tonguegina]

Well, I'll have to see these fish for myself, but I think that The Reverend might win if he's as smart as you describe him as. Whenever you see a movie or hear about something like this, the smart ones always win. Ofcourse, it's just a fish, so it could be different, and in the wide scope of things doesn't really matter.

This is how I view the whole situation. Short term, Big Tymer will definitely rule The Reverend. If they get into a small fight, it's The Reverend that will come out with the most wounds, that's not even debatable. However, in the long run, I think that The Reverend will be the king of the tank...let me go ahead and tell you why.

The Reverend's tactic or much less confrontational. He is probably taking small pieces from the hide of Big Tymer whilst he swims around the tank aimlessly. Soon, before Big Tymer even realizes what's going on, The Reverend will have consume half of his red swimming fin...leaving him critically handicapped in the mobility department. In the end, Big Tymer's demise would easily come as a result of some tricky swim maneuvers and blatant strikes to the neck from The Reverend. Following is my prediction:

If Big Tymer doesn't hurry up and eliminate The Reverend, he will be weakened to the point of no return and The Reverend will eventually reign victorious. To be honest, though, I don't see Big Tymer harnessing himself like that...I predict to find The Reverend floating at the top of the tank very soon. I'll keep you updated.

[StDx]

unfortunately, I have keen insight into this situation for I live with a connoisseur of aquatic wildlife. upon reading the entirety of your dilemma, he has come to the conclusion that the only way harm can come to either of the fish is to chase each other into objects or to the point of shock. he further commented that these particular types of sharks are physically incapable of biting, instead their mouths are designed to inflict force similar to that of a vacuum. hence it should prove to be a long battle...

final analysis:
the reverend, or rev as he has come to be known in our household, will eventually come up victorious. here is why... his cunning and coy manner allow him to rationalize the situation and understand that nothing is to be gained nor lost by being chased about the tank, therefore going into "shock" is not an option.

extrenuating circumstances:
if another object (e.g. a pointy metal pin of sorts) were to be placed into the tank, the outcome would be less predictable and the struggle will move along with greater velocity.

(mostly dictated by clitucci)

[This message has been edited by StDx (edited October 18, 2002).]

Unfortunately for you, me, and the entire race of humans, a quick peak into my small yet sufficient aquarium after school housed a shocking sight. Sadly enough, whilst The Reverend swam around proficiently, Big Tymer layed on his side, upon the bottom of the tank. To those who said that Big Tymer would outlast The Reverend, you were clearly wrong. To those taking "Rev's" side, congratulations. To you all, please, take a moment of silence for the late Big Tymer.

Big Tymer II may come someday...but I am going to give The Reverend some well deserved alone time for now.

[Ugly Bastard]

I'm more than sincerly sorry for your loss. I had the same situation in my home tank as well. Elaine ate Jerry, so she has been rewarded with a tank of her own for a while. When she starts to get weak, Cosmo Kramer will enter the tank with her, eat her, and the cycle will continue.
My condolences, if there is anything you ever need....

Unfortunately, The Reverend was found motionless in a vertical position last night. At approx. 10:48 p.m. paramedics were dispatched to the tank; however, their efforts were too little, too late: The Reverend was pronounced dead on the scene. Police are stilling looking into the cause of death, as they have yet to rule out foul play.

This may very well end my fish harvesting days...as the little fuckers die within 2 weeks. They live just long enough for me to get attached and then, just as easily as they came, they go. Being an unstable person to start with, this type of emotional cocklery isn't the type of thing that I have to put up with so...for my sanity, I believe that I'll happily withdraw myself from the sport of fish having...

[StabMaster Arson]

I don't know anything about it so tell your cop buddies to quit calling.


oh yeah, orgazmo, I might've dropped a glove at your house.