 Aquatic Rarities: Unconverted Petpets
by _brainchild_
--------
---Starring Chessangie the Royalgirl Draik, Chessella the Pastel Draik, Walda the Baby Kacheek, and Christine, their owner!---
Christine: Hi! One Halloween, I wrote about spooky unconverted Petpets (Issue 918---Spooky Rarities: Unconverted Petpets), but noted that there were aquatic UC Petpets, too. What is a UC Petpet? In the early 2000s, a handful of pre-existing Petpets were changed into new designs for various reasons. Any UC Petpet that was not attached to a Neopet at the time of conversion was changed to the newer version, but any UC Petpet that was attached to a Neopet remained in its UC form. These UC Petpets will change to the newer from if they are removed from a Neopet, which is why they can no longer be bought. If you’d like one, you’ll have to trade for a Neopet that has one attached--- Walda: THAT’S LAME!!! Christine: Sorry to disappoint you, Walda. You can buy the converted versions, though. Today, we will examine some of the UC Aquatic Petpets along with their newer counterparts. Please note that not all of them will be featured in the interest of keeping the article at a reasonable length; there are a lot of them. Thus, I have picked the ones that my pets and I find the most interesting. If you’d like to see them all, the recommended fan site Sunnyneo has listed them all here. Walda: I’m SICK of listening to you drone on and on! Christine: Sorry, I just had to explain the concept of UC Petpets to those who weren’t familiar... Angie: I hope that none of them bite. Christine: Don’t worry. They’re all in fishbowls. Angie: *sigh of relief* Walda: Yeah. Just keep your hands out of the fishbowls, dummy! Angie: *frowns* Christine: Walda, please be nice. Anwyay, onto the Petpets!
---Boris/Pepito---
 ^^^Boris (old)^^^  ^^^Pepito (new)^^^
Walda: He has a glum look on his face... BOOOORRRRIIIINNNNGGGG!!! Angie: Well, nobody’s happy all the time. I know your sister gets rather flustered whenever you act up... Ella: *turns to Angie* You’re absolutely right! Walda: *scowls* Christine: The Boris has spots that turn bright red when he is happy. Here, let’s give him a treat. ---throws a treat into the fishbowl---
---The Boris swims toward the treat excitedly and gobbles it up. His spots turn bright red.---
Ella: I guess that the Boris really likes that treat. Christine: It’s his favourite! Walda: It would probably taste like garbage to US, though. I could find tastier “food” in the Meridell Rubbish Dump... Angie: ANY sort of health food would taste terrible to YOU, Walda, since you eat junk food all the time! Walda: Is that a crime? Angie: No, but it’s unhealthy... Ella: ---tries to change the subject to prevent an argument--- If I didn’t know better, I would think that the Boris was sick with some sort of pox... Christine: Nope, he’s happy as can be! So is his successor, the Pepito. Pepitos can be taught to do tricks if you bribe them with treats. ---holds a treat in the air--- Peppy! Figure-eight!
---Peppy the Pepito swims in a figure-eight shape.---
Christine: Good boy!
---She throws the treat into the fishbowl, and Peppy happily gobbles it up.---
Ella: Awww, so cute! Angie: Just don’t overfeed them...
---Clippers/Frillabon---
 ^^^Clippers (old)^^^  ^^^Frillabon (new)^^^
Christine: Apparently the Clippers can be trained to cut a Neopet’s hair. That’s where it gets its name. Angie: Are you kidding me?! I would NEVER trust a Petpet to cut my hair! Walda: You need a haircut. That braid is practically down to your ankles! How does it grow so long, faerie magic?! Anyway, my Sword of Tawre will do the trick! Angie: *clutches braid possessively* DON’T YOU DARE!!! Christine: If Angie decides to get a haircut, it will be done by a professional, not a Petpet or her mischievous sister... Angie: Also, it will NOT be done at the Grooming Parlour in Neopia Central. I was never on good terms with that Red Usul... (Issue 754---The Perfumed Plight of a Posh Princess) Ella: I know. I remember. Angie: I would be afraid of the Clippers ACCIDENTALLY clipping off my hair... Walda: Then put it up in a bun, you dummy! Christine: Walda, please don’t be mean to your sister. Anyway, the Frillabon won’t cut your hair off. As you can see, it looks like a frilly ribbon, which is where it gets its name. I think it’s underrated, especially since it’s very easy to look after! Angie: Someone should make a hair ribbon that looks just like a Frillabon. Uni’s Clothing could sell it! It could come in a lot of different colours... Ella: I would actually wear that! Walda: Perfect for putting your hair up in a bun so that the Clippers don’t accidentally cut your braid off.
---Flapjack/Bubblisaur---
 ^^^Flapjack (old)^^^  ^^^Bubblisaur (new)^^^
Walda: Eyes on stalks?! GROSS... *scowls* Christine: Don’t judge a book by its cover, Walda. The Flapjack can cook some excellent meals for you! Walda: ---eyes light up--- Really?! I want chocolate--- Ella: No! Angie: How can a fish be a master chef?! It doesn’t make sense. The Flapjack doesn’t even have arms... Ella: I don’t know. Maybe it uses the stalks as arms. Angie: ...That’s a bit unsettling. Christine: Anyway, you may prefer the Bubblisaur. Bubblisaurs get longer as they grow older, so if they are cared for well, they can become rather long. Walda: Like the tail on the Meerca in Meerca Chase... Angie: Yeah, if I play on easy mode. In hard mode, I always mess up after only claiming a few Neggs.... Walda: Then practice more!
---Gomer/Filamen---
 ^^^Gomer (old)^^^  ^^^Filamen (new)^^^
Christine: The Gomer was quite an interesting fellow. He wasn’t a natural creation; he came to be as a result of an accident in a chemical processing plant--- Walda: Well, not all accidents have to be bad! Christine: Very true. Apparently, the Gomer was able to cure all underwater diseases with a kiss. I wonder if that was true or not? Angie: Well, none of us are sick, so we’ll never know. Also, before anyone asks, NO, I am not getting bitten by some sea creature to test the theory... ---shudders--- Walda: No one was expecting you to... Christine: We wouldn’t be able to test it anyway because I can confirm that the Gomer is extinct; not a single Gomer attached to a Neopet exists, and the ones that weren’t attached were all converted into Filamens. (See end of article for an explanation) Ella: Awww.... So sad... Christine: I know... Clearly, the Filamen lights up. I guess it could be used as a night light--- Walda: Before anyone asks, I do NOT need a night light! I’m not THAT babyish! Angie: I would think that the Filamen would need to sleep, too... Christine: I suppose that’s true. Well, if your lamp burns out, here is a substitute.
---Phishy/Phnard---
 ^^^Phishy (old)^^^  ^^^Phnard (new)^^^
Ella: Awww, what a sweet face. Christine: Speaking of sweet, the Phishy prefers sweet foods. It loves being fed candy. Walda: Well, it can’t have any of MY CHOCOLATE!!! Christine: That’s why I have brought a substitute. ---throws a jellybean in the fishbowl---
---The Phishy excitedly races toward the jellybean and gobbles it up. Then it stares at Christine with Puppyblew eyes.---
Christine: It wants more jellybeans.
---She tosses a few more jellybeans into the fishbowl, and the Phishy devours them with delight.---
Ella: The Phishy is super cute. I like it way better than the Phnard. *shudders* Christine: The Phnard--- Walda: It’s UGLY!!! Christine: Phnards look...interesting, and have a reputation for being “grumpy” and “lazy,” but I suppose that there is a plus side to every Petpet. Walda: Like what?! Angie: Well, a Neopet who has a Phnard probably won’t be bullied, since the Phnard looks intimidating. Walda: I’m a strong Battledome pet. The other pets at school know not to bully me anyway!
---Ruby/Eelika---
 ^^^Ruby (old)^^^  ^^^Eelika (new)^^^
Angie: Why is it called a Ruby? Walda: Ruby red lips, dummy! Christine: Walda, PLEASE don’t be rude to your sister. Angie: Wait, that lip colour is natural?! I assumed that someone put lipstick on it... Christine: Nope, the Ruby has naturally bright red lips. Apparently, this fish has a reputation for being “gruff” and “full of attitude,” but I don’t think that a Petpet should be judged prematurely like that. This Ruby could be very friendly. Angie: I hope it doesn’t bite...
---The Ruby jumps out of its fishbowl and lunges at Angie.---
Angie: ---backs away--- AAAAHHHH!!! Get it AWAY from me!
---The Ruby lands on the table and flops around.---
Ella: It needs to go back in its fishbowl... Angie: Don’t touch it without gloves on! It probably DOES bite!!! Walda: ---smirks--- I have a better idea.
---Walda uses her Heavy Blue Tunic to temporarily freeze the Ruby. Then she picks it up and puts it back into the fishbowl. Then Ella puts a cover over the fishbowl to keep the Ruby from jumping out again.
Angie: ...Why did that mean creature lunge at me?! Ella: It probably smelled the sandwich in your bag... Angie: You’re probably right. Christine: Anyway, the Eelika is an eel that needs to be kept in cool water to keep its skin healthy. As you can see, it’s a beautiful emerald green colour. Angie: ...Can it shock me? I’ve heard of electric eels... Christine: Not that I know of. Angie: *sigh of relief*
---Snappy/Spirkle---
 ^^^Snappy (old)^^^  ^^^Spirkle (new)^^^
Walda: ---rolls eyes--- A mini shark... WHATEVER!!! It doesn’t scare ME...
---Walda nonchalantly unwraps a chocolate bar and starts eating it.---
Christine: Walda, don’t---
---To Walda’s surprise and disdain, the Snappy jumps up, steals the whole chocolate bar, and pulls it underwater. Before she can react, the Snappy has devoured the entire chocolate bar.
Walda: WAAAAHHHH!!! IT STOLE MY CHOCOLATE!!! WAAAAHHHH!!! Angie: There are much better things you could be eating anyway. Christine: Yes, the Snappy loves chocolate. Walda: ---continues to throw a tantrum--- Christine: Walda, here are some chocolate jellybeans that I was going to give to the Phishy. Please stop crying now. Walda: ---grins and starts devouring the chocolate--- Christine: Anyway, if you don’t want a Petpet which will steal all your chocolate, then the Spirkle is a better choice. However, it’s known to be rather mischievous, so please keep an eye on it. Ella: It looks kind of odd... Christine: Well, great Petpets come in many forms. Don’t judge this one prematurely. Ella: You said that about the Ruby, and look how it acted... *sigh*
---Speck/Crabula---
 ^^^Speck (old)^^^  ^^^Crabula (new)^^^
Christine: Little is known about the Speck; it is described as an “enigma.” ---turns to pets--- Any guess as to what this mysterious life form could be? Angie: A sea sponge, maybe? Ella: That would be my best guess. Walda: Whatever it is, it looks UGLY!!! It can’t be much fun to play with, either... Christine: The Crabula is an alternative, but it likes to sneak up behind people and pinch them on purpose... Angie: Then remind me not to go near it. That’s just like biting!
----Swirly/Sproing---
 ^^^Swirly (old)^^^  ^^^Sproing (new)^^^
Walda: A snail?! All it does is eat, sleep, and move slower than a Slorg. BOOOORRRRIIIINNNNGGGG!!! Ella: I suppose it’s easy to care for, though. I could imagine several of these in a tank together... Angie: Too bad each Neopet can only have one Petpet. Ella: I could imagine several Neopets each getting a Swirly so they can live in the tank together... Christine: Yes, if these little guys were still obtainable. Their replacement, the Sproing, is primarily aquatic, but can bounce across land for short amounts of time. Walda: A Blumaroo could do WAY better! Angie: I like the bright purple colour on the Sproing. I’m a Royalgirl, so it matches me somewhat, I guess. Ella: You already have a Petpet. Angie: If I could have more than one, I’d consider a Sproing...
---Conclusion---
Christine: So, which Petpets were everyone’s favourites? Angie: The Frillabon. It’s rather stylish! I did NOT like the Ruby... Walda: We know! Ella: I like the Phishy. It’s adorable! Walda: Anything but the thieving Snappy! Christine: I think that all of these Petpets are unique in their own way and deserve loving homes. I just can’t pick a favourite! Anyway, be sure to go to Sunnyneo and /~Fotl (see end of article) to check out the Petpets we didn’t meet today if you are not already familiar with them. Until next time, dear readers!
---How do I know that the Gomer is gone forever?---
Although the Petpet Protection League (PPL) does not give links to the winning Petpets (only the names of the Petpets), I can tell that the Gomer is extinct by looking at the provided ages of the Gomer’s successor, the Filamen. According to the recommended fansite Jellyneo, the Filamen won the PPL on March 21st, 2019. The oldest Filamen in Neopia was 6409 days and 9 hours old at the time. Note that the Gomer, like all other Aquatic Petpets, was converted on August 29th, 2001. (Thank you to Sunnyneo for this information.) The time between the conversion date and the PPL date was 6414 days. Thus, a Gomer in its original form would have been at least 6414 days old on the PPL date. The oldest Petpet listed was 6409 days old, and thus not old enough to be a Gomer, so I can confirm that every Petpet on the list is in fact a Filamen, not a Gomer. According to Editorial 253, both UC and converted Petpets are eligible to win the PPL. If a converted Petpet that has a UC predecessor is chosen, then both the converted Petpets and the UC predecessors would be eligible to make the list, and the top 200 oldest Petpets would win. I am sad that the Gomer is gone, but I was able to come up with a definite answer, as people have been wondering about this Petpet for a while.
---Additional Credit---
If you are interested in learning more about UC Petpets, “The Neopian Museum of Petpet Antiquities,” at //www.neopets.com/~Fotl (listed with permission of the owner), has a wealth of information about them. When writing about UC Petpets, the museum was invaluable, providing images, item descriptions, and more. It also links to existing UC Petpets which are attached to Neopets for your viewing pleasure. (There is at least one UC Petpet for each species except for the Gomer, since it is extinct.) Happy reading!
| 
