Wiggle Library

The National Wiggle Library holds 13 catalogued wiggles of real fighting fish, each with an official interpretation by a licensed Wiggle Interpreter. The interpretations are entirely made up. The fish are real, and lovely.

Clips play muted and loop. Tap a clip to play it. Credits and licences for every clip are listed under each one and on the Credits page.

Wiggle W-01

The Slow Patrol

Official interpretation

A deliberate glide along the length of the planted Realm, with intermittent fin-fanning. Under the Registry's Wiggle Interpretation Schedule, this is a Category 2 Inspection Wiggle: the fish is confirming that every plant is where it left it, and that no plant has been promoted without its knowledge. The slight pause near the centre indicates a ceremonial acknowledgement of the gravel. No action is required by the human, except to feel inspected.

Clip: "Betta fish in aquarium" by FalkinsOG, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Trimmed into two 10-second loops, audio removed, scaled to 720px and re-encoded. These adapted clips are shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Wiggle W-02

The Return Leg

Official interpretation

The same fish, later, travelling the opposite way. The Registry classifies this as a Reciprocal Patrol, required by section 6 of the Bowl Sovereignty Act so that the Realm is inspected symmetrically. Interpreters note a slight upward tilt at the turn, formally read as "and another thing". The other thing has never been identified.

Wiggle W-03

The Tiny Hunter

Official interpretation

A very small wild betta fry, twelve days old, in pursuit of something even smaller. This is a Category 7 Juvenile Ambition Wiggle. The fry is declaring, in the strongest terms available to a creature this size, that it intends to be important one day. The Registry has pre-approved its future paperwork as a gesture of encouragement.

Clip: "Betta channoides fry 12 days old hunting" by Ryan O. Hershey, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0. Trimmed to a 10-second loop, audio removed, scaled and re-encoded.

Wiggle W-04

The Shadow Committee

Official interpretation

Two wild bettas move quietly among dense plants while a snail supervises. The Registry interprets this as an informal meeting of a Shadow Committee. The minutes are believed to read: "Item 1, the snail. Item 2, still the snail." The snail has been thanked for its attendance in accordance with regulation 11 of the Bubble-Nest Planning Regulations 1994.

Clip: "Betta channoides male and female together 05-11-2025" by Ryan O. Hershey, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0. Trimmed to a 10-second loop, audio removed, scaled and re-encoded.

Wiggle W-05

The Bowl Address

Official interpretation

A betta hovers in a round bowl with a decorative moss ball. As the bowl is round, the front cannot be determined, so the fish addresses all fronts at once. This is formally recorded as an Omnidirectional Statement. Note: real bettas do much better in a larger heated, filtered tank than in a small bowl, and the fish has asked us to mention it.

Clip: "Fish in Aquarium" by Alina Vilchenko, Pexels, Pexels Licence. Trimmed, scaled and re-encoded.

Wiggle W-06

The Driftwood Hearing

Official interpretation

A red and white betta glides past driftwood and broad leaves, fins fully deployed. The Registry reads this as an appearance before the Driftwood Tribunal. The fish is giving evidence. The evidence is "look at my fins". The Tribunal has accepted the evidence without reservation.

Clip: "A fish in an aquarium with plants and water" by Umut Kostik, Pexels, Pexels Licence. Trimmed, scaled and re-encoded.

Wiggle W-07

The Red Ribbon Hover

Official interpretation

A red betta suspends itself mid-water, fins trailing like a ribbon caught in a slow breeze. This is a Category 1 Glamour Hover and may require a Glamour Permit under section 8 of the Flare Display (Public Decency) Ordinance 2003. Interpreters advise observers to sit down.

Clip: "Vibrant Betta Fish Swimming Gracefully" by mohcen cherifi, Pexels, Pexels Licence. Trimmed into two loops, scaled and re-encoded.

Wiggle W-08

The Red Ribbon Hover, Continued

Official interpretation

The same fish, continuing the hover with a slow turn. A continued hover is treated as a separate submission. The turn is officially interpreted as "I am aware you are watching, and I approve". Observers who were already sitting may remain seated.

Clip: "Vibrant Betta Fish Swimming Gracefully" by mohcen cherifi, Pexels, Pexels Licence. Trimmed into two loops, scaled and re-encoded.

Wiggle W-09

The Community Liaison

Official interpretation

A blue betta swims through a shared, decorated tank among other fish. The Registry classifies this as a Community Liaison Wiggle. The fish is checking in with the neighbours, asking how everyone is, and quietly confirming that it remains the most glamorous resident. Note: some bettas can share with peaceful tank mates, but never with another male betta.

Clip: "Fishes in an Aquarium" by Vings Tube, Pexels, Pexels Licence. Trimmed, scaled and re-encoded.

Wiggle W-10

The Blue Hour

Official interpretation

A deep blue betta moves slowly through plants above blue gravel. This is a Category 4 Contemplative Wiggle. The fish is reflecting on its life, its Realm and whether the gravel is a little too blue. The Registry has noted its concerns and forwarded them to the Pebble-Colour Clash Consultancy, which said "perhaps blue".

Clip: "A Betta Fish Swimming Inside an Aquarium" by Daisy Sparkleweather, Pexels, Pexels Licence. Trimmed, scaled and re-encoded.

Wiggle W-11

The Crown Display

Official interpretation

A crowntail betta holds still in profile, fins spread like a crown. This is the most formal wiggle in the Library: the Stationary Wiggle, in which nothing moves except the dignity. The Registry interprets it as a portrait sitting. The fish is waiting for the artist to finish. The artist is you.

Clip: "A Betta Fish Swimming in the Aquarium" by Geovani Puerto, Pexels, Pexels Licence. Scaled and re-encoded.

Wiggle W-12

The Viewing

Official interpretation

A person and a betta look at each other through the glass of a bowl. The Registry interprets this as a Mutual Observation Event, in which each party believes it is the one doing the watching. Both are correct. No tapping occurred, and the Registry is very proud of everyone involved.

Clip: "Woman Looking At Fish In Aquarium" by Yaroslav Shuraev, Pexels, Pexels Licence. Trimmed, scaled and re-encoded.

Wiggle W-13

The Bright Red Notice

Official interpretation

A bright red betta swims steadily in clear water. This is a Category 3 Notice Wiggle, the fish equivalent of putting up a sign. The sign says "I am here, I am red, and I have been fed, but I would not say no". All notices are valid for the duration of the wiggle.

Clip: "Red Betta Fish In Freshwater" by Yaroslav Shuraev, Pexels, Pexels Licence. Trimmed, scaled and re-encoded.

Last updated: 19 October 2026. This page has been reviewed by the Committee for Reviewing Pages, which determined that it is a page.