I had a goldfish that could break dance on the carpet... but only for, like, twenty seconds and only once.
Breakdancing Goldfish
Categories
Explanation
Experiment
The joke is funny because it sets up the expectation of a talented fish, but then quickly reveals the dark reality that the fish is dying or dead, turning a seemingly impressive skill into a morbid event. The punchline subverts the initial image of the breakdancing fish, adding to its humor.