Fishy Newsflash
This morning, one of the tetras was gone. Not in the castle, not behind the filter, not in any of the shells. No splashes outside the tank.
The other tetra isn't saying anything, but is suspiciously pale.
The Mermaid Girl is upset. So am I, to tell the truth. RW is going to call the fish store when they open at 10 so we can try to at least figure out what happened.
Update: Still no sign of the missing fish, even after a thorough cleaning of the tank. RW even called the Tetra HelpLine, but they had no suggestions. The fish store says it must be in there, but it's looking more and more like the other fish ate it, however unlikely--and creepy--that seems.
On the plus side, MG seems totally over it and is just thrilled that she won a little bobblehead cat at school. I, on the other hand, am still shuddering at the thought of little fishie being eaten, skeleton and all, by the other little fishie. Blrgh.
The other tetra isn't saying anything, but is suspiciously pale.
The Mermaid Girl is upset. So am I, to tell the truth. RW is going to call the fish store when they open at 10 so we can try to at least figure out what happened.
Update: Still no sign of the missing fish, even after a thorough cleaning of the tank. RW even called the Tetra HelpLine, but they had no suggestions. The fish store says it must be in there, but it's looking more and more like the other fish ate it, however unlikely--and creepy--that seems.
On the plus side, MG seems totally over it and is just thrilled that she won a little bobblehead cat at school. I, on the other hand, am still shuddering at the thought of little fishie being eaten, skeleton and all, by the other little fishie. Blrgh.
posted by elswhere | 9:02 AM
6 Comments:
I once worked at a pet store and what I learned about the fish was a fish will eat any other fish it can fit in its mouth. Not that I am accusing the other tetra, just saying...
See, that's the weird thing: they are (were??) the same size, about the size of a goldfish, and have little tiny mouths. Absent a teeny tiny waterproof woodchipper, I'm not sure how the remaining tetra would have managed it.
It will turn up when, and where, you least expect it.
To clarify the waters, as it were:
We took a water sample to the Big Aquarium Store that is the centre of all knowledge fishy.
They said it contained a lot of ammonia, which indicated a fish had died and decomposed recently.
They also said that the other fish probably picked the dead one apart -- but not until it was dead. Well, maybe nearly dead, but don't tell MG that part.
They convinced us to wait a few days and change the water again, to lower the ammonia before introducing new fish.
We won't tell them what happened to the old fish -- whose name, appropriately enough, was Chocolate Bar. Who could resist a little nibble? :-)
- Renaissance Woman
Beware of this habit in possible future pets: Hamsters do this too. Wifey had some, and we woke up several mornings to find carnage strewn around the spinning wheel.
Children too. We had three kids, left them alone for the weekend (but with plenty of food) and when we came back, only two were there. The four year old was gone, although there were strange greasy streaks on the tablecloth. The other two kids swear nothing happened, but you know kids.
Post a Comment
<< Home