My connection with pets over the years as an animal lover has been mainly with the furry variety. Cats, dogs, some domesticated birds, horses and guinea pigs were the critters with whom I had formed some wonderful relationships.
It did not really occur to me that folks can really get that attached to other varieties of pets that are not covered with fur or feathers. I was quite naive.
My husband has educated me, however, that there are many people that form close connections to fish!
My husband set up a small aquarium in our office for us to enjoy. I love to watch the four beautiful goldfish that reside in it. They interact with one another yet always come to greet my husband, swimming to the side of the tank when he enters the office where the aquarium is set up. We thought they would be a lot safer from possible harassment from our cats, as the room is off limits to them. (Click on the little paw to read more)
My husband adores our fish. They even have names. Two were named for his parents, Julius and Golda (nicknamed Goldafish), and Hinde and Benjamin were named for his grandparents. He brought these beautiful gold fish home about two years ago. He talks to them, greeting them each morning with a cheerful "good morning" and always says "good night" to them.
This being said, the other evening, my husband called out to me, quite upset. I rushed into the office to find out what was wrong. "We had the first death in our family," he said. "Hinde appears to be missing from the tank." With a hooded top on the tank, we both wondered what in the world had happened to her. He searched feverishly for her but to no avail. However, when he opened the hood, he discovered that Hinde was stuck in the seaweed and the filter. We did not know if Hinde was still alive, but, thankfully, when he was able to free her, she swam away swiftly and gratefully.
So we both learned that it is very important to check the filters and the plants when a fish appears missing. I am happy to report that Hinde is no worse for the wear and was, apparently, overjoyed to join her family.
I am wondering if this is a common occurrence. What kind of "weird" experiences have you had with your fish?
1. Great story! My fish always try to get into places they can't fit. I remember losing an african cichlid once when he wedged himself behind an uplift tube from an undergravel filter years ago. He did it in the night and the next morning I found him dead. :( My husband loved those fish. When he would get up in the morning they would jump at the surface of the water for his attention and he would hear them and feed them. :) Fish are amazing.
Posted at 9:00AM on Mar 7th 2007 by Janis