Won't have a big post today, but something that I think might be educational.
So on Monday morning, when I woke up, I wanted to check how Mori was doing. The tank was still fairly newly set up, so I wanted to make sure all was good. I walked to the front of the tank and said good morning to the little guy, like normal (which sounds very much like pretty silly baby talk, but, he's my fish, so whatever. I think he loves it!). I didn't flip on the light as it is set to come on automatically about 8 am. There was enough light coming in from the main window from the rising sun that I can usually find him.
I looked around through all of the new decorations and where Mori was mainly hanging out on Sunday night (the corners, where he still likes to puff his chest out at his reflection a little). Hmm. Didn't see him anywhere. Maybe in his little toy cave? Nope, didn't see him in there. So, I went to the side of the tank to check there.
There he was! Cute little guy... Wait...he looked stuck between one of the plants and the glass of the tank. Hold on...was he moving his mouth at all? HE WASN'T! Okay, had to settle down... What about the gills? Were they moving? Sweet Jesus, they weren't!
At this point, I was about in tears. Gabby was still getting ready in the bedroom and I didn't want her to know that Mori was dead, so I very carefully stepped into the room and grabbed a towel. I went back to the aquarium, rolled up my sleeve and was ready to move the plant and watch my little friend float to the top.
So, a wiggled the plant that looked as though it had accosted him (in my angst ridden mind, I could imagine the evil plant viciously attacking my beautiful, innocent Masahari Morimoto). Mori floated gently away from the plant, but did not rise to the surface. Oh, now I was in true breakdown mode. I was going to have to get way down there and net him out. Woe is me!
So, I kneeled down and opened the doors on the stand to get the little net out. By this time, the water works had begun and tears were slowly trickling down my face. I felt like a terrible fish father and just knew I'd kill any fish I ever came into contact. All of this for nothing...
As I stood up to do my solemn duty as the companion of the venerated Masahari "Midnight" Morimoto, I steadied my nerves and tempered my resolve. Someone had to take care of him, and since I knew I had played a hand in his death, it would be me.
I walked to the edge of the tank and opened the lid of the hood. As the net began it's descent into the clear waters of the tank, I looked down to make sure I was angling the tool to the appropriate location in this death trap I called an aquarium.
HOLY CRAP! He was moving! Like normal! Swimming, like he always did! What the...? I yanked my hand out of the tank and put the net away, confident that it's macabre role would not be needed today.
I walked to the front of the tank, and Mori followed me. I bent over to make sure he was okay and put my face right up to the glass. He swam up, almost like he was assuring me that he was okay but that he was also pretty ticked that I woke him up.
I quickly rolled down my sleeve and put the towel (nicely folded again) back into the bedroom, still without Gabby's knowledge, and went back into the front room to see if Mori was still okay. He was, and had planted himself back between and different plant this time and the glass, happily trying to go back to sleep.
So, the moral of the story is, just because you think your fish is dead, double check. They might surprise you! I realized he likes to do this because while he likes to play in the current that the filter creates, he doesn't like it pushing him around while he sleeps. Also, the tank must have plenty of aeration for him, for, while he sleeps, he rarely if ever surfaces for air, despite there being plenty of tall plants.
Mori lives another day.
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