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aquarium update

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

Tokyo, 2010.01.17

The three otocinclus fish that I bought in replacement of Buddy the Pleco have died.

I haven't had any deaths in the aquarium since late November, and it's quite a shock to see these newcomers all fail. But I think I know why: starvation. In reading about this species after the second death among the three little fish, I've learned that fish shops have a habit of underfeeding these things, and that aquariums typically don't have enough algae in them to keep these things alive. I rather wish I'd been able to ask for some care advice when I picked up the late fish.

I won't make that mistake again. It's been so long since I had an aquarium that I've gotten pretty rusty. In any event, we've decided to get a new pleco in replacement for Buddy. Mari realized, after Buddy went back to the aquarium shop, that she missed having one of the funny-looking things around, and that she wanted another. So we went back to the store while running some errands, and picked up another (tiny!) pleco; this time it's of the "Tiger" variety and won't grow to more than 10-12cm (if it's lucky).

Mari named this one Buddy as well.

''

Since he seemed a bit pinched around the middle, I've tried feeding him directly. I took him from the aquarium and into a small bucket, into which I put some algae as well as a few bits of broccoli. He didn't seem interested in the food, but produced so much crap that I figure he must be eating enough.

Ganbatte, Buddy II!

rand()m quote

One day you will take a fork in the road, and you're going to have to make a decision about which direction you want to go. If you go one way, you can be somebody. You will have to make compromises and you will have to turn your back on your friends. But you will be a member of the club and you will get promoted and get good assignments. Or you can go the other way and you can do something [...] for yourself. If you decide to do something, you may not get promoted and get good assignments and you certainly will not be a favorite of your superiors. But you won't have to compromise yourself. To be somebody or to do something. In life there is often a roll call. That's when you have to make a decision. To be or to do.

—John Boyd, US Air Force