journal features

mystery symmetrical anglefish white bumps

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

Toronto, 2013.01.23

For the second time in the past two years, our anglefish developed odd white bumps on the side of its head. They looked a bit like "ick", but a: they're situated with perfect symmetry at a point behind the eyes and above the gills and b: they don't have the tufty look of a "ick". In fact, they don't look like any kind of parasite at all. Also, none of the fish in the tank have any signs of infection/parasites on the fins, which is where "ick" typically thrives. In fact, they're all in the picture of health, everyone's swimming normally etc.

But I removed the activated charcoal filter and put in some drops for two days. The dots are now gone again (once again, unlike "ick", which usually takes a few days to disappear). I dunno what this was, but I don't think it was "ick" or velvet or any of those real diseases. A mystery.

rand()m quote

The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to such a pass that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love, and in order to occupy and distract himself without love he gives way to passions and coarse pleasures, and sinks to bestiality in his vices, all from continual lying to other men and to himself.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov