A Fish Out of Water, Literally
Last Friday, a good morning phone call got me out a bed and as I do every morning, I check on the pets to make sure they made it through the night. So I’m standing at the fish tank and I noticed that a fish was missing.
I did not see it on the floor so I got down on my knees to look into the tank because I’m positive it has to be in there, no way that big fish got out of the tank! Confused as to its whereabouts, I looked even harder and noticed that another fish has the look of a child who just broke something.
This fish looked so suspicious that I started questioning it.
“What did you do?” No answer. He just hid behind a plant like he either saw what happened, caused what happened and wasn’t going to tell me what happened. He did favor one side of the tank though and seemed very interested in something on the floor. I turned to where he was looking and this is what I found 5 ft. away underneath a chair!!
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| From Blog Photos |
Now I was still on the phone, my mouth is moving but no sound was coming out. It’s like that dream you try to scream in, but can’t. I disconnected my phone call and then I had an episode!1
I need to find out who was eating rice under that chair!
How did this happen!! The tank has a lid and while there is a small space at the back of the tank, I assumed a fish would need the precision of a heart surgeon to maneuver that opening.
I was so upset that morning and not only because I woke up to a dead fish on the floor, but that my floor is not as clean as I thought. Just look at him, he had all kinds of trash on his body: a blue string, some hair and two grains of rice!
Even though I worked a smile or two in this post, this YouTube clip is how I really feel. It’s going to take me a few days to get over this one. Every time I look at that spot on the floor, I will think of Sylvester. I recently heard something on the news about medicine for depressed dogs and I thought how insane, now I’m wondering if it comes in fish form.
Fishography:
Sylvester X, 5 yrs. old approx.
Date of Death: July 25, 2008
Cause of Death: High Jump
Movie: Co-starred in Fish Food Fight, Netted over 75,000 viewers
Sylvester is survived by a host of other fish, friends and onlookers. In lieu of sending worms, eat chicken.
Favorite quote: “The glass is not always cleaner on the other side.”
EDIT:
Kat wrote a poem in the comments that made me smile. Thanks Kat!
- I screamed like a girl! [↩]
In: Death, Pets · Tagged with: Dead Fish, Fish, Pet
on July 28, 2008 at 12:51 am
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I was not aware that fish jump out of their tank. Shows what I know about pet fish. Anyways, please accept my condolences. Looks like it was a truly fine fish.
Bamboo Forests last blog post..7 Ways You can Become Rich
on July 28, 2008 at 12:57 am
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Now, I know I should not laugh at you, but I can not help it.
ROFL.
And that poor fish. Let’s hope the fall killed him and he didn’t lay there for long suffering. Sadly, you are not the only one who has had a jumper… luckily though, mine did it while I was in the room and gave me a total heart attack from it landing a few inches away from me while I was watching TV. I think that’s why after we moved, we left the fish with friends and haven’t gotten a fish tank since.
Recover soon
And OH.. i love your footnotes!!!
Moniques last blog post..She Is Our Miracle
on July 28, 2008 at 1:12 am
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*Scratcheshead*
Sorry about your loss, but I have to say I’m rather confused as how that could happened. Maybe there’s a greater mystery to solve…
TOPolks last blog post..Sunday Night Selections: Quiet Storm Edition
on July 28, 2008 at 1:52 am
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I am so sorry!
What a terrible way to start the day.
Vereds last blog post..Powerful Men, Half-Naked Women (Best Shot Monday)
on July 28, 2008 at 2:08 am
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Hi Natural,
I’m sorry to hear about your loss. Will you have a burial at sea?
Barbara Swaffords last blog post..Interview With Lorelle VanFossen – Part 4 – Finding Fresh Content
on July 28, 2008 at 4:25 am
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I once had a fish that jumped out of the tank into the grill on top of the oven while we were cleaning it’s tank. Silly creature.
on July 28, 2008 at 6:05 am
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That was good of the other fish to point out where Sylvester had got to. An honest fish in the house is a blessing.
Good luck with finding the rice nibblers.
Robins last blog post..Is Living Like Today Might Be Your Last A Good Idea?
on July 28, 2008 at 6:10 am
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I’m sorry about Sylvester. I’m sorry but I also laughed when you questioned who was eating rice under your chair.
Al at 7Ps last blog post..Jump Right In!
on July 28, 2008 at 7:11 am
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oh yes, bamboo forest, some fish are very good jumpers. this type of fish can be very rambunctious – they often splashed water out of the back of the tank when it was time to eat, i NEVER anticipated one getting out of the tank. he was fun to play with, they were always the first to come up to the tank (looking for food) and would follow you around as you walked the length of the tank.
MONIQUE, I can find the humor and write it, but I was so upset. I ended up being late for work that day. I think he flopped around a lot to end up where he was and I feel bad, almost sick if I think too much. Thanks for introducing me to the footnotes, they add a little something to the post.
TOPOLK, I’m sorry and confused too. The cover is tempered glass and not that light at all, I can’t imagine him lifting that up and going out the back end of the tank just seems freaking impossible. I would have to see it myself to believe that’s how he got out.
VERED, it sure was a messed up morning. I drove to work with a heavy foot…almost without knowing how I got there.
BARBARA, no burial. He was just put in the trash and even then I still listened to the bag for flapping like he was going to come back to life. I could not believe he was dead.
SOLOMON, I now keep two books on the lid and covered that space at the back of the tank. I make more trips to the tank now, just to check. I would be so mortified if this happened again. It’s one thing to see a little fish dead, but a big fat one is disturbing. What kind of fish did you have. I had a fish jump from one bucket to the one beside it, when I was cleaning the tank once, but that’s it.
ROBIN, I swear I have never seen a fish seemingly communicate so well. He would not swim on the other side of the tank and kept looking down, I turned left and there he was…sigh.
AL, me too. The fish *looked* upset….since they are schooling fish, I had to go out and get another one that Friday. The new fish has no personality either. Uh, I don’t know how he ended up with rice on his body. That is rice, isn’t it. Sorry, but that’s the strange stuff that goes through my head.
on July 28, 2008 at 11:03 am
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I wonder if he was depressed?
Poor fishie!
I’ve had all my fish die, I think I’m scarred for life!
on July 28, 2008 at 1:27 pm
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Reading the post I hear a tone of sarcasm and so I’ll say……..I’m traumatized too, just listening to your story made me laugh until I got he hiccups and now my lunch wants to come up
on July 28, 2008 at 2:21 pm
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may he rest in the arms of Neptune forever…..very cute story (although I’m truly sorry for your loss).
Great site BTW
Roschelles last blog post..I Don’t Get It…
on July 28, 2008 at 2:35 pm
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Oh no! I have heard of fish jumping out of tanks. I’m just glad my outdoor goldfish don’t do it! I’m sorry about your poor fish and his rice grains. Not that he’d have noticed those.
I was very upset to have to euthanise one of my fish a year or so ago. I couldn’t believe how upset I was about it. I’d had him for about nine years. So sad.
on July 28, 2008 at 4:12 pm
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I feel even sorrier for the fish in the tank! He was obviously distressed by the death of the other fish. “Look, he’s over there under the chair! Is there anything you can do for him?” I had a friend who walked in twice to find a dead fish on this floor. It turns out that the pressure from the little thing that makes bubbles was too strong and whenever a fish would swim over it he would be thrown out of the fish tank. Oh, Natural, what a sad way to start your day.
Marelisas last blog post..Creating Your Dream Life: Practical Intuition
on July 28, 2008 at 5:28 pm
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OMG, I’m devastated, I really am, but I can’t stop laughing. A blue string, some hair and two grains of rice! Well, I guess if you got enough fish flopping around on the floor, you might clean up all the its and bits.
I know that look you are talking about. One or other of the cats gets it on a frequent basis. Crash, bang, boom! “What did you do?” Me?! Little ol’ me? Nothing.
The Urbane Lion and the Ten Year Old had a salamandar when I met them. Rocky. There used to be a Balboa, but Rocky ate Balboa. Seemed there was only enough room in the prize ring for one of them. Anyway, Rocky met an untimely death herself this winter. In a misguided fit of kindness the UL and TYO threw a whole bunch of dew worms into the aquarium. Death by worm slime. It was not pretty!
on July 28, 2008 at 6:20 pm
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Well Cynthia, I have heard with schooling fish that they do better in groups of at least 3…it’s a protection for most to travel that way. These two fish were always together, were a joy to watch and had great personalities. The other fish just did not seem like himself.
MAMAFLO, sarcasm, disbelief and confusion. I can *smile* about it on paper, but I have my moments of when I shake my head. I don’t know how he got out and then he suffered.
ROSCHELLE, well he’s at rest now for sure. Thanks for visiting and leaving your comment. I’m sorry he’s dead too…he has been replaced by a fish of the same kind that seems like he lived an abusive life. his colors and scales are not as vibrant, but i’m going to nurse him back to health. the first day, he was afraid to eat, like he was picked on by the other fish. today he’s doing better. no personality though, he just swims.
JAY, I would love to see the video tape of how this fish got out, really. He’s not a small fish. Oh you have goldfish, cool. I would love pond one day. I rather not put anything to sleep..did you put him in the freezer to make him sleep?
MARELISA, I felt bad for him too. He looked so sad…his behavior was very telling. It wasn’t a good Friday morning. Life goes on I guess, for some of us.
URBAN PANTHER, okay not the time for me to be looking at the trash on his body, but I was…after looking at the picture I said WTH is all this stuff. I swept yesterday. The other fish looked guilty or maybe sad? It better not happen again, but I would love to know how…it’s the closure part of death.
on July 28, 2008 at 6:40 pm
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Oh God if you only could see my floor..it’s not a pretty sight…
robert bournes last blog post..Rain on The Window
on July 28, 2008 at 6:46 pm
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I’m sorry, hon. *hug*
Lanas last blog post..Golden Sunset
on July 28, 2008 at 8:36 pm
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I went from laughing to just about crying after reading all the way through. I’m truly sorry for your loss. I can’t even think of anything funny to say, not even about “…and two grains of rice.” Oh wait. I’m am laughing. Sorry. Sorry. OK, back to being depressed. I hope you feel a bit better by today. The death of any living creature is sad. RIP Sylvester.
Kathys last blog post..Do You Think We Can’t See Them or What?
on July 28, 2008 at 8:56 pm
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“Cause of Death: High Jump” <– LOL.
On a serious note though, I’m very, very sorry! I still wonder how the heck he got out w/a lid on the fish tank and all. Anyway, I’m sorry…we’re all hoping you feel better…
Ribeezies last blog post..Quote of the Day: open your eyes to the world around you
on July 28, 2008 at 9:33 pm
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I’m sorry about your fish, Natural, but this did make me laugh out loud. I could just see you interrogating the other fish… see I’m giggling again.
I’ve never had much luck with fish so i think 5 years is pretty good.
Kelly@SHE-POWER
on July 29, 2008 at 1:45 am
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I am so sorry to hear about Sylvester. My last foray into the fish mom world led to a related incident. Only Gelfling, my beta, actually stuck to the antique wood desk at work.
I am impressed at your fish parenting skills. I would still question the guilty looking fish. I think you might have to post a no hazing policy in the tank….is the guilty looking fish a bully? Was there some fishy harassment? I would investigate this…if all else fails, show them the fishing channel or threaten to get a cat to administer a lie detector test.
on July 29, 2008 at 6:24 am
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ROBERT, uh I’ll pass on seeing your floor.
LANA, thanks. I’m sorry too.
Kathy, I’m more upset over the hamster that just died than the fish “jumping” out. I guess because I held the hamster. I don’t know how he got rice on him, the fish tank is nowhere near the kitchen. I know he didn’t make the trip there and back just to get rice. Darn fish!
Ribeezie, knowing how he got out would answer a lot of questions. I only feared robbers coming in and smashing the tank, not fish jumping out. Never crossed my mind. I’m *okay*, thanks.
KELLYH@SHE-POWER, I do talk to the fish, not the house plants. The bigger fish is more of the bully that’s why I assumed he did something. Looked guilty anyway.
MANDI, oh no, that’s a horrible scene to walk in on, fish stuck to wood. Well the bigger fish chased the other one from time to time, but the new fish I got is much bigger than the one that’s in there, so things have calmed down. I don’t think this new fish is very smart at being king of the tank though.
on July 29, 2008 at 8:55 am
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Natural, This is unequivocally my favourite of all of your posts (sorry, Sylvester). You had me gripped from the moment you got that phone call – it was like reading a good film noir. Your description of the “suspect” fish was brilliant and the demise of Sylvester is tragic, but funny.
I know you’re sad, but “There are lots of fish in the sea!”
No, seriously, this was fab!
Kat
Here’s a little ditty to remember him by:
The Night Sylvester Died
My phone rang this morning
I woke from my bed
Then checked out my fish-tank
Which filled me with dread.
No sign of Sylvester
A-swimming along
His partner was gliding
And hiding–”what’s wrong?”
I said to myself and
Scratching my head
I looked to the floor
Where I found S was dead!
He lay there flat out
After having his fling
Poor thing now he’s next
To some rice and blue string.
Just how did he get
To the carpet below?
I can’t make it out–
Must have been a great show!
Kathleen Mortensen©2008
on July 29, 2008 at 10:09 am
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Aw. Poor Sylvester. And that “Good Times” clip brought a tear to my eye.
I feel bad for your dirty, rice-laden floor too. Maybe Sylvester thought there was more food on the carpet than in his tank?
Ugh. Sorry!
JD at I Do Thingss last blog post..I Bought Some Cherries so you don’t have to
on July 29, 2008 at 11:00 am
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You are right up there with the cerifiables but what a horrific experience..hahaha sad What next?? sandy
sandy kesslers last blog post..Hello Sandy – Let’s talk …
on July 29, 2008 at 2:05 pm
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This is what happens when creatures cannot accept their place in the over all scheme of things. Like everyone here, I’m sad but I’m also LMAO…
chriss last blog post..I’m Back
on July 29, 2008 at 5:04 pm
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Dood. I had no idea fish could or would jump out of their tanks.
on July 29, 2008 at 5:29 pm
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Oh poor fishy. I had a catfish when I was a child and it was very sad when it died. I only had it a little while when it got fin rot or something. Five years is a long time, so I won’t laugh, well not a lot anyway ;O) It’s your rice and blue string that make it funny.
Babs – beetles last blog post..My metamorphosis
on July 29, 2008 at 6:51 pm
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Really KAT, your favorite? uh thanks. I think your poem was the best, I actually laughed out loud after reading it. Shared it with some friends, they loved it to. What talent! I think I will put a link to your comment in the poem itself, I can do that right? Am I sad or mad? Confused!!
JD, that GT clip is classic, it sums up everything. If S were the family dog, I wouldn’t care if he ate off the floor, but these fish are hand fed. He never ate outside the tank before, wouldn’t rice look like a trap? Oh well, his death was humbling, I’m not the domestic goddess I thought I was.
SANDY, I know. Oh the hamster died too, he was next.
CHRIS, glad you made it back. I’ll be over. What was his problem, did I not provide him with ample space?
MELEAH, fish jump. Some more successful than others.
BABS – Beetle, hello and welcome. Fish are not the same, to me, as a cat or dog, but you get used to them, in the tank, not the floor. Oh well, frequent trips to the tank.
on July 29, 2008 at 9:06 pm
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I’m sorry about Sylvester. I hope you feel a little better soon.
on July 30, 2008 at 6:23 am
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How would you feel about me posting the poem on my site with a link to your post here? That would work for both of us, don’t you think?
I’m really glad you liked it. I was nervous that maybe I’d been a little insensitive to your feelings. I know losing a pet (of any sort) can be heart-wrenching (or at the very least, disappointing).
I watched the Good Times clip and it made me think of two things: an episode where Debbie Allan played a drug addict – which was startling for a sitcom (you see I’d never really watched this show when it was first on, but my husband and I have seen some reruns recently). The second thing was it motivated me to create a new blog on the spot!
Check it out here:
http://cultclipsgenx.blogspot.com
let me know what you think about (the post) and (the blog)
Kat
Poetikats last blog post..Birdbath Antics (for Lavinia)
on July 30, 2008 at 1:13 pm
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I cannot get over the fact that the fish was looking in the direction of the missing fish.. Interesting…
Sorry to hear about your fish. The poem was great. The post was funny as all hell.
Urban Thoughts last blog post..Wordless Wednesday: Halloween In July
on July 30, 2008 at 6:30 pm
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I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. That is so sad about your fish, but I couldn’t help but chuckle when I read this. Poor Sylvestor. Good thing you don’t have a cat… that would have left you with quite a mystery on your hands.
Great poem Kat!
Davinas last blog post..260+3 Blog-to-Show — How Did You Choose?
on July 31, 2008 at 7:13 am
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Thanks Tondy.
Urban, you had to see this fish. He was acting weird and was looking in the direction of where S was laying. The whole thing is really weird, I have no answers.
DAVINA, If I had a cat, I would have been mortified walking in on that scene. I used to have a cat and I know what they do to the heads of their little victims. Brrrrrrr!
on July 31, 2008 at 3:08 pm
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Valerie,
I’ve tagged you for a song-meme. Stop in for details.
Kat
Poetikats last blog post..Song Remains the Same
on August 1, 2008 at 12:55 am
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Oh Girl, It’s so Sad
But, you totally cracked me up with your Bio on the poor little guy.
hang tough,
Callie
Callie Anns last blog post..Ain’t this Cute!!!
on August 1, 2008 at 4:09 am
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so sorry about your fish but you made it so funny that I was LOL!
shaxxs last blog post..Oldest Jokes
on August 1, 2008 at 6:24 am
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Hi KAT, you can post the poem, it’s yours…no link back necessary. Thanks for writing it, I really appreciate it.. It was not insensitive at all, if I can post it, I can deal with it. Now had this been my cat (don’t have one anymore) I’d be a lot more broken up. I’m not happy about it, but I’m okay. I’ll check out the meme and I did check out your new blog, will go back when I stop running around.
CALLIE ANN, thanks for stopping by. Scenarios still play around in my head as to how, it just doesn’t make sense. Anywho, I *see* humor, so I write it. Believe me, I was not happy or smiling.
SHAXX, I still have flash backs. He was not little fish and that picture is not a macro close up either. I think the size of him on the floor freaked me out as well. I don’t think he was dead for long because he didn’t feel that hard and was not dried out. Maybe I missed him by a few minutes, but that’s all it takes.
Naturals last blog post..A Fish Out of Water, Literally
on August 2, 2008 at 5:31 am
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Ok… I HAVE to say (because we’re friends and you get me) that your post cracked me UP (your footnote was HILARIOUS)… Not because of what happened but because your powers of setting a scene are Oscar worthy.
That said… I am sorry that you lost Sylvester.
I have a fish too and I love him terribly. He gets all wiggly and excited when I come into the room- how can I not love that?? If I woke up in the morning and found him dead on the floor, I would cry.
Missed you and your blog! And we’re going out drinking tomorrow after work so put your big girl panties on.
Corrinas last blog post..Fighting the Good Fight
on August 2, 2008 at 4:48 pm
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CORRINA, okay you’re allowed one chuckle, but only because you gave me an Oscar. Some fish are very entertaining and some can recognize their owner. I miss the big guy, this other fish is a blob, but I think he was picked on so he’s just getting used to his new environment. Miss ya too, especially after your computer caught that virus, I kept checking back for an update and glad you are at least somewhat there. Corrina I need a drink, thank you, I’ll be making mine a double.