he actually was 26 inches when i measured him.I have froze him til spring until i can bury him at my moms house in the country (and please no flaming because Pinocchio was special to me}I feel he deserves a nice place to rest.The trouble will be getting all of his tank mates to the wake,j/k.trying to cheer up so i am on my way to pick up a huge id shark to join my other lonely huge id shark.