My 10" oscar died today. (Yes, I am choking back tears as I write. Tears interfere with finding the keys) I got him as a "used" fish when I bought an established 75G tank that came with (believe it) 4x5+" goldfish that he'd chosen not to eat and 2x6-8" turtles. I'd originally thought to just shell him out to a fish store for resale, but he grew on me enough to where I (a) kept him and (b) finally moved him into his "own" 120 and then gotten him a girlfriend(!!!) when he bailed.
A fish who jumped is nothing new. But this part is: He was out of the water for AT LEAST 3 hours, probably more like 4. When found, he was at the bottom of a full flight of wooden steps, laying on the cement basement floor with chewed up fins (I have cats.... they must have found him first). Dirt was embedded in his sides. I saw him and knew he was dead. My husband said "maybe not!" and brought him back to the tank he'd abandoned. From absolutely nothing, his gills started moving a little. Then more. Let loose, he fell to the tank floor. So I held him. I stroked him. For 2 hours while he fought to survive. My breath is STILL held when I imagine the will that allowed this 10" fish to fight Death's inevitable call for as long as he did.
I really wasn't an oscar fan before. But I am now. Anything, anything, ANYTHING that will fight THAT hard, against odds so so SO stacked against him deserves celebration. It was an amazing fight for the simple fact that it WAS a fight. Thus this tribute. If you are an oscar fan, then I have joined your ranks. Salute!
A fish who jumped is nothing new. But this part is: He was out of the water for AT LEAST 3 hours, probably more like 4. When found, he was at the bottom of a full flight of wooden steps, laying on the cement basement floor with chewed up fins (I have cats.... they must have found him first). Dirt was embedded in his sides. I saw him and knew he was dead. My husband said "maybe not!" and brought him back to the tank he'd abandoned. From absolutely nothing, his gills started moving a little. Then more. Let loose, he fell to the tank floor. So I held him. I stroked him. For 2 hours while he fought to survive. My breath is STILL held when I imagine the will that allowed this 10" fish to fight Death's inevitable call for as long as he did.
I really wasn't an oscar fan before. But I am now. Anything, anything, ANYTHING that will fight THAT hard, against odds so so SO stacked against him deserves celebration. It was an amazing fight for the simple fact that it WAS a fight. Thus this tribute. If you are an oscar fan, then I have joined your ranks. Salute!
