Why You Don't Name Fish

In short, DeGlossius left us today. Rob has said all along that he didn't think he was a completely healthy little fish. Even in the beginning he and I both noticed that his gills seemed a little too red. So maybe he was sick when we got him, but the poor little thing really withered over the last few days.

He had been hovering in one corner of the tank most of the time, but this morning, I noticed he was swimming around. Then Caleb went over to look at him and shouted, "Mommy! Why is DeGlossius swimming upside down?"

Actually he wasn't dead, but (to quote Princess Bride) he was "Mostly Dead", so Rob and I had a discussion (my vote was to flush him) and the final decision was to return him to his habitat so his "Mommy could look after him".

Sooooo I left the guys to deal with this and they scooped him into a bag and we went back to the canal he came from. Rob told Caleb he could hold him before they put him back in the water (at that point, he knew he couldn't do much more damage).

BUT while Caleb was holding him, he somehow dropped him and in looking for him, Rob accidentally stepped on him....so he quickly picked him up and tossed him in the water.

Later on, we went to visit with Rob's parents and Caleb volunteered, "Grandma, did you know DeGlossius is dead?" So much for trying to spare him the painful truth!
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In happier news, our caterpillars are here! So expect butterfly related posts in the near future :)