Remember my new fish I told you about? His name is Bull (as in Bully, since he was bullying all the other fish in the tank at school). His water got really cloudy really fast in the one gallon tank I had him in here. So I went to the pet store and talked with the guy there and he taught me a lot about how dirty goldfish are, how fast they grow, how big they can get and how, basically, for every inch of fish, you need a gallon of water. Bull is about three to four inches big now. So I had to get a new 7 gallon tank. He was the most spoiled feeder fish I ever heard of…until today…

Today in my Biology lab class, we used feeder goldfish in an experiment. We were testing oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in water under different conditions. Without boring you with the scientific details, I’ll just tell you that each group had to pick out a feeder fish, put it in a large test tube of water, filled almost to the top, and seal it with a cork, preventing air from being trapped in the top. Then we had to let it sit for an hour then test the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. I picked the smallest fish from the bunch because he was so cute. His miniscule size proved to be his saving grace.

As we sat for an hour listening to presentations given by our peers, I sat next to the four test tubes of goldfish. I was very worried about their safety. I watched them closely until I saw one go into some sort of convulsions as he tried to get more oxygen. That’s when I decided I had to move away from the fish, for the sake of science. I put myself in a part of the room where it wasn’t as easy to watch them and I tried to prevent a panic attack in myself.

As it turned out, all but one fish survived. The one that did die was the largest fish in the bunch and he probably used up more oxygen than the littler ones. I begged my instructor to let me have our fish and she agreed (but then when other classmates asked to take one home, she said no to them because “they need them for other classes.” Neeiner neeiner!).

The little dude is literally about the size of the tip of my pinky finger. Don’t worry…I’m not subjecting him to Bull’s wrath (yet). I put him in his own tank (that one gallon dealy that used to be Bull’s home) where he can grow up big and strong. Eventually I will try to move him in with Bull (if Bull doesn’t attack and kill his new algae eater -Barbosa- first!).

Now I’m trying to think of an appropriate name for this little fish. He’s escaped from the brink of death at least once that I know of. So I want to give him a name of someone famous like that. Any ideas? I *might* call him Labra –as in “Lab Rat” or “Labratory.” Or maybe Nemo, since he is white with a gold head and gold tail. Dunno.

It’s a very exciting zoo at our house!