I remember the day well. We (my Bride of 15 years and our then 12 and 13 year old kids) had purchased an aquarium at a rummage sale down the street. Just a 10 gallon aquarium it should be a piece of cake to maintain.
My confirmation present (about 100 years ago) was an aquarium and it brought me much enjoyment for about 30 years until the slate bottom sprung a leak (that's a lesson on abrasion I need to tell). Anyhow I wanted to share the joy of aquarium ownership with my kids.
This was not a lesson in owning and taking care of a pet, we already had/have a dog, two guinea pigs, and a bird.
After purchasing the aquarium and filling it with water we merrily made our way to Walmart to each pick out a fish and an aquarium decoration. It was a beautiful thing. Soon, swimming in our home was Lydia, Rainbow, Lucky, and Amos. Pride and joy abounded.
Two days later Rainbow was a floater. Three days later Lucky as no longer lucky.. now a floater. Lydia was looking a little dinged up. The magic was definatly gone. It was obvious, Amos (a tiger shark) is a killer. My daughter wanted to flush'em... NOW!
I couldn't do it. Lydia held out about two weeks.
That was over a year ago and Amos has thrived in a somewhat neglected tank all this time.
Yesterday the spouse of a worker in my office called and asked if he could have Amos. I warned him about Amos's murdering ways but he said his tank has several agressive fish and Amos will fit right in. I said OK.
Amos has a new home. No one at ours cried. I tossed the aquarium and was happy to say goodby to a failed adventure.
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