Always know where your hiding places are

Yesterday was Fishy Day in my household.  I took on my Dad’s old twenty gallon and about a back seat’s worth of his aquarium equipment.  I figured a fish tank would be a great way to relax and provide research for this blog.  Hey — anything for you, Gentle Readers!  So, I’ve had the tank up and bubbling for two and a half weeks before the new residents moved in.  I’m already learning a lot from them, although it is a little stressful to think that they are probably smarter than I am.

Lesson One: Keep Pushing Against The Sides Of The Bag

 As all experienced fish keepers know, you don’t just tip your new fish into the tank.  You float them in their plastic bag for about an hour altogether, gradually adding cupfuls of the aquarium water.  THEN, you gently tip the bag on it’s side and let them swim out.

Well, these golfish obviously haven’t read the fish keeping books.  They are five baby feeder goldfish of various sizes and colors.  The smallest one is their leader.  As the bag was floating, the smallest one kept digging into the corners of the plastic bag.  The other four milled, confused, in a corner.  After twenty minutes, I opened up the bag and added the first cupful of aquarium water.

Somehow, the little fish realised this was his chance to break for it.  He kept pecking at the side of the bag with his mouth.  I know I should’ve stopped this experiment, but I wondered if he’d figure it out.  In a couple of minutes, all of the fish were banging the same side, tilting the bag over until they could calmy swim out and explore their new home.  I named the smallest fish Napoleon.

So, don’t cower in a corner against your limitations but keep pushing at the boundaries and who knows where you’ll end up.

Lesson Two: Always Know Where Your Hiding Places Are

Fish like to hide.  On the one hand, I was worried that they’d hide all of the time behind the rocks and plastic plants I have in their tank.  On the other hand, I’m not the one who has to live in their tank.  So I set up their home with plenty of hiding places for them.

When they swam out of the bag, the four went into a bottom corner while Napoleon went and checked out the rest of the tank, including the hiding places, then lead the others to them.  The fish have only been here a day, but they come out a lot. 

Actually, fish feel more secure and relaxed in their tanks knowing there are a lot of places to hide just in case.  This gives them the confidence to go out and explore the rest of the tank.

So, if you think of doing something daring, make sure you have some place to hide.  For example, your favorite de-stressing activity like medication, a hot bath or staring at a lava lamp while drinking a cup of herbal tea would be your "hiding place".  You can retreat to these hiding places in real life, or in your mind. 

Hope this helps.  I’m off to play hooky and stare at my fish.

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