I live in an isolated coastal region of New Zealand. I was walking my dog along the river mouth last winter and saw a Kahawai fish (like a large salmon) swimming up and down near the shoreline feeding on shoals of small fish. I rolled up my trousers, took off my shoes, grabbed a long piece of drift wood, and stood and waited. After 5 minutes or so of this fish racing up and down the shoreline, it came close enough, and whack! I hit it on the head and it threw a major fit in the water, so I reached over, caught it by the tail, and pulled it out.Then I walked home along the beach. As I was nearing home an elderly American couple passed me and the man said,"Looks like you have caught your lunch." Did you have a net down there?" (Because he could see I had no fishing rod!) I said "No, I just hit it with a stick," and carried on as though it was the most natural thing in the world!
I wonder what story they took back to America about the wild Maori's in New Zealand !!??
Mike Robb
Sometime in the mid-l950's, while doing graduate studies at Columbia in New York City, I used to take the 8th Ave. train and get off just south of the George Washington Bridge which takes one into New Jersey. I usually got about 2 hours of much needed R&R by fishing for stripped bass, which were plentiful during certain times of the year.
At my favorite fishing spot, I used to cast my line, usually baited with market-bought shrimps, as far as I could into the Hudson River; then plant the ten foot or so fishing rod between some large boulders to wait for the fish to strike.
On some days, I would hook up with nothing but eels (species unknown) that measured up to l5 inches or so. They were really a nuisance as they squirmed like slimy snakes when I tried to remove the hooks out of their mouths. I usually threw them back into the river.
When the tide was ebbing, I ran into an even bigger problem! Whenever I tried to take up the slack in the line, it would snag dozens of spent condoms, which evidently were part of the effluence dumped into the river by the sewer department of the city. The taut line would display a plethora of condoms which appeared like someone's laundry hung out to dry. It suggested to me that New Yorkers were keeping themselves busy, especially during the weekends, when they themselves were getting some recreation.
The joke among some fishermen was that no women of child-bearing age should go swimming in the river, lest they become unintentionally pregnant.
Sometime in the mid-l950's, while doing graduate studies at Columbia in New York City, I used to take the 8th Ave. train and get off just south of the George Washington Bridge which takes one into New Jersey. I usually got about 2 hours of much needed R&R by fishing for stripped bass, which were plentiful during certain times of the year.
At my favorite fishing spot, I used to cast my line, usually baited with market-bought shrimps, as far as I could into the Hudson River; then plant the ten foot or so fishing rod between some large boulders to wait for the fish to strike.
On some days, I would hook up with nothing but eels (species unknown) that measured up to l5 inches or so. They were really a nuisance as they squirmed like slimy snakes when I tried to remove the hooks out of their mouths. I usually threw them back into the river.
When the tide was ebbing, I ran into an even bigger problem! Whenever I tried to take up the slack in the line, it would snag dozens of spent condoms, which evidently were part of the effluence dumped into the river by the sewer department of the city. The taut line would display a plethora of condoms which appeared like someone's laundry hung out to dry. It suggested to me that New Yorkers were keeping themselves busy, especially during the weekends, when they themselves were getting some recreation.
The joke among some fishermen was that no women of child-bearing age should go swimming in the river, lest they become unintentionally pregnant.
Sometime in the mid-l950's, while doing graduate studies at Columbia in New York City, I used to take the 8th Ave. train and get off just south of the George Washington Bridge which takes one into New Jersey. I usually got about 2 hours of much needed R&R by fishing for stripped bass, which were plentiful during certain times of the year.
At my favorite fishing spot, I used to cast my line, usually baited with market-bought shrimps, as far as I could into the Hudson River; then plant the ten foot or so fishing rod between some large boulders to wait for the fish to strike.
On some days, I would hook up with nothing but eels (species unknown) that measured up to l5 inches or so. They were really a nuisance as they squirmed like slimy snakes when I tried to remove the hooks out of their mouths. I usually threw them back into the river.
When the tide was ebbing, I ran into an even bigger problem! Whenever I tried to take up the slack in the line, it would snag dozens of spent condoms, which evidently were part of the effluence dumped into the river by the sewer department of the city. The taut line would display a plethora of condoms which appeared like someone's laundry hung out to dry. It suggested to me that New Yorkers were keeping themselves busy, especially during the weekends, when they themselves were getting some recreation.
The joke among some fishermen was that no women of child-bearing age should go swimming in the river, lest they become unintentionally pregnant.
by: S. Carney Asada
I have a 100g tank in my living room with 2 koi in it. The cats like to watch them through the glass and sit on the table beside the tank to look down through the water. One day my male cat was sitting on the table half asleep with the tip of his tail on the edge of the tank. My biggest koi leapt up and latched onto the tip of the cat's tail, and yanking backwards half dragging the startled cat into the tank! I've never seen a cat leap so far in one bound as he did to escape that fish; luckily he didn't bring the fish with him! To this day that koi will leap at any cat who touches the edge of the tank. It's nailed several on the feet and almost got ones' ear! We call it the piranha carp.
by: ?
My dad and I were fishing in the Eno river of NC. It was about ten thirty and we hadn't even gotten a bight. We were about to pack up when my dads line got really taught and started pulling out. He grabbed it and started reeling it in. It took him five minutes to reel it in a yard. Fifteen minutes later he had it in close enough so that we could tell what it was. A two foot long catfish. Twenty minutes had gone by and we had it a yard away from shore. He reeled it in another two feet and then it snapped the line and swam off hook and all. It was ten pound test line. That was the first time I saw a grown man cry.
By: Nathan Casper
What follows is email excepts between Shelley Small and myself (Jeff), which shows exactly how strong Clown Loaches can be!
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From: "Shelley Small" <ssmall@sprint.ca>
To: <loaches@aquaweb.pair.com>
Subject: Please HELP
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1998
I don't know if you can help me, but I bought a 3 1/2 inch clown loach two days ago. I found him on the floor this morning (he must have jumped out between a 3/4 inch gap at the top of the tank. Anyway, he looked dead when I found him - no movement at all; gills weren't functioning. I decided to wash him off and bury him and as I was washing him off under the tap water, his gill moved. I put him in a container with water and started to stroke him. Eventually, he started "breathing" rapidly but his eyes wouldn't move or focus. I put him back in the tank and I've been watching him all day (it's been approximately 12 hours). His eyes will now focus and he'll follow my finger but I'm sure he's in a deep shock. The top part of his body has turned a dark brown/black color. He won't swim on his own and can only now stop from falling over. His breathing has slowed dramatically. I've put a treatment of Shieldex in the tank and I've put the poor ol' guy in a breeding net so the other loaches will stop pestering him. Please, is there anything else I can do for him? I can't believe how strong his will to live is and I want to help him in anyway I can. Also, my other clown loaches (2 that are about 1" long, and three others at about 2" long) appear to be very upset - they haven't settled down all day and keep trying to get their buddy to move.
If you can't help me, could you please tell me who might?
Thank you.
Shelley Small
Vancouver BC
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From: Jeff Shafer <shafer@aquaweb.pair.com>
To: ssmall@sprint.ca
Subject: Re: Please HELP
Date: November 11, 1998 8:21 PM
Hi Shelley,
I've read many stories about various species of fish being able to survive out the water for a long time, but they are isolated incidents, not the rule. Since you've got him in the tank, I'd probably just let him rest the night, and if his condition has not improved, I'd put him out of his misery. The only recommendation I have, besides putting that Shieldex in the water, would simply be to turn the lights out and hope that they rest of the loaches calm down. If you can't turn the room lights off as well, just cover the tank with a towel. Make sure the other loaches can't jump out that same gap, since they're acting upset!
Jeff
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From: "Shelley Small" <ssmall@sprint.ca>
To: "Jeff Shafer" <shafer@aquaweb.pair.com>
Subject: Re: Please HELP
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1998
Jeff:
Thank you so much for replying. I'll go back downstairs and shut the lights off. What a fighter this guy is. I'll let you know what happens.
Thank you again.
Shelley
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From: "Shelley Small" <ssmall@sprint.ca>
To: "Jeff Shafer" <shafer@aquaweb.pair.com>
Subject: Re: Frankenfish
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1998
It's ALIVE!! I can't believe it, and he sure does look rough, but my clown loach that I told you about yesterday is still alive. He even ate a few blood worms this morning, but I haven't seen anything come out yet so, unfortunately, I don't know how/if that system is working. He reminds me of my dog after I've taken her for a good run - he's awake and aware - just doesn't want to move. But today there is much more life in his eyes. All of his fins, save for the two most forward of his belly fins, are all shredding and falling off and his color is still not even close to what it was before his great adventure, but he doesn't appear to be struggling (I have an African Pygmy Hedgehog rescue service and trust me I've come to trust my guts on when it's time to not be selfish and let a creature go). I promise to let you know how things work out.
I feel very fortunate to have found the Loach webpage a few weeks back. At first reading, I was thrilled to find a site that was devoted strictly to loaches. I was very entertained with the beautiful pictures, the stories and all the information I found. But then last night, when I NEEDED it, it was right there with your e-mail address. Thank you once again for being there and responding so quickly. I certainly appreciated it.
Take care,
Shelley
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From: Jeff Shafer <shafer@aquaweb.pair.com>
To: ssmall@sprint.ca
Subject: Re: Frankenfish
Date: November 12, 1998 4:08 PM
Hi Shelley,
I'm glad to hear he's still alive. It's quite common for fish to lose their fins after being out of the water for extended periods of time, but they can grow back if the fish is strong enough. Let me know how it turns out!
Thanks,
Jeff
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From: "Shelley Small" <ssmall@sprint.ca>
To: "Jeff Shafer" <shafer@aquaweb.pair.com>
Subject: Bride of Frankenfish
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998
Hi Jeff:
Just thought I'd update you. Frankenfish is doing quite well - all things considering. I've put him in his own tank now with a small clown loach to keep him company. He has a lot more energy and spends more and more time playing tag with his buddy. It's amazing to watch him swim since he doesn't have a tail anymore - more like a stub and he has no fins left down one side of his body. He doesn't like to lie on the gravel so he'll lean up against the glass on his "bad" side with the fins on his good side holding him up. I'm going to try and get some pictures of him so I can keep track of his recovery. He really is a tough ol' guy!
Hope all is well with you.
Shelley
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From: Jeff Shafer <shafer@aquaweb.pair.com>
To: ssmall@sprint.ca
Subject: Re: Bride of Frankenfish
Date: November 23, 1998 8:07 PM
Hi Shelley,
I'm impressed! That's quite a fish you've got there! Putting him in his own tank with a buddy was a good idea; the stress levels have to be lower in there. I'll have to remember that idea, so I can recommend it to other people. Thanks for keeping me updated, I love to get updates like this! Say, do you mind if I put your story online as an example of how strong Clown Loaches can be? I'd put your name at the top for credit, of course.
Thanks,
Jeff
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From: "Shelley Small" <ssmall@sprint.ca>
To: "Jeff Shafer" <shafer@aquaweb.pair.com>
Subject: Frank's got a new home!
Date: Sat, 5 Dec 1998
Hey Jeff:
Sorry it's taken a while to get back to you - last week was, well, BUSY!!
I can't tell you how proud I am of Frank (I decided he might get a complex if I kept referring to him as Franken Fish!). Wednesday I moved him to his new home and he is doing amazingly well. The new tank is 33g, and is home to two BIG clown loaches, three medium (Frank is between the two sizes) and three smaller ones. I also have a regular pleco and a zebra ("Moby" 'cuz head-on he looks like a little whale) pleco. I also picked up two German Rams on Thursday. I only wanted loaches and plecos for the tank but the little rams are so beautiful I couldn't pass them up. Frank has settled in quite well. One thing I've really noticed about the clowns is that when I add new ones, the "regulars" never make strange with them or try to play hierarchy games (like my gouramis at work: "See this space - it's mine!"). It's more of: "Hey, how's it going? Come and join us - we're going to badger the plecos for awhile". I moved Frank with his previous tank-mate but he fits in fine with everyone. Frank's fins are ALL growing back in - even his belly fins. But they are growing in clear - no color at all. And they aren't frayed or ripped anywhere. Even his body color has come back. For awhile I thought he was picking up an infection or a parasite - his black stripes where blotchy-white, but it went away and now he looks almost as good as new. The only thing that looks strange about him, apart from his fins, is his head. It's quite pointy now. But I think it took on that shape so that he could cut through the water easier since he has such a stubby tail!! He eats like a little pig, and that's another thing about the loaches - they all share the food. And the two big ones won't eat until the little ones are done. The more time I spend with them, the more amazed I am by them. When I sit down in front of the tank, Frank and two or three of the littler ones will come right up to me, "park", and watch me. I look at Frank's eyes and remember when I found him lifeless on the carpet with black eyes that had sunk into his head. It's much better to see him this way, I can tell 'ya! My roommate the other day said: "Oh no - it's not enough that you save and rehabilitate hedgehogs, now you're going to be rescuing sick fish!!". I certainly hope Frank is my last case of fish-resuscitation!!
By all means, you can use the story. I'm been searching for a digital camera, and hopefully I'll have pictures for you soon. The 33g tank has three good-size pieces of Mopani wood with live plants tied to them, so the water has a real nice color to it (that tanin brown) which seems to really bring out the color of the loaches.
Thanks for keeping in touch.
Shelley
A picture of "Frankie" two months later
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fishy's! I once read some where that people who own pets will notice that the relationship between pet and owner will evolve into something almost uncanny.
-It's true. You see it everyday....a man walks down the street will his pit bull and you can't tell them apart. The guy (I'm sorry to say) looks just like his dog. Or how about the woman with the show poodle? I'm beginning to wonder if they use the same groomers. Well, such is the case with my Clown Loach and I.
My biggest battle in life is with Insomnia. Right now, I'm in college. And because of that fact, I'm unable to maintain good sleeping habits. I catch a few hours of sleep during the day between work and class. But I'm now beginning to think that my late night hours are keeping up my Clown Loach.
Let me start at the beginning: Many months ago, while studying for an exam, I just happened to glance over at my tank and noticed that my Loach was laying flat on his side. I was saddened immediately because he out of all the fish, is my favorite. My Clown is always personable and loves just hanging out in front of the tank, following my finger as I trace the outside of the glass. And at breakfast and dinner time, LOOK OUT!! He's a vicious little sucker and can definitely hold his own against the other fish.
As I was coming to terms over this loss, I grabbed for the net and noticed that my movement apparently scared him back into life. I couldn't tell you how relieved I was...yet still, I was apprehensive. I kept a watchful eye on him for a couple of days and noticed that during the afternoons, everything went along normally. But always in the evening, my little Clown would faithful find his place within a scenic rock and proceed to lay on his side. This was a normally occurrence, a nightly ritual that I grew accustomed to. That is, it was a normally occurrence, until now.
This month and last month have been really tough on me. I've been sleeping less and less and therefore have been studying more. While reading one evening, I happened to glance over at my tank again and noticed my Clown Loach attempting to lay down. He was tossing and turning in his little opening trying to get comfortable. At first, I thought it was hilarious. I couldn't stop laughing.
But after several weeks of this, I started to get worried. I stayed up most of the night and with my desk being right next to the aquarium, I was able to keep an eye on my little pet. Every night, he tosses and he turns until he gets so fed up that he swims to the front of the tank and just rests there. Eventually, he swims off to do fishy things. I've tried turning out the lights and actually leaving the room. That didn't seem to work.... every time I'd sneak in on him he would still be wide awake.
With a little deductive reasoning, I finally came up with a conclusion. His whole system was flipped upside down. He had become a mini me. During the first signs of my Clown Loach's "insomnia," the aquarium light had went out. Apparently, my Clown Loach started sleeping during the daytime when the tank light was conveniently out of service. Before, I used to leave the tank light on during the day to build up enough algae for my HUGE algae eater to ingest. (FYI-My study has no windows so the room, with the lights off, is completely dark.)
My other fish aren't so anal as him and I. They sleep whenever. I wish we had that luxury. For right now, Clowny and I still hold our nightly study sessions. He has become my comic relief. But if that fish ever starts to look like me, I'll know then that we are spending WAY too much time together.
Until next time...
By: Michelle
Greetings from Species Pets,
Once upon a time not long ago I was cleaning my 29 gal tank. I removed the rocks, plants, decorations, and all the fish; or so I thought. I put them in another tank because I knew I was going to do a complete tear- down and setup. I diligently cleaned the tank, plants & rock. It was already 1:30 in the morning so I decided to call it a night. I started putting the tank back together about 10am. About 11am I had 1 castle left to put in. As I lowered the castle into place my "skunk loach" swam out. He had survived at least 12 hrs in the 1/4 cup of water left in the top of the castle ornament.
by: Greg
It's me, Cathy from Cathy's Tropical Fishkeeping. I have a very sick & humorous fishy story to tell you. I must admit I was young & stupid, but still a very mischievous prankster!
I used to work for the NY chain-store Petland Discounts, at the time I was the assistant manager. There were a few employees that were even younger than me at the time & they were very obnoxious young men. Well, this one guy "T", was a heavy chain smoker, something that I am very much against (and I married a smoker...go figure) well he had a bad habit of walking around with a cigarette behind one ear & another in his hand. He would even talk to customers with this annoying ciggy in his hand (not lit in the store). I decided one day that I would show him who was the boss & NOT let him take 20 butt breaks, which I thought from a non-smoker's point of view, was very unfair.
There happened to be another employee on that day "Dave" that was also a non-smoker, I told him I was curbing "T's" bad habit & he asked, "what could you possibly do that would curb T's habit"? . Well, T was starting to get a bit uneasy & fidgety, he begged for a break & I said no. Some of his friends walked in & he thought he was going to be the big macho guy & show off to them. He actually lit a butt in the store! I got so fumed I knocked it out of his hand & stepped on it. He was all pouty & grabbed the one from behind his ear, started to talk to his friends in that way he did to customers, just waving the thing around while he talked, forgetting about it for a minute. I stepped back around the corner to the back room, hid a bit & happened to look down seeing a dead, dried up smushed swordtail on the floor. I had a funny brainstorm that I would try to somehow do something very cynical with this dried fish. It then hit me, I then peeked back around the corner, he was still flappin' lip with his buddies, he had dockers on, the pocket was WIDE open exposing his lighter. I slowly approached him from behind, with my finger to my lip shooshing the guys he was talking to so they would let me sneak up on him without detection. I kept dodging his motioning hand to try to get the perfect snag on the lighter, the moment happened, I took the lighter & SWITCHED it for the dead swordtail, I almost died, I tried so hard not to laugh, then rushed back around the corner. I was crying with laughter, his friends were almost a give away, but we all held the giggling. The other employee in the store Dave, came back from the front, I motioned him to quick come back to me. I told him what I did & he almost choked, but the best was yet to come.
As we both waited around the corner, like two little kindergardeners playing a game, I kept hoping he would try to light the second butt. He talked for a minute more, then looked around like to see if I wasn't watching, then he did it....he went for the lighter.......the following seemed to happen in slow motion, it was so funny I nearly peed in my pants! He actually was so absorbed in his yapping that he grabbed the dried swordtail out of his pocket, put the cigarette to his mouth, took the corpse & went to light the butt!!!!! It didn't actually hit him yet that he was trying to light up with a DEAD FISH!!!!!!! You never, in your entire life, saw a bunch of people DIE laughing! We laughed so hard I think ALL of us ended up on the floor at one point or another! T just sat there, motionless, he didn't even speak a word. He stared into the abyss somewhere, never saying a thing!
They say that you can never experience the same funny feelings that people experience when actually being there, but I tell you, if you are not hysterical right now, there has to be something wrong with you!
Hope you enjoyed this story, wish you could have seen it in person.
Until the next funny fishy story, adios!
-Cathy Byrnes
I've been keeping Maine Coon Cats (sorta the frontosas of the cat world, only really hairy<g>) and Angelfish for many years.
Normally, the cats tend to view the fish as "cat TV" and spend hours watching the tanks in rapt fascination.
Last year, one of my young male cats decided that a pair of breeding silver veils were simply sushi on the hoof, so to speak. He spent a lotta time watching and chirrupping at those fish.
Finally, while I was feeding the pair, he got up next to me, and stuck one paw and his nose into the water, only to come up out of the tank with a very large, very irate male angelfish HANGING off his nose!
Darn near flooded my dining room, and scared the hell out of the cat. What is very interesting is that that male angelfish has since changed residences, lives in a different tank in a different part of the house. Not only does the CAT still recognize that specific fish, and snarl and hiss at him...but the darned FISH recognizes the cat. Other cats can come and peer in the tank and he ignores them...this one cat comes NEAR that tank, and you have about 12" (fin to fin) of irate male angelfish charging at the glass, fins bristling, gill covers flared...
The cat may not be too bright, (angels that size have substantial teeth...like fine needles), but that ol' boy fish is NO dummy.
He is currently extremely angry at me because I pushed his girlfriend (he is sterile, but still alive...<g>) out of the way the other day while cleaning the tank...I am now getting bristled at unless I am feeding him.
Interesting fish...and my experience with the angels has left me less than interested in the SA Cichlids known to be "feisty".
by Reva Mainesrus |
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