An Ecosystem in the Corner of the Room

For the past 6 months we have been growing a little ecosystem in the corner of our living room.  Our fish had all died and things had become a little busy what with a new baby in the house.  Occasionally either Ryan and I would look over at the fish tank and wonder aloud when something would be done with it.  Around October, Ryan made the attempt to deal with the tank by turning off the filter and heater.  The tank continued to sit growing its algae garden, an underwater grave for the fish that had disappeared into its bowels.

Or so we thought.

Tonight while I was persuading Imogen that sleep is a good thing, Ryan began to empty out the tank in preparation for its journey to our new house.  By the time I sat on the couch the tank was empty.  I heard some rustling and assumed that the cat had found some paper.  It happened again and this time I could see Sabine.  I looked at Ryan and then in tandem we both looked at the fish tank.  On cue, the rustling sound emanated out of the tank.  While Ryan peered into its depths I attempted to grab our one and only lamp to bring it closer.  Ryan let out a “No shit!”  and there it was…  the shark that we had thought had died in July.  Lying on its side with its gills flapping open and close, the shark was taking its last breath.   As Ryan ran to get water, I stared at the shark wondering how you give mouth to mouth to a shark and if fish get brain damage when they have a lack of oxygen to the brain.  Were there going to be lasting effects to this chain of events?  Do vets deal with fish with brain damage?  (The strange thoughts had more to do with my fragile state of being due to the upcoming move rather than any real love of the fish.)

It has been an hour and the fish has been fed real fish food for the first time in the last 6 months.  We will see whether or not the fish survives.  Of course, the next questions is what to do with the fish.  It has obviously become accustomed to its environment being unheated, unbalanced and filled with algae.  The algae was probably what kept the fish alive.

The saddest thing is now all I can think is – shit, now we are going to have to move the tank with water in it AND find a place for it in the new house that is not the storage closet.