Fishie Love
Something cool happened yesterday.
arsonchild had asked how Popeye was doing, and I needed to feed her, so I showed her to him. I pulled all the plants out of her bucket so he could see her better. pturing wanted a look at her too. I fed her and pointed out her giant-eyes gaze, and also the single fry that was still in the bucket with her. Shortly after that, the guys left and I was alone with the fish.
I didn't have my net, but I wanted to move the fry into the half-barrel, so Popeye wouldn't eat it. I decided to see if I could catch it with my hands, if I was careful. It took a few tries, but I was eventually able to scoop the tiny fry up in my hand, along with some water. I held it there for quite awhile, marveling at its tiny, structure- perfect little eyes and fins. It didn't freak out at all- it was totally calm. After a few minutes, I gentle lowered my hand into the half-barrel, letting the little fry swim off into its new home, with all its siblings.
Then it occurred to me to try to catch Popeye in the same way: in my hand. I just wanted to see if I could do it. So I did! It took no time at all. She has become so tame that she held very still, while I slowly moved my hand beneath her and scooped her up. I actually picked her up entirely out of the bucket; a small amount of water remained in my hand, so that she was immersed but not able to swim. She rested on her belly, in my palm. Her gills fluttered. She was totally calm. I looked her over carefully. (She looked back at me.) The large pink mass behind her eye seems to have shrunk, but she is still more pink on that side of her head than the other. Her eye is still very large.
I didn't want her to become frightened or restless, so after a minute or so of holding her, I gently lowered her back to the bucket. She swam out of my hand, unfazed.
These were such magical moments! To have a wild creature trust me so, so that against all instinct, she sad calmly in the palm of my hand. What a special gift.
arsonchild had asked how Popeye was doing, and I needed to feed her, so I showed her to him. I pulled all the plants out of her bucket so he could see her better. pturing wanted a look at her too. I fed her and pointed out her giant-eyes gaze, and also the single fry that was still in the bucket with her. Shortly after that, the guys left and I was alone with the fish.
I didn't have my net, but I wanted to move the fry into the half-barrel, so Popeye wouldn't eat it. I decided to see if I could catch it with my hands, if I was careful. It took a few tries, but I was eventually able to scoop the tiny fry up in my hand, along with some water. I held it there for quite awhile, marveling at its tiny, structure- perfect little eyes and fins. It didn't freak out at all- it was totally calm. After a few minutes, I gentle lowered my hand into the half-barrel, letting the little fry swim off into its new home, with all its siblings.
Then it occurred to me to try to catch Popeye in the same way: in my hand. I just wanted to see if I could do it. So I did! It took no time at all. She has become so tame that she held very still, while I slowly moved my hand beneath her and scooped her up. I actually picked her up entirely out of the bucket; a small amount of water remained in my hand, so that she was immersed but not able to swim. She rested on her belly, in my palm. Her gills fluttered. She was totally calm. I looked her over carefully. (She looked back at me.) The large pink mass behind her eye seems to have shrunk, but she is still more pink on that side of her head than the other. Her eye is still very large.
I didn't want her to become frightened or restless, so after a minute or so of holding her, I gently lowered her back to the bucket. She swam out of my hand, unfazed.
These were such magical moments! To have a wild creature trust me so, so that against all instinct, she sad calmly in the palm of my hand. What a special gift.