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<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=150 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <B>Fish Stories</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.aworldoffish.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.aworldoffish.com"><U><B><IMG SRC="0396f330.gif" border=0 width="111" height="51" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><A HREF="http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/oltorf/729/id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/oltorf"><U><B><IMG SRC="03a6f330.gif" border=0 width="111" height="51" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><A HREF="http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/oltorf/729/id105.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/oltorf"><U><B><IMG SRC="03b6f330.gif" border=0 width="111" height="51" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><A HREF="http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/oltorf/729/id19.htm" TARGET="_top" 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border="0" align="center"> <tr> <td align="left">Fish Story:<br> <textarea name="Fish Story" rows="7" cols="80"></textarea></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right"><input type="reset"> <input type="submit" value="Send" name="tlx_send"></td> </tr> </table> </form>  </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Now thats thinking</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> I love watching fish and seeing how smart they really are. I have had cichlids that dig out the gravel down to the glass on the bottom of the tank. Like most fish they get excited as you go to feed them. But the intresting thing happened when I would feed the fish in the lower tank. (I have a double stack rack with a upper and lower tank. The upper tank sits on frame with a open bottom so you can see up into it from underneath when the cichlids have moved the gravel.) The cichlids would swim over to the hole they have dug and watch as their other freshwater cousins got fed watching and getting excited as they know they are next. It shows that the fish understand that their is a world outside there own little waterworld.</div> <div> (just a short true story to get this area started) </div> <bR> <div> <B>Oscar the Oscar</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> Well a sad and humorous story was related to me this week by a friend and I just had to pass it all on to you, I hope you find it as enlightening as I did. The following is the story about "Oscar" the Oscar. </div> <div> Oscar was a local icon here where I live, but he did not start out that way, his beginnings were like most Oscars. Oscar came home form a local pet store along with 3 other of his brethren to a then considered huge 29-gallon aquarium. This was back in the spring 1978; Oscar and his brothers quickly grew, and like most brothers would fight from time to time. </div> <div> The runt of the four was the first to perish from the abuse by its larger kin. To ease tensions in the family it was decided to move Oscar and the boys to a whopping 55-gallon tank, surely they would never outgrow this huge aquarium and can find peace with one another again. Things did go well, but only for a short time, as the feeders were plentiful Oscar and the two remaining others grew and grew, and fought and fought. By the end of the first year Oscar was the only fish to remain, alone in his 55 gallon tank. Soon after the last of his tank mates was netted from the aquarium, It was discovered that Oscar had quite the attitude and personality. </div> <div> Oscar could tell every one when he was happy, or when he was upset. Oscar's antics of splashing water from his tank onto unsuspecting passer-bys became a quite mess, in a matter of minutes a 55 gallon tank could have nearly a third of its water splattered about. Oscar began to hate his 55 gallon tank, running headlong back and forth, until Oscar broke his home. The next step was to remove the now broken aquarium and install the next in a series of homes for Oscar. </div> <div> Next was a new a 125-gallon tank was now set up in place for this comical member of the family. Learning from past experiences with Oscar the tank was decorated with only green gravel, as he would spit out any other color (why? we don't know, he just liked green). Additional panes of tempered glass were custom fitted for both ends of the tank to prevent him from breaking this tank like he did the 55. Dog chew toys were his playthings now, attacking them ferociously, he could tear them up quicker than a 2-month-old puppy could. The water level was kept at only at two thirds full, as his caretakers were running out of mops to clean up after him. The heater and filter were removed from the tank to prevent him from breaking them continuously. A separate sump filter was installed with a heater below the tank with sturdy PVC providing the intake and outflows. Oscar even displayed his budding acting ability at water changes, ever time a water change was done, he would simply flop down on his side, lay on the bottom of the tank, gills pumping with this "poor me, I am dying" routine until it was over, and then he would simply go back to his business. The only problem now was that the new tank was set up where he could watch TV. </div> <div> Oscar developed a real taste for television, becoming quite annoyed if it was ever turned off, or if his shows were not on. Dog chew toys were forgotten and new toys were introduced to the Oscar in the form of Ping-Pong balls, enough to cover the entire surface of the 125-gallon tank. Oscar developed the ability to pop these Ping-Pong balls at people and objects within the house, whenever he needed attention, which was most of the time, he simply nailed you with a well placed shot. At least the Ping-Pong balls didn't hurt you as the back of your head was pelted. </div> <bR> <div> Oscar soon grew tired of the 125, demolishing it in his usual fashion by ramming the ends at full speed until they cracked. So the move was now made to a 225-gallon tank, engulfing the entire front room of thehouse. Again an additional 2 inches of glass was placed at both ends, a reef style/sump filter system was installed along with more Ping-Pong balls. We don't know if this Oscar had a death wish, or just hated anything additional in his tank, but on more than one occasion, anything foreign to his tank was attacked, destroyed and spit out. Oscar went even as far as to grab a airstone/airline and drag it into his tank, luckily his caretakers caught him just as the electric airpump that the airline was attached to was being pulled over the lip into the tank and saved him from possible electrocution. </div> <div> Soon the antics of the Ping-Pong ball popping monster reached as far as Hollywood, discussions were underway for Oscar to star in his own commercials, featuring his ability to change channels on the TV from across the room with a single shot of a Ping-Pong ball. Sadly though just this pass week Oscar was left an entire day by himself, something that was rarely if ever done. Mid-afternoon there was a power outage in our area, hence no filtration, but for a 225 gallon tank that's is no big deal, but what the big problem was that there was also no TV to watch. Oscar's caretakers came home to a room full of Ping-Pong balls surrounding the television, gallons of water sploshed all over the floor and poor Oscar laying on his side, a indentation on his head, due to breaking over 2 inches of glass on both ends of his tank. Oscar was rushed into the tub (the only thing left in the house that could hold water) but alas, Oscar never made it. Oscar never got a chance to make those TV commercials, I think it would have been fitting if he could have. </div> <div> So now 22 years after he was first brought home, we bid a fond farewell to "Oscar" the Oscar, as we will all miss him and his Ping-Pong tossing antics. </div> <div> Taken from http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/dafishdude (this club is closed as of Sept 21 2000) </div> <bR> <div> <B>The night before Christmas</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS </div> <div> Reprint by Gimmie Lu Cox </div> <div> "TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS when all through the place,</div> <div> Not a creature was stirring, not even a dace.</div> <div> The nets were all hung by the heater with care,</div> <div> In hopes that Saint Cichlid soon would be there. </div> <div> The fry were all nestled all snug in their beds,</div> <div> While visions of brine shrimp danced in their heads,</div> <div> And Ma in the castle and I round the back,</div> <div> Had just settled down for a long winters nap. </div> <div> When out on the gravel there arose such a clatter,</div> <div> I headed for shelter to avoid the whole matter.</div> <div> Away from the commotion I flew like a flash,</div> <div> Knocked over a diver and tore up some grass. </div> <div> The light on the breast of the gravel below,</div> <div> Gave a lustre of mid-day to the objects that glow,</div> <div> When what to my wondering eyes should appear,</div> <div> But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny Tetra-deer. </div> <div> With a little old driver, so lively and quick, </div> <div> .</div> <div> More rapid than sharks his courses they came,</div> <div> And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name: </div> <div> "Now Dawn! Now Diamond! Now Neon and Garnet!</div> <div> On Cardinal, on Congo, on Silver! and Scarlet!</div> <div> To the top of the ledge, to the top of the wall!</div> <div> Now swim away, swim away, swim away all!" </div> <div> As wet leaves before a wild bubbler flop,</div> <div> When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the top,</div> <div> So up to the palace-top the coursers they flew,</div> <div> With a sleigh full of worms, and St. Cichlid, too! </div> <div> And then a twinkle, I heard on the rim,</div> <div> The flipping and flapping of each little fin.</div> <div> As I swam to the window, and was looking around,</div> <div> Down the tower St. Cichlid came with a bound. </div> <div> He was dressed all in silver, from his head to his tail,</div> <div> And all his clothes gave the sparkle of a Knight's coat of mail.</div> <div> A bundle of worms he had flung on his back,</div> <div> And he looked like a peddler just openning his pack. </div> <div> His eyes how they twinkled, his glaze how wary,</div> <div> His gill-plates like roses, his manner so merry!</div> <div> His droll little mouth was drawn up in a grin,</div> <div> And the light from above sparkled each little fin. </div> <div> The stump of a worm he held tight in his teeth,</div> <div> And its tail, it encircled his head like a wreath.</div> <div> He had a broad face, and a round little belly,</div> <div> That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly,</div> <div> He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old fish,</div> <div> And I laughed when I saw him, although scared stiff. </div> <div> A flip of his tail, and a twist of his head,</div> <div> Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.</div> <div> He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,</div> <div> And filled all the nets, then turned with a jerk,</div> <div> And laying a fin aside of his nose,</div> <div> And giving a nod up the tower he rose. </div> <div> He plunged to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,</div> <div> And away they all swam, hardly making a ripple.</div> <div> But I heard him exclaim as they swam out of sight,</div> <div> "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night." </div> <div> REPRINTED FROM "THE AQUARIUM" DECEMBER 1969. </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>