Debra LaValley's Blog

Memories after Watching Fish in an Aquarium

Recently, I brought my mom to one of her appointments and there was a large aquarium in the office. My parents bought an aquarium in the early 1970s and had it in our living room behind the top of the couch (it was on a table). My mom was pregnant with my brother Ken. She said it was very relaxing to watch the fish. We enjoyed the aquarium for many years. One memory that came to mind was when my brother Ken (when he was just a toddler) was standing on the couch. My dad was reclined on the couch. Ken reached up and pulled on the side of the aquarium – needless to say there was water and flopping fish everywhere! Another memory was when a very pregnant black molly passed away. My mom was watching the tank when the molly passed. Mom quickly netted the fish and performed a cesarean section on the molly. The babies lived and were placed in a special nursery area of the tank.  I also remember my mom taking a popsicle stick and wrangling a mean angel fish away from the fish it was bullying. The angle fish in the office’s tank seemed to be behaving itself. The tank was always filled with different colorful species (some of my favorites were neon tetras, red-tailed sharks, coolie (aka Kuhli) loaches, and of course the prehistoric looking plecostomus that helped keep the tank clean. After I moved out and had my own apartment, I had my own aquarium for close to 20 years. They really are very relaxing to watch. Fun memories that I have not thought of for a long time. 

Enjoy your day!