In addition to working and being a graduate student, I am a wife and mom. I've got a 13 year old and 10 year old and most days are fun, but some come with trials and tribulations. Add their love of pets to the mix and things get interesting. We acquired a fish bowl when my juniors asked if they could have a class pet in April. I agreed to the proposed fish with the caveat that someone take the fish home for the summer. Of course no one took the fish home, so our fancy black goldfish named Darth Vader, went to an aquatic science classroom to live with other members of the Sith and I took the fish bowl home for the summer.
That bowl led to a bringing home a Beta named Captain Jack. Sparrow or Harkness, you decide. Captain Jack led to a bigger tank and a few rounds of fish later, we upgraded tanks one more time, but currently only have one little guppy named Pebbles. Well, I think its a guppy. It could be a molly, but really, the most important thing is that she is the last remaining fish. Tears have been shed as our previous fish friends have swum along to the great waterway beyond.
Today, the kids and I went out to get a friend or two for Pebbles. We took a water sample to have it tested before we added more fish friends to the mix. The report was "do a couple of 25% water changes and come back for another test" and then we'll look at adding fish. Home we went, scooped out some water and then poured new water back in. I guess I filled the tank a little too full. A while later while kiddos were "cleaning their rooms" (which is code for doing some kind of art project that usually involves making a mess with something difficult to clean and getting clean clothes mixed up with the dirty laundry in the process) and I was changing out the laundry, I walked into the kitchen and noticed something in the freshly emptied and wiped down sink.
OH MY GOSH...It was Pebbles! In the sink! Pebbles jumped out of the tank and into the sink!! I turned to grab a spoon to scoop up the flopping Pebbles and as I turned back around Pebbles was gone. Down the drain! The side with the garbage disposal. I grabbed some skinny tongs and a flashlight and tried to capture Pebbles who was still flopping around in the slimy sink drain, but I was terrified that I would squeeze her too hard. No luck. I grabbed a longer handled kitchen spoon and that same flashlight and some how managed to get Pebbles to jump on. Pebbles is a survivor for now. I'm really hoping between water changes and the drain adventure that she'll make it. Say a little prayer or send good universe wishes our way please. This is a photo of her from just a few minutes ago, several hours post sink drama.
UPDATE:
It is with sadness that I inform you that Pebbles is no longer with her fish family (11/17/18). She is survived by Harold, Harold and Gerald (the tetra trio).
Hooray for saving Pebbles! I hope she is doing well now. That happened to a female swordtail in my bedroom when I was growing up, but I didn't know it until the morning when I found it. ;-( I'm glad your story had a happier ending—you're Pebbles' hero!