Platty

Fish. I remember having fish when I was younger, but I don't really remember anything about them except for the bubbler keeping me up at night, the snails that ate the scum, and Wanda was our fishes name!

As you may recall, we have a fish tank at my work. My only job (thankfully) is to feed them in the morning. It's not difficult and I love the way they all swim to the top- apparently so happy to see me and get their daily food. It's a very easy job and I'm okay with that!

There is a fish man- Bruce- that does all the dirty work. He cleans the tank, changes the water and the rocks, and keeps them looking all perty.

The patients love the fish tank and I have spent many hours with them looking at the fish and examining them. We decide if they are girls or boys, give them names - like pokadot- and have a lot of fun watching them chase each other.

They are all the same kind of fish except for one- the Plecostomus. He's our algae eating fish and is so super cool! His face kinda looks like a sting ray! I of course couldn't get a good picture of ours- so this is one from the powerful and all knowing google!

See- I told you they're cool! But they are also very shy and dont like to come out much. You have to consider yourself a very special person in order to have him come out and swim by while youre looking in our tank.

Therefore, because I have examined these fish many times with a different kids, I notice when things are a bit out of the ordinary. I noticed something strange the other day as I went to feed the fish. The usual routine is that I lift the lid and the Plecostomus swims as fast as he can to hide in the dark corners of the tank. (I've decided that he's like a toddler that plays peek-a-boo... "if they cant see me, I'm not here!" Type of thing)

Well, this particular day- he didn't swim away. He stayed like this - you can see the back half of his body and tail under the rock there.

I thought my poor Platty had died. But then the thought occurred to me that possibly he was stuck under there! For some reason, I thought that I would become a super hero and save the day!

So getting towels ready, I stuck my hand in (hoping the other fish wouldn't think they were getting a lucky break and were receiving a steak dinner of my hand and arm) and moved the rock. Platty kinda wiggled, but he didnt swim away. Therefore, I determined that he was indeed- not stuck.

So next idea- He must not be feeling well. He was not acting in his typical "scaredy-cat" form. I wiped off my fish water arm, scrubbed it with soap and water and sanitized it as much as I could. Then I called Bruce. I would let him save the day (and the fish!) I informed him that Platty may need an IV and some life saving skills- all of which I was not prepared to do! (Whether he found that funny or not, I did and laughed at myself for being so Witty!)

Bruce came to my rescue.

As I walked with Bruce to the fish tank and he got out his flashlight, he informed me that our fish had ICK. (I found it funny that the first thought that I had was "Ick? ICK!" Ü and I bet all of you did as well huh!) Then he goes on to tell me that it is very contagious and he would get them medicine. I think he saw the look on my face because he told me not to worry because they would be just fine.

However, I was not worried about the fish being fine (I was sure they would be). I was worried because MY hand and arm were in that 'ICK filled- contagious ' tank- as I tried to 'Save the Day'! I was scared to death that I would start getting a white fungus on my arm! The color came back to my face as he told me that it is only contagious to other fish and that I will be fine! (I sure hope he knows what he is talking about!)

Phew! Now I just have to watch and make sure that they are getting better (whatever that means!) Now I am paranoid every time I give them their food. I worry that they all have ICK and are breathing too fast or not fast enough. That some look like they have more white on them or are being mean to the ones who do. When did my easy job of "just feeding the fish" become a "make sure that they all survive and are in good condition?" I may need to add "vet" to my list of job duties!

And the rest of you just have to make sure that I dont start growing scales or gills! Got it?! Good!

Ick!