Fear the Crab

One of my pandas died yesterday. When it didn’t show up for feeding time, I started to look behind the driftwood and plants, where the fish are usually wont to hide. I didn’t see it, and it took me a while to confirm the locations of everyone else (fish don’t conveniently stay still, you know). Then a thought struck me out of the blue, and I grabbed my mag-lite and started shining the light into the nooks and crannies of the driftwood.

There was the missing panda, stuck between the gravel and the driftwood. I thought I might have a chance, but when I lifted the driftwood, the panda was quite dead. Rigor mortis had probably set in, because when it was finally dislodged from its location, it remained in a curled up position, the way I found it.

I’m thinking that curiosity killed the panda. It explored the nook and maybe got stuck somehow. It’s a depressing thought to think about, though.

After work today I might head over to that store by Maile’s mom’s office. I hear they sometimes carry pandas. If not there, I’ll try the place where I got my first two. If not there, I’ll try by The Lab. I might get two pandas, should there be enough. I don’t think it’ll overload the tank, and hopefully the remaining 4 pandas will appreciate the extra company.

It still makes me sad. I can understand a fish dying of stress, of old age, of disease (which is usually brought on by stress), but not by something accidental like that. Sad.