SharpRhombus
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My boyfriend, Noah, wrote "Le Morte d'Grover" this morning about our first fish, Grover. I loved it so much and wanted to share it here. He and I added a few additional details to provide the full story (and might continue to do so). 
Le Morte d'Grover
--------------------
We arrived at the pet store eager to bring home two spotted pictus catfish, which we were going to name "Grover" and "Cornelius". There wasn't anyone in the store near the fish department, so I went up to the counter, where a group of several PetSmart employees had gathered. I mentioned that I'd like some help with the fish, so a young guy came over to help us out. He produced a plastic cup thingy, and a fish net.
Now next to the tank, we selected "Grover" - who was cutely ambling along the right wall of the tank running his whiskers along the sides and bottom.
Now, Alison and I had done some research online and knew that you have to catch these catfish in a solid container of some sort, because their fins will snag on any net. The store guy tried to catch Grover in his little container, to no avail. Then he quickly reached in with the net, snagging Grover against the side of the tank. Alison and I exchanged a puzzled look - isn't he not supposed to be doing that?
The store guy turned over the net into the container. But Grover wouldn't fall out. Then he flipped the net at the container several times, harder and harder. But Grover was still tangled in the fine green strands of the net.
"Let me find someone..." he said, walking away to the back of the store, and through a door.
We milled around for a brief time. Moving over towards the door, I noticed with horror that he had placed the net with Grover still entangled on a nearby counter top. Grover was gasping for oxygen in the open air.
At this point, He came back with another net. Alison stopped him as he tried to reach in for another pictus. "You can't do that! You can't use a net, you have to use a glass!"
I realized at this point that they were going to just leave Grover to die on the counter top. I took the water filled container out of the store guys hand and went over to Grover to try to untangle him. Placing him back in the water so he could at least breathe, I tried in vain to get him out of the net. The spines on his fin must have some sort of hooks on the tips, that clung to the netting. I noticed now that there was a thin wash of red over his belly - he must have been badly mauled when the store guy tried to shake him out of the net. I had a brief hope, that I'd be able to save this one and bring him home.
The store manager approached me, taking out a pocket knife. "I could cut him loose, but he's not going to make it."
"Better to just give him a quick death." We agreed, though sadly.
A New Beginning
-------------------
Trying not to get too worked up, we had another, better-advised woman get two catfish for us, and she was so wonderful! We were so sad about Grover, right there in the pet store, but luckily we knew he was now in happy catfish-land!
She picked out two adorable little catfish for us, Cornelius and Maxwell. We were so excited to bring them home!!! We carried them home gingerly, then floated them in their bag within our aquarium to let the water temperatures equalize. Now, we are the proud owners of two very cute and sociable yet feisty catfish! We love them!
I saw a sign this morning on the Chicago Theatre (the "Chicago" sign that everyone sees in tourism information, movies, etc.) for an event coming up. It was called "Groovin' for Grover!" What a lovely sign (literally ) to show us that little Grover is doing A-OK! We will not forget him.
Le Morte d'Grover
--------------------
We arrived at the pet store eager to bring home two spotted pictus catfish, which we were going to name "Grover" and "Cornelius". There wasn't anyone in the store near the fish department, so I went up to the counter, where a group of several PetSmart employees had gathered. I mentioned that I'd like some help with the fish, so a young guy came over to help us out. He produced a plastic cup thingy, and a fish net.
Now next to the tank, we selected "Grover" - who was cutely ambling along the right wall of the tank running his whiskers along the sides and bottom.
Now, Alison and I had done some research online and knew that you have to catch these catfish in a solid container of some sort, because their fins will snag on any net. The store guy tried to catch Grover in his little container, to no avail. Then he quickly reached in with the net, snagging Grover against the side of the tank. Alison and I exchanged a puzzled look - isn't he not supposed to be doing that?
The store guy turned over the net into the container. But Grover wouldn't fall out. Then he flipped the net at the container several times, harder and harder. But Grover was still tangled in the fine green strands of the net.
"Let me find someone..." he said, walking away to the back of the store, and through a door.
We milled around for a brief time. Moving over towards the door, I noticed with horror that he had placed the net with Grover still entangled on a nearby counter top. Grover was gasping for oxygen in the open air.
At this point, He came back with another net. Alison stopped him as he tried to reach in for another pictus. "You can't do that! You can't use a net, you have to use a glass!"
I realized at this point that they were going to just leave Grover to die on the counter top. I took the water filled container out of the store guys hand and went over to Grover to try to untangle him. Placing him back in the water so he could at least breathe, I tried in vain to get him out of the net. The spines on his fin must have some sort of hooks on the tips, that clung to the netting. I noticed now that there was a thin wash of red over his belly - he must have been badly mauled when the store guy tried to shake him out of the net. I had a brief hope, that I'd be able to save this one and bring him home.
The store manager approached me, taking out a pocket knife. "I could cut him loose, but he's not going to make it."
"Better to just give him a quick death." We agreed, though sadly.
A New Beginning
-------------------
Trying not to get too worked up, we had another, better-advised woman get two catfish for us, and she was so wonderful! We were so sad about Grover, right there in the pet store, but luckily we knew he was now in happy catfish-land!
She picked out two adorable little catfish for us, Cornelius and Maxwell. We were so excited to bring them home!!! We carried them home gingerly, then floated them in their bag within our aquarium to let the water temperatures equalize. Now, we are the proud owners of two very cute and sociable yet feisty catfish! We love them!
I saw a sign this morning on the Chicago Theatre (the "Chicago" sign that everyone sees in tourism information, movies, etc.) for an event coming up. It was called "Groovin' for Grover!" What a lovely sign (literally
) to show us that little Grover is doing A-OK! We will not forget him.
