Last weekend the bizarre happened in my home. I am not sure the odds, but surely greater than one in a million. I am a bit embarrassed to even share this…! ____________________________________________ After two weeks of cupramine treatment followed by formalin dips the Lyretail Anthias were ready to go into the glassbox. Being so small [...]
Last weekend the bizarre happened in my home. I am not sure the odds, but surely greater than one in a million. I am a bit embarrassed to even share this…!
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After two weeks of cupramine treatment followed by formalin dips the Lyretail Anthias were ready to go into the glassbox. Being so small they are easy to catch in an open quarantine tank; one net caught all three in a single scoop. In typical fashion they were added to a specimen container, where they would be acclimated to the water of their new home. I moved the trio of anthias in their container and set them on my kitchen island while I prepared the siphon for drip acclimation.
There I am in front of the tank attaching a suction cup to hold the air line tubing for the siphone when I hear a splash… a loud splash. I look over and see a 1.5″ anthias hurling through the air headed towards my kitchen countertop and sink!
I ran over to the counter and started looking around. I didn’t see the young female anywhere. As if I wasn’t already, I started freaking out. I began checking the floor, the cabinets, behind, underneath, everywhere you can imagine. No where could this fish be found. I looked down the sink and I thought there is no way it could have gone straight down one of those tiny slits. It would require a clean swan dive entrance straight in. I looked around some more and I could not find any sign of the fish or even any water splashes.
From kitchen island to sink?
Logically I kept finding my mind drift back to the sink’s drain. I was a bit upset I even thought of that. The second it entered my head, I knew I had to get out the tools and see if the fish was in there or I would not have been able to sleep that night. I ran to my storage area and got out a large wrench to see if it was in the sink’s plumbing. I am not sure what it is, but sink plumbing is never fun. It’s a mess.
Could it fit down there?
I went ahead and went to town on the plumbing. It was more difficult than I had expected to loosen the pipes, but after 10 minutes I finally had it. I figured since no water ran, if the fish was in there it would be stuck somewhere. Turns out it was stuck in the trap. Meaning the fish hurled itself and made a perfect 10.0 landing through a tiny drain hole and then went straight down into the curved trap section.
I couldn’t get the fish out so I had to poor RO/DI down the trap to flush the fish. Still nothing. I finally resorted to turning it upside down over a bucket of SW and taping it to dislodge the fish. After a good 20 or so taps finally the tiny Anthias plunked into the bucket… and swam like nothing happened.
In a small container with the other two Anthias prior to final acclimation
This tiny anthias was in no more than 5in of water was able to launch itself out of the container and clear a 3 ft. gap from the kitchen island to kitchen sink. Even more impressive after the entire ordeal? The fish went on like it was just an every day occurrence. She is now mingling with the male and other female enjoying their new space. Days later there are no signs of stress or physical damage. Easily the most bizarre experiences in my reef keeping career…
