Captain and the Chubs

The baby fishes continue to grow, and much to Captain Von Trapp's dismay, they are not only invading his space generally, but also in the most critical of all ways: FOOD.

First of all, there's the issue that there are so many of them. There are currently 20 Von Trapp Family Swimmers competing with the Captain for food, as this woefully over-exposed photo illustrates:

The photo doesn't really capture them all, but you get the idea. As they grow, there's just more square inches of fishy crammed into my little 6 gallon tank.

But then there is a second issue. The Swimmers, it would seem, have no idea how to control how much they eat. Seeing as I also have this affliction, I sympathize. But where the Captain and Maria would leave uneaten food to settle to the bottom of the tank and then create algae I would dutifully have to scrub off all the tank's surfaces, the Swimmers aspire to greater things.


Not convinced? Let's go to the close-up.

Two of the Swimmers -- let's call them Hansel and Gretel, for shits and giggles.

Now, Hansel and Gretel have just had a great deal to eat. Like, for an hour or so, because once flake food settles on the bottom of the tank, there's virtually no way for me to get it back, no matter how many times I swish my net around the gravel petrifying everyone in the tank. Which means their wee fishy bellies are all out of proportion.

Observe:

The evidence is damning, indeed. In response, I have done my best not to over-feed the fish lately, which has given them some time to return to a normal shape. In fact, some of them have grown rather rapidly.

Captain Von Trapp, sensing a musical uprising of sorts, is keeping his distance.


Wise, Captain. Very wise.

Stephanie