Tokyo Slim: Life Saver

So we've got these two fish called fugu. It translates into blowfish or puffer fish. They don't have the spikes like the ocean kind. These guys live in brackish water, which is not as salty as ocean water, but has salt in it none the less.

Anyway, I cleaned their tank this morning, mixed up some new saltwater and was picking the tank up out of the sink when it started to slip out of my fingers. I tried to set it back down but about an inch from the sink, I lost it. The little fugu was close to the surface and as the tank hit the sink, out he sloshed. Guess where he landed?


Fugu Graveyard

Yeah, right down the garbage disposal, aka Fugu Graveyard. My hand can barely fit in there and I knew I'd probably squish him as I tried to get my hand back out. I tried to float him out, but this was the one time it drained too well to let him swim out.

I wondered if he was still alive after the dousing of freshwater. I grabbed a flashlight, and there he was, lying on his side... gasping. So much for a quick death. I grabbed some chopsticks, but the little bugger was to slippery.

I could hear him, his raspy little voice begging me, "Help me, Slim... can't... breathe... so thirsty..."

I reached in and gently scooped him up. Pulled my hand up, out, empty. I tried again, empty. A couple more tries and my hand was aching from scraping the edges every time.

Finally, I got him out. I examined him quickly. He glared at me. I threw him in the trash and went back to bed I dropped him back in his tank. He went and hid under the filter for a few minutes, a little shook up I guess.

Here's a pic of him. He's the ungrateful looking chap on the right. He seems to be alright, the dumb little A-hole.

Photos By Tokyo Slim