I'm Done: Dory, 1995(?) - December 28, 2007

[LCGoldman]

I need a good reason not to break down my reef tank and sell everything.

Our beloved Dory (Hippo Tang) died today. If ever a fish was a pet and member of our family, Dory was that fish.


Dory (c.1995 to December 28, 2007)

If I had half the fighting spirit and will to live that this fish taught us all, I would be a far better person than I am. I can't even begin to recollect the trials and tribulations that this fish endured due to my poor husbandry and the travels I made him endure. Let me try to recount:

• FOUR tank moves (from Summit, NJ to Huntington Station, NY, to Commack NY, to our present abode).
• Numerous bouts of ich
• Horrible HLLE
• One THREE day power outage in NJ, of course in the dead of winter. The temperature in the tank dropped incredibly to 52 degrees for three days. Incredibly Dory survived
• A few other power failures
• Other power problems due to among other things leak in the return that shorted out the wires; water dripping from the back of the tank shorting out a powerstrip, and other incidents of dubious distinction.
• Poor husbandry (including improper nutrition for years --- not knowing about it's need for algae, and nori), and infrequent/insufficient water changes, etc.)
• I could go on...

Dory had more lives than the three of our cats put together. I can't even begin to count the number of times that we thought Dory was dead. But, she was playing opossum. What a joker she was.

She will be dearly missed.

And, now I contemplate taking down and selling my entire reef system. Only Tracy is keeping me from doing it --- she says we have the other fish to care for.

What shall we do?