As noted in My Writing Life #7, we invited a small but mighty common pleco into our lives last year. Having two goldfish in a 38-gallon tank, I imagined a then-small algae eater would add fun variety while relieving me of some cleaning duties. In the pet store, plecos were tanked beside goldfish. Not reading the label or asking any questions, I went home completely unaware of the needs of my new fish, Boris.
This remarkable cleaner impacted his underwater environment. The gravel and glass and thick leaves of silk plants all glistened without blemish. Early on, Dwight and Stash would sometimes chase him around, so I bought a hollow robot dog with a square opening big enough for the pleco but too small for the pursuing goldfish. Wanting to lure Boris into his new hiding place and ensure enough food supply, I placed algae wafers inside the dog. Soon enough, Boris would regularly retreat to his safe haven and feast on wafers in peace.
In about six months, a much bigger Boris could no longer fit through the hole, and he would just hang by the filter. I dropped his algae wafers into a back corner of the tank. When either goldfish nibbled the snack, Boris would chase them away with incredible speed, float back to the treat and claim his reward. The tables had turned.
At 9 ½ inches, Boris dominated our tank. Apparently, goldfish and mature plecos clash. Bigger also means more aggressive. Even upgrading to a 75 gallon tank (the bare minimum for adult plecos) would not save my sleeping goldfish from a hungry pleco possibly attaching to their slimy sides for needed nutrients. The honeymoon was over, and I needed to accept the reality of rehoming Boris. My wife and I finally found a local fish store that would accept him. From tank to bucket to car to store, Boris proved to be a calm and cool, most pleasant traveler.
The fish store arranged for Boris to be placed in a 90 gallon tank with a giant soon-to-be roommate floating in the center, completely undisturbed by the addition of a new resident. My wife and I watched Boris navigate his way to the algae-covered bottom. For a few minutes, he didn’t move at all. Then he seemed to settle in and hang out. We thanked the staff for caring enough to accept our surrendered pet.
Leaving Boris behind affected me more than expected. I think pets become family members through daily joys that contribute to a sense of relationship, and we as pet owners accept responsibility for their well-being. But our pet pleco had developed needs we could no longer meet. Had I failed? He wasn’t just a fish. He was Boris.
Two weeks later, I went to the store to buy Nerite snails and live plants to upgrade my tank. I’ve learned to balance my purchasing power with some solid research. The staff happened to recognize me and said they had moved Boris to their indoor pond. There he was clinging upside down to an algae covered rock in an incredible environment that I could never have provided. The pet store staff had delivered him to paradise.
✍️ I appreciate your interest. Please feel free to share your thoughts. I’d love to hear from you.
John, I love this piece!
It brought memories of beloved pets, now gone.
I fell ‘in love’ with Boris—now that’s good writing!
We need more of you and your intimate stories.
I say, Bravo...and I say thank you.
What a delight to read. Thank you!