Alright, gather ‘round fellow fish enthusiasts (or innocent bystanders who are now invested in my underwater soap opera). Buckle up — this next chapter might tug at the heartstrings a bit, but I promise it’s not all doom and gloom!
First, the not-so-sparkly news. We had to say goodbye to our other brave little swimmer, Fish Stick II — yes, the sequel nobody asked for but everyone rooted for. Originally, we thought the culprit was ich again (our old nemesis!), but plot twist: it was actually something far nastier called Epistylis. Doesn’t that just sound villainous? Like the name of a fancy but slightly evil wizard.

Turns out, when we valiantly treated our tank for ich, we accidentally created a bacterial all-you-can-eat buffet instead. In the early days, this sneaky bug looks just like ich — but once it settles in, it transforms into something more sinister. By the time we realized the bait-and-switch, it was sadly too late for our dear Fish Stick II. RIP, buddy — your swimming in circles will never be forgotten.

Now, before you grab your tissues and vow never to trust a fish tank again, let me brighten this watery tale. Gary the pleco, our unbothered algae-munching vacuum, is still alive and well. He’s showing the tiniest hints of a possible infection — but don’t panic — Gary is a tough cookie. Or tough suckerfish, to be precise. He’s been gliding around his big lonely tank with the confidence of someone who knows plecos are perfectly fine on their own. Thank you, Google, for that comforting tidbit!
That said, no fish deserves a solo existence forever — not even stoic old Gary. So we’ve sprung into action: tank treatment round two (this time for Epistylis, our new arch-nemesis) and a full plan to repopulate our aquatic kingdom once the coast is clear. We’ve officially decided to retire from the drama of goldfish parenting — they may be cute, but who knew they’d bring so much plot with them? Next up: some calmer, hardier fish pals who (fingers crossed) don’t come with unexpected diseases or surprise tragic endings.

If there’s a silver lining to this finned fiasco, it’s that we’re now practically honorary fish vets. We have enough treatments, test kits, and random bottles of mysterious liquids to handle just about any microscopic menace the tank dares to host.
So, here’s to Gary’s future friends, fewer fishy plot twists, and our ever-growing knowledge of aquatic care. May the next chapter be a little less dramatic and a lot more bubbly.

RIP Fish Stick II — your legacy lives on in every water change and algae scrape.

🐟✨ Stay tuned for the next episode…