Sweeney actually died back in late November, but I only recently was able to look at his pictures without being overcome with sadness. He was my very first fish and he entertained me while I waited for the blasted 60gal to cycle (I finally gave up and bought a 3gal, put the 60gals water in it, and it cycled in no time, which is when I got Sweeney). He was a little spitfire, always flaring, always flying around the tank, always giving his opinions. He always ate with gusto and loved to show off. His tail was always in a state of tatters, and then it would be nearly healed and he'd eat it again. I finally learned to not care about ever seeing his beautiful tail the way it was when I bought him, and that's made me more easy-going over the rest of the fish I have.
His party-hearty, never say die attitude finally got him, when he tried to gulp two brine shrimp at once and it lodged in his throat. I held him in my hands up to the surface of the water, helping him grab those desperate swallows of air that just wouldn't come. I put him in a cup with a little bit of his water, put it in his tank to keep the temp up, checked the internet, but couldn't find any info on how to save him. I finally had to go to bed, and woke up a few hours later to find him gone, a few hours before someone sent me info on how to save a choking fish. If anything, now I know how to help my future fish who love their food too much. But he was quite a character and I still miss him.
RIP you little goose. I did my best with you, trying to live up to my promise to give you a good home, and while I made mistakes, I'm glad we spent the time we had the way we did. You were special and there'll not be another like you.
