Lazarus, a fish story

[Maggie-NC]

I remember reading a story a few years back about a female Cardinal who had lost her mate and she routinely fed the Koi in her neighborhood. I googled to see if I could find anything and could not but did find this. So cute.

http://www.weshow.com/us/p/15648/bab..._feeding_carps

[Lovebirds]

Originally Posted by Lady Tarheel

I remember reading a story a few years back about a female Cardinal who had lost her mate and she routinely fed the Koi in her neighborhood. I googled to see if I could find anything and could not but did find this. So cute.

http://www.weshow.com/us/p/15648/bab..._feeding_carps

That is just TOO sweet............he's sharing his food. CUTE!!

[Reti]

How adorable. What a sweet baby duck.

Reti

[jbangelfish]

It was quite an ordeal and Lazarus is still doing well.

As to calling people idiots who work in pet stores or just about any other stores, I do the same and it applies way too often. They either know nothing about what they are selling or will tell you that they don't have something because they don't know and they are too lazy to look for it.
It's amazing how many times I have found things that they didn't have. Don't get me started.

Pets for kids, I used to think was a good idea as it should teach them a sense of responsibilty and caring. It didn't work for my kids as they are not very responsible in how they care for theirs and my kids are pushing 30. Someone said Mr Rogers is to blame as he encouraged all children that they could do anything and that they were special. I don't know about poor old Mr Rogers, he certainly meant well. I think it's a combination of things that have made nearly all young people to be completely self absorbed with cell phones, video games, their own TV's that it is all about them and they don't know how to behave with other people or even animals. It's a mess to say the least.

I could go on forever, so I better quit.

I'm glad people read and enjoyed my story, it is an experience that I will never forget.

Bill

[mr squeaks]

Originally Posted by jbangelfish

It was quite an ordeal and Lazarus is still doing well.

As to calling people idiots who work in pet stores or just about any other stores, I do the same and it applies way too often. They either know nothing about what they are selling or will tell you that they don't have something because they don't know and they are too lazy to look for it.
It's amazing how many times I have found things that they didn't have. Don't get me started.

Pets for kids, I used to think was a good idea as it should teach them a sense of responsibilty and caring. It didn't work for my kids as they are not very responsible in how they care for theirs and my kids are pushing 30. Someone said Mr Rogers is to blame as he encouraged all children that they could do anything and that they were special. I don't know about poor old Mr Rogers, he certainly meant well. I think it's a combination of things that have made nearly all young people to be completely self absorbed with cell phones, video games, their own TV's that it is all about them and they don't know how to behave with other people or even animals. It's a mess to say the least.
I could go on forever, so I better quit.

I'm glad people read and enjoyed my story, it is an experience that I will never forget.

Bill

I agree with you Bill...I think technology is running amok...unfortunately, to the detriment of the upcoming generations!

At this rate, kids will never go outside, interact face to face with others and end up with unhealthy bodies...

Heck, one of these days, mankind could end up with NO body, just a brain diirecting everything!

Then again, with the way things seem to be going, we may not have to worry about it because we won't be around...

Shi

[maryjane]

He's a beautiful koi, with a wonderful story. I'm glad he made it. It's not surprising to hear about the other ones "helping" him and checking on him, I've noticed that with a friend's koi as well as a school of wild carp at a local park. They are amazing fish, they've been around forever!

[Birdmom4ever]

I loved your story Bill and your Koi are beautiful. We've had fish at various times over the years, though not Koi. Even fish have personalities and can be good pets. I used to have angel fish that took food from my fingers and my bettas did that, too.

Hubby and I are currently in trouble with my daughter for spoiling our "grandfish." She brought Ari (a betta) over when she went to Rome earlier this month. She said she only fed him once a day, but I felt sorry for him and fed him twice a day because he would "beg" when I walked by his bowl. Then I decided to join her in Rome, so Steve had to feed him for the six days I was gone. He couldn't get Ari to eat his pellets at all (probably because I gave him a few more freeze-dried worms than I should have--bad grandma) and was terrified of inadvertently starving the fish, since he and my daughter don't get along very well in the first place. By the time Monica and I got home that betta was turning up his nose at anything but worms. Hate to think how badly I'll spoil actual grandchildren some day!

[jbangelfish]

By the way, Lazarus is still doing well and I'm still amazed by his recovery from where he had been.

Koi are probably the most personable fish that I've ever had and it's not hard to see why people get so attached to them. The fact that they can live so long is another factor, as they can live to be over 100.

I used to raise lots of Angelfish, hence my silly moniker and they also could become quite tame, as you say.

I also managed to raise a few Bettas and they were my last fish venture before a long hiatus that led to the Koi and pond fish. Bettas do like the worms as they are basically carnivores and relish live or meaty foods. Feeding twice a day is probably best anyway or even more if time permits, just smaller quantities.

It is difficult not to spoil the grandkids or even our own children for that matter. Something we all wrestle with and joke about.

Bill

[Margarret]

Bill,

Thank you so much for your reply to my questions. I haven't been able to get to all the threads till now. I loved your descriptions of how the other fish responded to Lazarus. We, the naked apes, don't pay much attention any longer to any species other than ourselves and thus miss the intelligence and caring they show among themselves. Our increasingly technical lifestyles has separated us from nature so far that by now that most people see non human life as either food in plastic wrap or something to be eradicated as pests.

I'm so glad to hear Lazarus is doing well.

Margaret

[jbangelfish]

Originally Posted by Margarret

Bill,

Thank you so much for your reply to my questions. I haven't been able to get to all the threads till now. I loved your descriptions of how the other fish responded to Lazarus. We, the naked apes, don't pay much attention any longer to any species other than ourselves and thus miss the intelligence and caring they show among themselves. Our increasingly technical lifestyles has separated us from nature so far that by now that most people see non human life as either food in plastic wrap or something to be eradicated as pests.

I'm so glad to hear Lazarus is doing well.

Margaret

True, most of us don't but look at all of us. My kids are like us as well, just more preoccupied with themselves and their own problems in life. I'm just happy that they turned out at least somewhat like me and they have no meanness in them and feel compassion for our animal companions as well as people who would be picked on by many. I always stressed to my sons to defend and protect those who were unable to do it for themselves.

The selfishness and lack of compassion that shows in today's youth, very likely came from their parents or the lack of parents, which is also a big problem today. I'm afraid that it's just a sign of the times and only those with a good heart will rise above and do something truly good.

Animals are pure and only do what they must to survive. Even among them, there are bullies as they must have their heirarchies so that the fittest can live on. People should be above all of that and should know better but for some reason, many do not.

Bill

[JuliePigeon]

Wow! That's Really amazing how you saved that fish! I love fish and want to breed them eventually. What was it in the tank that made him ill? Again, truly amazing.

[TerriB]

I've seen group support in several different species. They can put us to shame.

Thanks for sharing the information regarding the proper way to acclimate fish to a new environment. Very timely, as we are planning to repopulate our fish tank.

[KIPPY]

What a wonderful story and great outcome. Great job for caring and not giving up. I hope Lazarus is still doing well. Love the name.

The duck feeding the fish was amazing and cute.