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Rose Red (the fish)

The last neon tetra died within days of Eleanor announcing that her name was "Emma." I found out the fish's name when Eleanor had to write down the inhabitants of her house for her "Special Day Book": Mama, Daddy, Amanda, Luke, Eleanor and Emma (the fish).

We went to get some new fish. I think I remember that my sister-in-law recommended rosy minnows, so we got two. They cost 12 cents each (quite the bargain!) and I think they were worth approximately what we paid for them. They were very timid, although they found great places to hide from the danios including in the roots of the plant that are growing out into the water, in a crevice in the back of the lower pool, just below the second pool... Finding them was always a challenge, but they kept turning up alive after I hadn't seen them for days.

Since they were rosy minnows, Eleanor decided to call one of them "Rose Red". Sure enough, soon after this fish was named it showed up plastered to the intake of the pump. Poor fish. I am encouraging Eleanor not to name the last one, in hopes that it will live longer. It currently spends all its time hiding from the danios: it has taken up permanent residence in a calm place right underneath the pump. We'll see how long it lasts.

Next project: new plants. I want one with pink and green leaves, if I can find it at the garden store.

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