R.I.P. Spot

My prehistoric looking pleco, Spot, left me for bluer pastures last night. A hand-me-down, pass-along pet from my friend, Rob, Spot was a sort of aquatic mascot at Rob’s office with Pepco Power in D.C. for many years. Rob estimated that Spot was at least a decade or older before he brought him home. After a major kitchen remodel where Spot didn’t match the decor anymore, Rob asked if I wanted to take over nurturing duties. I was up for the new challenge and you can learn more about Spot, “the $500 free fish,” here.

Spot came to live in my studio sometime in 2007, so I had the unique pleasure of caring for him for more than five years. Rob and I estimate he was probably more than 12 years old when I inherited him, so it would be safe to say he lived to be at least 18-20 years old, possibly even legal drinking age. (I just called Rob to tell him of Spot’s demise and he estimated that Spot was probably well into his 20s). Spot grew substantially in my care, measuring exactly 17″ long when he departed this realm last night.

Ah, Spot, suffice it to say that you will be missed. I’ll miss your gentle nature, imposing prehistoric presence, tank-sucking headstands, and robust swimming spurts when you thought I wasn’t looking.

Below is a photo I shot of Spot doing one of his infamous foraging headstands with a backdrop of goldfish, long since gone.

See Spot do a trick!

Spot, our “$500 free fish,” gets into the oddest positions (such as his “Look Ma, no hands” headstand shown here) to hunt for yummy algae in the tank. There’s nothing to show you scale or size, but he’s over a foot long now! In the background, you see my other 55 gallon tank with two 59 cent Wal-Mart goldfish—Calico Joe (almost 11″ long) and Dorrie (8+” long). (Do you know how hard it is to measure a moving goldfish?) They used to be in the backyard pond, but we brought them in for the winter a few years ago. I’ve long since bonded with them, so in my studio they will stay.

Learn why we call Spot our “$500 free fish” here:

https://cindydyer.wordpress.com/2007/12/07/the-500-free-fish/

Learn more about plecos here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plecostomus

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