Life in an Aquarium
What is behind the disease in aquarium fish called “Malawi Bloat” an almost 100% fatal systemic infection of the gut?
———- from James Martin of Northhampton, MA
That would be chronic boredom. You see, most fish are actually quite intelligent, and the prospect of swimming back and forth inside a tiny tank, zipping by an occasional fake coral, or miniature castle, encourages an ennui otherwise known only to insurance salesmen and graduate students. Fish who are so afflicted deliberately gulp anything floating in the tank, in the hopes of inducing Malawi Bloat. Some even practice floating on their backs. Lucky fish are re-incarnated as hamsters. Unlucky ones, as turtles.
That would be chronic boredom. You see, most fish are actually quite intelligent, and the prospect of swimming back and forth inside a tiny tank, zipping by an occasional fake coral, or miniature castle, encourages an ennui otherwise known only to insurance salesmen and graduate students. Fish who are so afflicted deliberately gulp anything floating in the tank, in the hopes of inducing Malawi Bloat. Some even practice floating on their backs. Lucky fish are re-incarnated as hamsters. Unlucky ones, as turtles. 