Tales of the 826NYC Super-Fish

Posted on January 31, 2007 by Ellie Horowitz

Long ago in a 40-gallon tank, fish swam blissfully through clear water and plastic plants. They lazed in their ceramic castle and burrowed in white pebbles. "This is the life," they said. "This is the life."

Soon after, the tank grew opaque and the fish began to die. What was turning the tank green? Bacteria? Photosynthesis? Nobody knows.

Two interns were sent on a mission to the pet store in order to save the six fish left. "It's the pH level!" The pet-store workers exclaimed. The interns returned to 826, emptied and filled ten gallons from the tank, and waited.

Four days later, the tank grew even darker, bleaker. Hope was drained. They decided to take the final and most dangerous route: empty the entire fish tank.

After carefully draining the tank (which smelled of sushi) and placing the remaining fish in bowls, the interns refilled it with cool and clear water. In the evening, they placed the fish back in the tank, and watched them slowly float on their side, softly hitting the pebbled floor.

Their heads drooped. "It was bound to happen soon." They turned out the lights with little hope.

Upon returning in the morning, they stared at the tank in shock. All six fish were happily swimming about in their newly cleaned home. How could they possibly be alive?! Nobody knows.

All that's known is that these fish are Super-Fish.