Benign Neglect

For the first year we had fish, I took care of them perfectly. I changed their water, vaccuumed the gravel, washed the plants every week. Lately, I have been much less good. I have gone two weeks, perhaps a little longer at times, between water changes. The numbers of baby guppies and platies stayed stable (at too many), and the fish remained healthy. Friday, I discovered the other consequence of my neglect.

I hadn't counted our Cory Cats in a while, so while cleaning the fishtank I looked for them. One, two, three, four--all still fine--and then, near them, a little one a third of their size.

We have successfully bred Corydoras in a community tank. More remarkable, given that they're egg layers....