Billy-No-Bob

Fish don’t float because they’re fat!

Before we meet Billy, a little explanation about fish Buoyancy is in order.  The inner workings of fish bodies are amazing!  They are able to rise or sink in water because of an organ called the swim bladder.  In short these Cichlids have swim bladders that fill with air, mostly oxygen, that allow them to maintain the perfect equilibrium between buoyancy and gravity.  They are able to make quick changes to their density by shrinking or expanding their air sacs and therefore control their buoyancy.  But something went terribly wrong for poor Billy-No-Bob.

Billy was born under normal circumstances to special parents.  His parents were special because they were born in the wild.  They were immigrants from Lake Malawi.  (To enter “Jake’s fish tank”, all immigrants must be able to survive the tank climate that matches that lake).  There are only 3 lakes native to African Cichlids (Lakes Malawi, Tanganyika and Victoria). The Malawi Lake is the only natural habitat for the ‘Labeotropheus Fulleborni’ family, also, commonly known as the ‘Marmalade Cat’.  Billy’s parents were shipped from that lake in Africa to live in “Jake’s Tank” many years ago.  Billy’s family history gives him a coveted rank of ‘F1’ fish.  The ‘F1’ code stands for “first generation born in captivity”.  Humans like “F1 fish” because it keeps inbreeding to a minimum. (Inbreeding is also frowned upon in the Cichlid society).

Billy grew up with a happy disposition and a regular life style.  When he was old enough to move to the big tank, about three years ago, we noticed that he acting differently from the others.  He wobbled, his swimming was choppy.  He was not a smooth swimmer at all! And, he was losing weight.  We started to worry about him.  It took Billy a lot more energy and effort to get around.  Upon closer observation, we noticed he could not swim very well, in fact, Billy could not float.  Obviously, swimming is a big deal for a fish, this was a serious problem!  Billy had developed ‘Swim-Bladder disease’.  The specific cause is unknown.  However, according to fish experts, it may have been caused by a genetic disposition, cancer, an infection or a bad beating from another fish.  Regardless of the reason, the story of this fish called Billy-No-Bob inspires a sense of courage and perseverance in the face of great challenges.   He has made the best of a bad situation and never gives up.  

When Billy was diagnosed with this debilitating decease, he was not expected to live.  The prognosis was only a few months before he would pass on to the other side.  How wrong we were!  He proved us all wrong by beating the odds and refusing to let his disease win.  He lives the best he can with what he’s got. It’s not easy, so he does have a difficult life.  He must beat his fins much faster than other fish to get food or socialize.  If he stops, he sinks to the bottom.  In fact, he prefers the right side of the tank where there’s a nice area free of rocks.  He claimed that area because of a smooth landing site.  Imagine if you could not walk!  Imagined if you could only run or sit -with no in-betweens?  Billy-No-Bob lives with that condition every day.  He is an example in fortitude and should be an inspiration to us all.