A NEW MOM

 A NEW MOM

 

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

 

14/V/2023

 

Let me begin by wishing all mothers a very happy Mother’s Day. Raising a child, running home and hearth is by no means an easy task. All those mothers who have gone to other realms, I solicit their blessings too. May all you mothers stay blessed always.

 

Be that as it may. Let me share with you the woes of a ‘male mother’. Surprised? Who, how & when shall be revealed as you read on.

 

The person writing this became a ‘mother’ to a few Molly fish last September. We had a water tank and there was no better way to utilise it but to add fish in it. Taking care of them became a learning process.

 

Feeding them, cleaning their tank, recharging its water, aerating it, moving them to shade when it was hot, heating their water when winters set in, keeping an eye on Kingfishers were few of the chores.

 

Being a ‘first time’ mom, it was exciting, interesting, time consuming, worth researching, experimenting, accepting failures and enjoying their company and it became all encompassing.

 

Success came when they started giving birth. How would I take care of so many babies? Well, wisdom came from somewhere. We suffered losses which broke our hearts no end. One even dedicated a flower pot as a graveyard for them to give fish decent last rites.

 

Then came a time to introduce new friends to our babies. This time they were Guppies which added so much colour to the tank. They too needed the same care, if not more.

 

Water lilies gave them a place to play. Slowly, more plants and obstacles were added. Though not being a professional landscaper, one created many hiding spaces and spawning places. All ‘sea shells’ we had collected from all over were arranged, some ‘Bhatas’ (Local Stone), some surplus tiles and river stones were placed to make them feel at home. Even a solar fountain was added to keep churning the water in daylight hours. What else could this mom do!

 

It was time to shift them from their ‘Winter Capital’ to the ‘Summer Capital’. Summers in the sun city are scorching. With temperatures shooting up to 42-45 degrees C, they needed a cooler environment. A water bubble stone with an air pump was added to beat the heat.

 

An idea struck to get fish online though in the wrong season. Instead of taking three days, it took thirteen days for them to reach. All the fish died in transit.

 

It was difficult to come to terms with the loss. Though the fish keeper has promised to replace them, now it shall be when temperatures here are much lower. One will have to wait till early Dec. This time ‘this mother’ will take no chances.

 

Now to the brighter side. My babies were spawning. The first lot of six grandchildren were shifted to separate tanks lest other fish had them for dinner. They are live bearers and tend to be cannibals.

 

Two of them were put in a tub and one went missing.  Could they have jumped out? Was the water not suitable? Was it too early to shift them? Were a few questions which needed answers. Today was their tub cleaning day and both of them were alive and swimming. Since then, one hasn’t been able to wipe out that smile.

 

The second reason for ‘mom’ to be proud was that it was feeding time for the main tank. As usual, one sprinkled food and loved watching them gobbling it all up. They know ‘mama’ will feed them. They all surface to greet me, rather ask me to feed them.

 

While I sat watching them toying around with their food, a few tiny dots about fifteen of them surfaced. One fish had just given birth. Those tiny tadpole-like creatures had come up to explore. Our happiness knew no bounds. More responsibilities will follow. It is tedious, time consuming but exciting to be a new mom.

 

Are these babies from a guppy or a molly fish? I wonder!!!!!!!!

 

JAI HIND

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY

© ® NOEL ELLIS