I guess I spoke too soon. I just minutes ago came downstairs to get Bennett breakfast and start our day. As I have for the past 3 days, I checked on our little school of fish. I could only find four.

???

How could a fish just go missing? But then... there he was. Sucked against the filter intake. Bobcat. Did I do something wrong? Is our filter a guppy death trap?

I never thought I'd feel this sad about a guppy's death. I guess I'm not so much sad about Bobcat himself, although I hate to see the little guy go. But mostly I'm sad for the girls who've so doted on those fish.

We told them when a fish dies you just flush them down the toilet. But no, that's not going to happen. Bobcat will get a proper burial in the backyard, much like Claire's hermit crab from a couple years ago.

The girls aren't up yet- but I can hear one of them scurrying around upstairs -- probably Claire. Sometimes she likes to surprise me by coming downstairs fully dressed, hair brushed, teeth brushed, ready for the day. Sounds like what she's doing now.

She's really gonna be sad.

:-(

 *11:51 AM UPDATE: The girls took it better than I thought they would. Claire's afraid Rainbow Fish will be next. (So am I after doing some research.) I think "new tank syndrome" has set in -- the water's a bit milky/hazy and has a slightly bad odor. I just did a partial water change and will keep doing that until the good bacteria has a chance to colonize. I wish the tank directions had mentioned this issue -- shame on me for not asking my friend Google before launching into this venture. Sorry Bobcat.

*THURSDAY UPDATE: The funeral was today. This is when the emotions came through. Claire, as I suspected, was quite distraught.  She didn't want to cover up little Bobcat. Ava held it together and tried to make her sister feel better. And caught a lightning bug that we had disrupted.