Boris died on the morning of 12 June 2024. He had stopped eating but would still come up looking for floating pellets if the tank was tapped, and externally and behaviourally seemed perfectly healthy. For two days beforehand he had problems swimming, and we presumed the worst, but for his last day he just sat peacefully on the bottom of the tank in one place and finally stopped breathing. He was measured after he died and was 48cm long. Sadly missed.
[I'm Boris, an approximately 17"/45cm Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps who was born in 1990 and who lives with an equally ancient Agamyxis, who is great to chase round and round my tank. Unfortunately he doesn't come out much, but I make the most of attacking him when he does. When I'm bored with that, I can watch the never ending supply of spaghetti westerns playing on video at the other end of the room. Who says violence doesn't breed violence?? Never enough fish playing the main roles though.]
The exciting life of a giant plec
The exciting life of a giant plec (extended version)