Carp Fish An Animal Journal Project Presented to: Shamsia Marie-Sol Hidalgo Professor, Bio A UPOU, Los Banos, Laguna

As we stroll downtown, (July 12,2011) my daughter requested us to buy a couple of pet fish. I decided that this will already be my subject of study.

We placed them in a wide- mouthed container since we do not have fish bowl yet. They were placidly swimming. We decided to turn on the television and noticed that they moved very quickly in response to sound. One of them even jumped out of the container. My daughter shouted at them and again one jumped out of the bowl. Are they agitated by the noise?

Next morning I changed the water and fed them. They did not eat even if they have not eaten the last day. Is it because they are tired due to some seconds of being out of water? Are they like humans who cannot eat right away if tired?

I also noticed that they always go side by side. Do they find comfort being near one another?

The next morning about four o’clock, I noticed that they are actively swimming (the bigger one even makes a lot of bubbles) and they don’t stick together. Do they feel free if they don’t hear noise? Or they just love the cooler temperature of the morning?

Two days after, (July 14,2011) the bigger and more energetic fish died. Perhaps the food that was intended for the smaller one has also been consumed. The life of the smaller fish goes on. Still agitated by a loud noise but not much energized as when with the bigger one. Does being alone affect it?

As I wake up early in the morning about 4:30 a.m., the placid movement of the fish caught my attention. It is no longer as active as before when it was with the other fish.

Eight days after, (July 22, 2011) I woke up and saddened by the sight of floating fish pet. For what reason? A co-worker mentioned that I possibly used chlorinated water. Yes! Perhaps the cells plasmolyzed gradually. I used to change the water daily and I obtain it from the faucet.

One week had passed and I was able to buy three new carp fishes (July 29, 2011). Having these, made my daughter shout for joy. This time chlorinated water from the faucet is banned. Just the same, they are agitated by loud noise. They do not eat much. As a matter of fact, even if we feed them just once, they do not compete for food.

August 2, 2011, my daughter, unnoticed by her ate, (caregiver) took the smallest one and scaled it until it died. Noticeable, they go closer to the dead one. For what reason? Do they sympathise? Or do they wanted to eat it?

To maximize what to be learned, I decided to dissect it to expose the internal organs.

This time I decided to just observe the same king of fish in our school clinic. There are two of them which are very lively and playful. They even showed me their synchronized swimming. It is also interesting to note that they go together and even put their mouths together as if they are kissing. Do they really do?

I was glad to hear from our school nurse that they are almost one year-old. When asked how often she changes water, she answered me that it takes a month for her to change the water. That answer made me think. Have I been wrong in changing the water daily? Could this be a factor for the death of our pets?