Pictures from 27 Feb 2004:

Sammy says, "Hi!"
Jackie says, "Hi!  I'm frighteningly large!"
Sammy watches Jackie eat algae off the back of the tank.
An animation of Sammy doing his greeting flip!
Addy and Mellie swimming in opposite directions
Mellie shows off her butterfly tail
Addy says "I'm not a balloon, really!"
Mellie says, "Yes, she is!"
Another view of Addy
Another view of Mellie
Mellie does a graceful twist while Addy practices her Goodyear Blimp impression

Pictures from April 2004:

Addy standing--er, floating--proud
Addy and Mellie are busy bottomfeeding
Sammy and Jackie in strong shadow
"Sammy, stop it!  That tickles!"
Sammy's round orange face
Jackie's huge round white face ;)
Sammy being gorgeous
Sammy does a little dance for me
Sammy demonstrates the backstroke
Pleeeeeeeeeease feed us!
"Jackie, I don't think we're going to get a snack."  "Sigh, I know, Sammy."
It's not a good idea to pet your fish since it can damage their protective slime coat, and most fish don't like it.   Once a week, however, when I change the water, Jackie and Sammy have fun rubbing and nudging my arm.  Sometimes I give in and stroke them a bit, and they not only stay still and let me do it, they even come back for more after I've stopped.  :)   Here's Jackie getting a little fishie massage.
More petting Jackie
"A little to the left, please!"
Sammy's not as eager to be petted as Jackie is, but sometimes he'll let me stroke him a bit.   :)

Pictures from July 2004:

Addy in the first version of her harness.  Her poor swim bladder just doesn't work anymore, so she needs help to stay upright.
Mellie plays nurse
Mellie says, "Leave Addy alone!"
Sore from the first harness, Addy models the current version of her harness, made of flannel.  I'm happy to say those sore spots have completely healed now.

Pictures from 15 September 2004:

Ten days after losing my beloved Jackie, I brought home the latest addition to my fishie family, Benny!
Benny looking up
Benny's little orange face
Benny inspects the cave in his quarantine tank
Benny loves the bubbles!
Benny quadruples himself!
Anything to eat around here?
What's up here?
Yummy bubbles!
Benny in profile
Benny in his 10-gallon quarantine tank next to Sammy in his 37-gallon tank.

Pictures from 22 September 2004:

Sammy says hello, not knowing that he's about to meet his new tankmate.
Benny makes himself right at home bottomfeeding while Sammy, surprisingly, is shy and hides in the corner!
Benny discovers there are even more bubbles in this tank
Sammy still won't come out to meet Benny.  "Is it my breath?"
"Hey, you!  Giant orange fish in the corner!  Hello?"
"What's so fascinating in the corner?"
"This is more like it!  Hi, my name is Benny and I'm your new tankmate!"
"Hey, come back here, I'm talkin' to you!"
"Say, you're quite a looker!"
"We could make beautiful fry together, mon cherie!"  "Bug off, pipsqueak, I'm recently widowed.  And besides, I'm supposed to be a guy-fish."   "But you smell like a girl-fish."  "Shh, don't tell Mommy that!   She's been calling me a guy for three years, I don't want to confuse her now!"
Sammy says, "Sigh, what have I gotten myself into now?"
"Maybe if I hide behind this funny new slanty rock thing..."
"Found ya!"  Looks like Sammy's got a new friend, whether "he" wants one or not.  ;)
View of the whole tank with Sammy and Benny
Sammy's new nap spot

Pictures from 11 November 2004:

The newest addition to my fishie family, Fergie, says hello!
Fergie's all white except for a small patch of orange on the side of her head.
Fergie in sharp lighting
Fergie inspects the electrical socket behind her tank. "Oh good, my filter is plugged in!  We carp are dirty fishies, so we really need our filters!"
"Yup, the filter intake tube looks okay, too!   Just making sure!"
Fergie checks out her reflection. The clerk at the pet store insisted she was an Oranda, just "not a very pretty one."   Harumph!  Now she'll need therapy. ;)
Fergie showing how pretty she really is!
Fergie and a lot of algae in the quarantine tank
Meanwhile, in the bigger tank next door, Benny checks to make sure there's nothing edible in the plant...
...while Sammy naps under the other plants.
"Eew, our filter pipe is gross!  Time for a cleaning, Mommy!"
"Hey, Sammy, are you awake now?  Come check out the crud on the filter pipe!"  "Go 'way kid, ya bother me."
And in the other tank, Addy models the latest version of her harness.
Flannel around her, fishing sinkers attached to the bottom, and fishing bobbers attached to the top with string.
"Hey, I may look absurd, but at least I'm right-side-up!"

Pictures from late November 2004:

Mellie looking vaguely conceited
A profile of Mellie
Mellie with Addy, who was hoisted up to the top of the tank in her harness for a short time.
Benny makes faces at himself in the side of the tank.
Sammy at rest
Sammy and Benny
Fergie is now happily coexisting with Benny and Sammy! :)
The trio puts on a little parade
Fergie has become Benny's sidekick
Okay, guys, line up from smallest to largest...good job!
Spending quality time together
"Fine, kids, you keep on playing.  I'm an older fish and I need to take a breather!"
Benny:  "Don't pay any attention to him, Fergie.  He just likes to show off!"
Fergie:  "I like him!  He's silly!"
A profile of Fergie
Fergie from the other side
Great pose, little guys, but look out behind you!  Here comes Sammy!