I’ve lost her. Galene died

I’ve lost her. Galene died overnight. I think by the time she revealed there was something wrong yesterday, it was already too late. She was mentally absent from the moment I discovered her illness, so it must have advanced very quickly.  She did, I think, show very subtle signs in the previous few days – a slight decrease in activity level, and she didn’t come to dance for me when I sang to her, as she usually did. But on Sunday she came to her food dish and ate as usual, so if I had any premonition of danger, it was buried too deep in my subconscious to warn me.

I wish I had realized something was wrong, but wishing won’t bring her back. I have always been a vigilant aquarist. May this teach me to be even more so.

I am completely crushed by Galene’s loss. Zephyr, her mate, hitched to my hand this morning, as he often does. I know he wonders where his beloved has gone. I tried to tell him she will always be with us, but of course, he doesn’t understand my words. I do think he understands my love for him, for Galene, and for my other dancers of the deep. I hope he can survive her loss.

My challenge and my responsibility now is to protect the rest of my herd. Everyone seems healthy, but Zephyr never eats as much as he should. He is perpetually skinny. Pete, I want to discuss that with you in more detail soon. But for now, I’m thinking I should treat Zephyr (and by default, the other ponies in that tank) with Metronidazole-infused mysis. He might have a low level parasitic intestinal infection, too. Do you agree, Pete? I know there are instructions in your care sheets and forum posts about how to prepare Mysis with Metro.