I tried to sleep while I was on the train but couldn’t. Instead, I looked through pictures I took over the weekend. On my camera roll, there was a series of just black pictures. I thought to myself, “Darn, I really should look in my picture feed after I take the pictures!”
Most of the time, I just click click click without looking at the pictures I just took (I hope you’re not like me) and thought I could just edit them later.
And so I tweaked them (as best as I could or just until something was visible) via the Lightroom app on my phone.
Here is the what the picture looked before :
Told you it was just black.
After editing, here is the after picture :
Whoa! There you are! You Koi fish in the pond
I stared at this photo for a long time.
You know that song, “Song for Someone” by U2? It was playing in the background while I was staring at it.
” If there is a dark
Within and without
And there is a light
Don’t let it go out”
I felt like this fish.
I could relate to this fish.
I could be this fish.
Looks like a shark but actually a fish.
That in the midst of darkness and toxicity, it still thrives and swims – with grace.
Curious for more, I Googled koi fish characteristics and here is a list of interesting facts about them :
- Koi fish is a large fish. It can reach up to 3 feet in length. Size of the fish depends on the living conditions. Adequate amount of food and oxygen and appropriate temperature are essential for the growth of fish.
Imagine me and my daughter’s surprise at the sight of this fish’s sheer size! I did not know they could grow this big! Compared to what I was used to our fish at home, GloFish, which is tiny, this fish is huge!
Now with regards to my fortification, I think I may be having more of my fair share of food, though I don’t grow vertically nowadays in physical sense (too bad, I really wanted those extra inches), I do feel a few inches taller after a decent amount of sleep and rest.
2. Color of the koi fish depends on the variety. They can be white, black, blue, red, cream and yellow in color. Koi fish are covered with different spots.
Just like us people, you know 😉
3. People in Japan believe that koi fish symbolizes wealth, prosperity, love, successful career and good fortune. Each variety is associated with one of those values.
Hmmm… I wonder what I symbolise? Is there one for courage? And for honour?
4. Koi fish and goldfish have the same ancestor. Although they share similarities in appearance, koi fish can be recognized by barbels on the upper lip.
Barbels? They’re heavy weights! Silly, I think it means the whiskers.
5. Koi fish is an omnivore (consumes both plants and animals). It eats different kind of fish and their eggs, lettuce, watermelon and peas.
Eeewwww .. they eat their own eggs and somebody else’s … next!
6. Koi fish can recognise the person which feeds them and they can be trained to eat from his/her hand.
This one is very interesting! As we were gazing and simply mesmerised by the koi pond while we let our hands “swim” in the water, we (me and my daughter) noticed that they tend to follow where that hand is! We moved from one end to the other, they followed!
It was early morning when we went when everything was calm and quiet and only the waterfalls nearby could be heard. So I guess, this was their feeding time; They’re probably hungry.
7. Koi fish have several predators, such as raccoons, otters, badgers, birds of prey, snakes, cats and dogs.
I really could relate! It’s a jungle out here! Full of cheetahs! (get it?)
8. Koi fish prefers water temperature that ranges from 15 to 25 degrees of Celsius. It doesn’t tolerate drastic or rapid changes in temperature.
Men and women, by nature, are creatures of habit. Though, I do like changes and surprises in between.
Temperature-wise, I can cope. Bundle myself in layers and layers of clothing when it gets too cold.
9. Koi fish that live in temperate geographic areas hibernate during the winter. It swims to the bottom of the pond (with higher temperature of water) and remains dormant until the weather conditions improve.
I am a dormant fish in the dark.
10. Koi fish are sensitive to the sun. They may get sunburns if they live in the ponds that do not provide enough shadow.
This does not apply to me. I was born and raised in a tropical country (The Philippines) so I really don’t mind the sun.
11. Koi fish release ammonia in the water. When large number of koi fish inhabit same pond, level of ammonia can increase rapidly and induce poisoning of fish.
Being with toxic people can kill.
12. Although life in community can be dangerous, koi fish enjoy company of other koi fish.
A little isolation (and space) won’t hurt and in small doses, sometimes, help.
13. Koi fish usually lives between 25 and 30 years. When it is kept under good conditions, koi fish can survive for more than 100 years.
That would be amazing to live for a hundred years!
Granted, my mind and body are still fully functioning.
So, there you have it.
Knowing Koi Fish 101.
Graceful, sweet not-too-little creatures.
—–
I feel that I should post this in light to what is happening in our society. All these suicides. No matter how old (or young) and how materially-enlightened you are, it could affect you.
We need to fight that urge. Know someone who might be in that state? Reach out.
Find happiness.
Find yourself again.
Don’t let that light go out.
Keep it burning.
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