Fishies

We have a little water feature in the corner. The tyrants love drinking from it, the running water probably makes it feel 'fresh'.

Unfortunately the water feature has a tendency to attract mosquito larvae. Unlike their water bowl, the feature is difficult to empty and clean daily. We can't put in chemicals to prevent the larvae either, since the tyrants insist on drinking from the water feature.

So I asked God Google and it said one way to prevent mosquito larvae in bodies of water frequented by pets is to put in fishes to eat those pesky things.

Good idea. I went out and got those small little fishes meant as fish food for a bigger pet fish. Best to try out first before buying some pretty little fishes. I got a big handful - 15 fishes for RM1.

I expected the tyrants to be excited to see the fishes. I didn't expect this...

In one afternoon, Tagar hunted and caught the fishes. All of them. ALL OF THEM.

Tagar has a very strong prey drive, and she's also a very sharp hunter. She has caught birds, squirrels, rats, cats, roaches, lizards and who knows what else. She usually catches them as game, then get all upset when they die, and leaves the bodies alone.

I thought she would do the same to the poor fishes, but no. She ATE them.
But she was nice enough to share a few with Gamby.

Gamby tried and tried and tried, but she couldn't catch any. We could see Gamby watching Tagar and then trying to copy her exact movements, but she always missed the slippery fishes. Tagar, as usual, was a magnificent hunter.

First she stood very very still, hovering over the water surface. Ears pointed, eyes focused, she doesn't move a muscle.

The fishes will start swimming out from hiding, lulled into thinking the coast is clear by the very silent and unmoving Tagar. When one of them is at the edge of the basin, Tagar suddenly leaps to life. She darts her muzzle into the water and catches the doomed fish, lightning fast.

Gamby tried (again and again) the same maneuver but she's not fast enough. Instead she keeps snorting water up her snout and then proceeds to choke and splutter all over the place. Nice of Tagar to share some fishies with Gamby, poor girl tried hard enough to catch some of her own.

And Togo? He took one look at the fishes, went 'Meh' and trotted off elsewhere to nap.

We had thought to one day install a small fish pond in the garden, with serene koi fishes swimming around in it. Well, so long to that dream now.