Cigarette theory is a very good one. Teens do stupid destructive things to entertain themselves. I found a kid from down our street (18 years old) spitting in our pond to see if the fish would eat it. I can't even tell you how furious I was at him. Additionally I couldn't believe someone who I thought had the same love and respect for the environment would do something like that - but he did. Why? To show off to a 7-year old. At any rate, your fish were definitely poisoned. The question becomes, what kind of poison? IÂm not sure alcohol would have the concentration needed, but there are other things a person keeps in the house and in the garage that could have done it. A little bleach, toilet cleaner, lighter fluid, weed sprays etc. If there was no insecticidal/pesticidal spraying with a lot of rain to wash the chemicals into the pond (that day), then it is 100% something the kids did. Keep in mind, often the host of a party will not have control of everyone there, so he truly may not know what people poured or tossed in there. If I were you and it were my kid, I would tell him you did extensive research on-line and have determined it was something someone added at the party. If he throws a party he needs to accept responsibility for the actions of the people that attend. The ramifications of the fact he has irresponsible people attending his party, is it raises the likelihood of someone driving from his party (your house) while tipsy or drunk and then getting in an accident hurting or killing someone. Each State varies, but an incidence like that would make him (and you by proxy) liable. Teens being what they are tend to learn the hard way and maybe this is his wake-up call. Though we always wash our hands after applying mosquito spray, I highly doubt that could have been the cause unless they were spraying it straight into the pond. One again, people do stupid things when they're drunk and in crowds. My background is from the University of Michigan in Microbiology, Genetics, and Ecology. So I do know a thing or two about this :)

from a very recent email, clanorchids.com: Cultural Tip of the Month Orphan Orchids Throughout the year, Our orchid friends will drop by with a beautifully grown, out of bloom Orchid with a faded or missing label, with the plea "Can You Tell Me what this is". I wish we could, we have a better chance of winning the Florida lottery. With 32,000 species and 117,000+ man made hybrids, identification, of an out of bloom Orchid, is at best a SWAG (Scientific, Wild A-- Guess). Often, the genus/alliance can be guessed, with some certainty, but beyond that it is pure SWAG. So what to do, the simple answer is use a pencil to write your name labels. A #2 pencil is best, some of our personal plants still have legible labels 30 years after joining our collection. Second point, secured the label to the plant, not the pot, with bell wire or aluminum wire. Over time printed labels and permanent markers fade, and unsecured labels disappear.

Oh wow, better get out my flack jacket to keep off the flames. Why do you think I got the Stocktank? Exactly so that I could have fish that the racoons could not get into. The stock is too wide and has much too deep verticle sides so they can't bother the fish. I see a big difference in my "pet" fish Koi and Commet types and some feeders that I bought at the pet shop. Sort of like lots of thiongs in life. I eat beef but if I had a pet cow, I would certainly not be eating it.

The tail should grow back as long as the base isn't damaged, I guess thats what you ment by the "stump". Usually tail/fin rot is from water quality issues or another stressor (bullying). QT is a good idea. If I read right you have all 3 in a 7 gallon? If so way to small. Get a 29gal/30 gal Minimum for theese fish and no more than 3(and the number of the counting shall be 3) This could be the problem. As these fish grew they secreted more Ammonia and the bio-filter cant keep up with it because of such a small tank. Ammonia is deadly in any quanity and stresses causeing fin rot as well as other diseases and death. Improve water conditions and everything should be ok.