lately ardeth just doesn't seem to be himself. i try to talk to him and ask what's wrong but he doesn't respond. i wonder if he's mad at us for leaving now and then. we've been away for a few days for the holidays and such. or i wonder if he's depressed because he no longer has tank mates. it's been over 3 weeks since the algae eater fish died and the tank is impressively clean. i would expect it to be a bit filthier. i thought around now it'd be filthy enough for me to buy another algae eater. i wonder if ardeth is such a pig that he's started to eat the algae. he certainly isn't acting like himself. instead of swimming along all day or flaring at his reflection, he just lays at the bottom. it's like he's a couch potato now. he's always napping or resting. he even swims a bit differently, and not like he's got anything wrong with his swim bladder or showing physical signs of sickness. he'll snap out of it now and then. sometimes when you disturb his sleep he's really grouchy. but these days he seems to be constantly grouchy or just doesn't give a shit. in fact, i've seen him swim along the glass like he was trying to hold on like an algae eater. he's never done that before. i think it's time to get him some friends.