My husband is a tropical fish hobbyist. In fact, when I first met him 44 years ago, he invited me to his place to see his…aquarium.

A few years ago, he raised oscars, carnivorous fish who particularly enjoy eating goldfish.

Photo of oscar by Jon Helgi Jonsson

Pet stores sell “feeder” goldfish for exactly this purpose, and they are usually less desirable specimens, inbred, with wonky fins and droopy eyes. Every week Greg bought a bunch of feeders for his oscars.

And then, one day, a goldfish emerged from the rocks landscaping the tank. He had apparently hidden within the caves formed by the rocks until he was too large for predators to eat. He was not your typical feeder goldfish. In fact, his fins were magnificent.

He thrived in the tank for several years, growing to about six inches in length.

I am participating in the Index-Card-a-Day Challenge and World Watercolor Month. For the rest of July, I intend to paint a little watercolor every day, just big enough to fit on an index card. Search for the hashtags #icad2016 and #WorldWatercolorMonth on social media if you would like so see what other participants are doing.