The surprising charms of big-mouthed catfish / Bottom-dwellers popular among anglers, gourmets

[yuiyoshida]

Rio Kasuga gazes at a gulper catfish from South America at tropical fish shop Lagoon Company on Aug. 4 in Taito Ward, Tokyo.

By Yukiko Uto / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff WriterThere’s nothing wrong with being sluggish. Plus, it can be “soothing” for some.

As bottom-dwellers, catfish have a sluggish image with their big gaping mouths and flat faces — but they’re actually great pets, are fun to fish for and make for tasty meals. When it comes to catfish, there’s more than meets the eye.

Rio Kasuga, a 23-year-old office worker in Taito Ward, Tokyo, is a big fan of the Corydoras Paleatus or peppered catfish.

“I like catfish because they’re really laid back, so much that they get their food stolen by other fish,” said Kasuga, who got her pet catfish in March. She keeps it in a tank near her house’s entrance area.

Her family might prefer more colorful fish, but that doesn’t bother Kasuga. When she comes home tired from work, she feels soothed looking at her catfish.

http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0002409348

[Old Crow]

1. Oh my gosh, this story brings back memories.

Years ago, I had a Japanese girlfriend who adored two Corydoras catfish I had in a tank for cleaning purposes. The names she gave them, if I remember correctly, were "Pish-pish" and "Poh-poh." I think she named them that because she thought it was comical the way they chugged their stocky little bodies back and forth as they made their rounds on the bottom of the tank. They were her favorite fish in the tank, by far, and the only ones to which she gave names.

Sadly, I made the big mistake of not marrying that girlfriend and Pish-pish and Poh-poh are no more. Life goes on. Let us all pause for this wabi-sabi moment.

Okay, anyway... ~collecting self~ ... Ms. Kasuga has a point. Corydoras catfish are cute.

[SoapBox]

2. When I had my tank...

The Cory Cats were always a favorite.

[miyazaki]

3. Ya the namazu roadsigns are kind of cute