The Cleanup Squad

Here is something you probably haven’t thought about:

Blue Grotto is home to hundreds of fish. These fish are not immortal. They eventually succumb to natural causes.

Despite this, you never see dead fish floating on the surface or lying on the bottom.

Why this is has to do with Blue Grotto’s resident “Cleanup Squad”. We are referring, of course, to our catfish.

Whenever a bluegill or other fish kicks the bucket, several catfish will descend upon the remains. Within minutes, nothing of the remains is left.

Unlike our bluegills, which are perpetually curious about divers, or the tilapia, who don’t try to hide from divers, our catfish tend to be very shy. When they see divers, they try to be elsewhere.

Also, although catfish can grow to be several feet long, ours tend to be on the smaller side. Nevertheless, it’s a rare dive in which you won’t encounter at least one catfish. You just have to look for them.

So, as you can see, our catfish play a vital role in keeping the Grotto pristine. And they are an important part of our overall ecological balance. So, be sure to say “Hello” the next time you see one.