Proof of life - My Rocky Boy.

Proof of life – My Rocky Boy.

I have been ‘spoon feeding’ Rocky, so to speak in human terms, for the past few months.

This morning, Rocky did not response to me when I tap on the surface of his home to guide Rocky to the spot where I would place his favorite ‘meat ball’ right smack on where his mouth is…..Rocky was blinded by age.

The Boy, I am afraid is about to say bye-bye to me.

Rocky, you need not fight anymore…..let go.. Boy.

Rocky 24....formerly Rambo

Proof of life.

Rocky’s diary – 19th.June 2007

Rocky has been eating well and I have been feeding him at least twice a day; despite his age, he ‘crawl’ around quite efficiently and would sometime give a spin or two.

His failing eyesight hampered his ability to recognize ‘friend or foe’ and would often miss the ‘meat balls’.

Rocky had lived way past his biological life span and I felt that with proper palliative care, he would be here for quite a while.

Through Rocky, I realized why some of the old folks’ erratic well being is as unpredictable as the weather of London.

Rocky 23...formerly Rambo

Rocky’s diary – 13th. June 2007



Morning : happy mood and good appetite…ate six “meat balls’

Afternoon: fed him again, ate all three “gold dust’

Evening: positively gain weight……’crawling’ around more often.

I shall temporarily stop recording Rocky’s daily episode and instead provides regular update of his well being.

Rocky 21... formerly Rambo

Rambo’s diary – 11th. June 2007



Rambo sensed me…or is it the food. He swam to the surface waiting for the ‘meat ball’…landed spot on but he miscalculated….. Rambo gulp ..misses ..water only…. Sank to the bottom …exhausted.

Having rested for a while, I prompted him by knocking on the side….. he wakes up and went straight for the pellet…..got it at first try. One by one he gulped alternately between waking and sleeping. He was almost blinded with age and needs wakening up…

Apparently, Rambo seems to be in a very happy mood and not forgetting his good appetite….he seems rejuvenated. “Crawl” around here and there…..looks like Rocky is here to stay for quite a while yet.

Rambo 20 a.k.a Rocky

Rambo’s diary – 10th.June 2007



This morning, Rambo gave a super fast spin causing a splash! Ate two ‘meat balls’ …almost missed……sank to the bottom, exhausted. I gave him a few more and realizing that he had fallen asleep, I have to wake him up each time to make him eat.

Rambo 19 - a.k.a. Rocky

Rambo’s diary – 9th. June 2007




Morning: Rambo is active……considerably good appetite ….ate four ‘meat balls’…drop the pellets right where his mouth is positioned, he missed a few times. I think that he can hardly sees me…but he sensed me as he sensed the food……for an obese…..die also must eat as much.

Afternoon: did not respond to me at all. Try to make him move around a little……dirt covered part of his face….so sorry Rocky boy.

Rambo 18 a.k.a ROCKY

Rambo’s diary – 8th. June 2007


Morning: didn’t want to eat anything…stayed at the bottom….about to meet its maker.

Late morning: try to feed him again, coax him….responded, swam to the surface…missed the ‘meat ball’ at the first go, got it the second try. I suspect that he is going blind – cataract, I suspect.

Late evening: greeted me, swam slowly and knock his head against the ‘wall’ gently…..
Flared his gills a little…..sank feebly to the bottom.

Rambo 17 a.k.a. ROCKY

Rambo’s diary – 7th. June 2007


Fed Rambo this morning, no appetite….wanted a change of water- o.k. instructed the maid to do so. Later in the afternoon, though weak Rambo is in a happy mood. Rambo swam around for a little while, maybe rejuvenated.

Tonight, placed him in the living room to watch ‘so you think can dance’ Malaysian chapter. Took him back to the room, more comfortable there. Goodnight, ROCKY.

Rambo 16 - Proof of life

Rambo’s diary – 6th. June 2007



Morning: Gave him pellets……Didn’t eat, very weak. Took a few photograph as proof of life. Irritated him…..probably the flash.

Afternoon: My children visited him, swam for a few seconds…..sank to the bottom exhausted.

Evening: I went to see him, knock …knock…initially no response, later wave feebly with one fin.

Rambo 15 - The Fighting Fish

Rambo’s diary – 5th. June 2007



Morning: very weak but appetite remains strangely good. Fed him two pellets…he begs for more, I gave him three more, after all how much longer can he enjoy his favorite ‘meat balls’…..he ate it all very slowly. Sank down to the bottom and slept on its side.

Afternoon: lying on its side…..knock on the plastic container……he acknowledges by waving feebly.

Late evening: very weak…….unable to recognize me…no response.

Rambo 14

Rambo’s diary – 4th. June 2007





Another ‘year’ went by for the Boy…..no appetite, just took one pellet of the two that I have given him. He seems to be quite active…..I don’t know why? I thought that he couldn’t make it through last night. He had wanted the water to be change for this past few days……sorry boy.

Rambo 13 - The Fighting Fish

Rambo’s diary – 3rd. June 2007




This morning Rambo was feeling very bad and it got worse as the evening wore on…….I do not think he will last through tomorrow. Rambo got all the dirt stuck on his face….maybe he is giving up…..do not have the energy to fight time for another day……..painfully another ‘year’.




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Rambo 12 - The Fighting Fish

Rambo’s diary – 2nd. June 2007


Rambo wants another change of water….gather a small blob of dirt in the centre, sorry boy……too risky. Despite his frail condition, he still maintains a comparatively good appetite, this morning he ate five pellets very slowly.

Erratically, as unpredictable as the weather, his well-being and life-span is unquestionably on the additional time that is biologically not possible. In human terminology, the ‘Boy’ is almost bedridden now.

Rambo 11 - The Fighting Fish

Rambo’s diary – 1st.june 2007




In my entry this morning, I wrote pictures only……is that all I have to say about the Boy? Words fail me… a complete blank. Is there any more left in me? I search deep into
what is left of me…..the time watching Rambo…that smirk, that frown………….

File ….save. Continue later. 9am.

10.17 am. Blank…

8.36 pm. Just came back from my evening walk, thinking and pondering about what to write …..who cares about something as insignificant as a fish ? There are more interesting subjects to look into……I care because Rambo is more than another living organism, it has acquired humanistic intelligence , if I am permitted to deduce and so to speak, it possesses a soul; Rambo consistently display a wide range of emotions: happiness, sadness and wants – the desire for…..rather than the instinctive display of hunger, fear and anger for want of self-preservation…… or…..Just perhaps…..

Rambo’s conditions is as erratic as the weather, one moment rain the next sunshine,
One minute quite healthy next near death. Fight on, Boy.

Rambo 10 - The Fighting Fish

Rambo’s diary – 31st. Mayn2007




This morning Rambo greeted me by splashing around at a super speed – so fast that it causes a splash followed by whoosh (as close as I can describe the sound.) He took two pellets…then after he sank to the bottom exhausted.

Maybe Rambo sensed my feeling and he wanted to demonstrate to me that he is not about to give up yet. At this point, Rambo live way past its biological age; its desire to fight nature is truly astounding and as far as time is concern, he is the World Champion – should have named him “ROCKY”.

Earlier on, I have instructed my children to visit him every now and then to have him move more (he needed the exercise) because Rambo always greets family members. My children dutifully look up on Rambo and he gets his exercise.

In human terms, Rambo should be 105 years above and he will be the longest living fighting fish in captivity. I took a picture of him this morning.