Reactor Axe Man Posted December 22, 2022 Share Posted December 22, 2022 Today while browsing the Murphy Camera, I watched as the Aquarium Co-Op Crew fed Murphy a few clams along with two good sized live snails. Murphy eschewed the snails, instead horking the clams with the typical gusto and elan (once he located them) we are accustomed to. On several occasions he clearly spotted a snail slowly cruising about but continued to ignore them, at one point even catching one between his body and the tank wall before his flappy fins dislodged it and propelled the hapless mollusk over a foot from his point of origin. Still, no harm, no foul, and I was starting to wonder if he had gained two new tank mates. A couple hours later I was proven wrong. It was like an aquatic Mafia hit... Snail cruising along the top of the front face of the tank without a care in the world before this moon-faced puffer assassin struck. It was quick, without warning, even stunning in its alacrity, and yet there was a great deal of earnest chewing in the aftermath... I should have known something was up when the tetras started humming the theme from The Godfather... The other snail fled, probably to the Shellfish Protection Program. Sometimes I lie to myself and think of Murphy as a happy-go-lucky puffer, beguiled by the benevolence of his derpy bucktoothed smile. It's a lie. He's a stone cold killer, an apex predator, Murder Incorporated beneath the waves. The tetras, jurapari, and algae eaters that share his tank exist because he allows it, and they will end when he demands it. Here's a screengrab I took of him lying about his alibi: 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hally M. Posted December 22, 2022 Share Posted December 22, 2022 I’m in love with this it was very clever. I never knew Murphy was such a savage!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnebuns Posted December 22, 2022 Share Posted December 22, 2022 On 12/21/2022 at 11:24 PM, Reactor Axe Man said: I should have known something was up when the tetras started humming the theme from The Godfather.. I got a good chuckle out of this lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefhugger Posted December 22, 2022 Share Posted December 22, 2022 Enjoyed this post with my morning coffee...well written if I say so myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reactor Axe Man Posted December 23, 2022 Author Share Posted December 23, 2022 (edited) On 12/21/2022 at 10:19 PM, Hally M. said: I never knew Murphy was such a savage!! When I mentioned this to someone I know, they replied: "He wanted to wait, let the snails stew in their horror and fear of being near an apex predator, only struck when that delicious terror had fully built up, now he waits for insanity to take the other snail. Then he'll find it, he always finds it." On 12/22/2022 at 2:36 AM, reefhugger said: Enjoyed this post with my morning coffee...well written if I say so myself. I just calls them as I sees them. :D On 12/22/2022 at 12:02 AM, Cinnebuns said: I got a good chuckle out of this lol At least you are not the surviving snail. (Still alive this evening as I write this, I might add.) Edited December 23, 2022 by Reactor Axe Man Added a pic of The Monster 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reactor Axe Man Posted December 23, 2022 Author Share Posted December 23, 2022 Possibly related: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hally M. Posted December 23, 2022 Share Posted December 23, 2022 That poor snail is gonna need intense therapy if he survives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reactor Axe Man Posted December 23, 2022 Author Share Posted December 23, 2022 On 12/22/2022 at 9:49 PM, Hally M. said: That poor snail is gonna need intense therapy if he survives. Post Traumatic Snail Disorder? I agree. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mynameisnobody Posted December 23, 2022 Share Posted December 23, 2022 @Reactor Axe Man Excellent read, very well written. You should check out The Offer if The Godfather interests you. Have a great day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katherine Posted December 23, 2022 Share Posted December 23, 2022 On 12/22/2022 at 10:34 PM, Reactor Axe Man said: Possibly related: In case anyone else was interested, they used garden snails (is that a species name?). I'm quite sure my mystery snails move faster than that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reactor Axe Man Posted December 24, 2022 Author Share Posted December 24, 2022 Update: Murphy refuses to murder the other snail no matter how badly it begs for the sweet release of death. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsfoxtail Posted December 24, 2022 Share Posted December 24, 2022 I nominate this for a Pulitzer. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick-In-Of-TheSea Posted December 24, 2022 Share Posted December 24, 2022 On 12/24/2022 at 3:09 AM, Reactor Axe Man said: Update: Murphy refuses to murder the other snail no matter how badly it begs for the sweet release of death. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reactor Axe Man Posted December 24, 2022 Author Share Posted December 24, 2022 Update to the Update: Snugglebuddies? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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