aquarium fish

Many of the most memorable moments of my year were while reporting for this newsletter: meeting the world’s oldest aquarium fish, eating my way through San Francisco’s Burmese restaurants, visiting migrant camps at the Tijuana border, seeing an ancient lake come back to life in the Central Valley and learning everything possible about our transfixing state flower.

Yet these aquatic worms, which are common grub for aquarium fish, exemplify strength in numbers.

It’s sold around the world as an aquarium fish.

And second, when bacteria produce glue, they also form a chemical compound called ammonia — the same compound that can kill aquarium fish if the water isn't changed regularly.

All are “vertically integrated” — they have harvesting and pulping capabilities as well as box-making plants and distribution networks — and most have grown, like predatory aquarium fish, by devouring their smaller peers.