Orangejello is free!Adolescent fish doing fineamong other aquarium fish

It will be a day long remembered. Orangejello, our fish successful aquarium birth, was released from his crib at 3:05 p.m. today before a standing-room-only crowd of anxious fish-watchers.

"It was so moving," said Marcella Vasconcellos, the most emotional member of the IAE team. "That brave little fish just swam off into the tank and immediately, he was accepted as one of the crowd. It reminded me of when I first came here from Brazil. I was new, but then people like Jeff Pacheco took me under their wings. It wasn't until later that I learned what a huge dork he was. But, you know, you have to start somewhere."

The moment of release, which had been widely anticipated for weeks, came just after 3 p.m. as office workers converged on the aquarium.

Orangejello's guardian, Corey Smith, said a few words to the gathered crowd.

"I want to thank all of you for watching over our little fish," Smith said, clearly moved by the crowd and the tension of the moment. "Please stay tuned to the blog for updates as he continues to learn and grow."

TankKeeper removed the lid of the plastic crib at 3:05 p.m., and as the crib was submerged into the abyss Orangejello swam free, getting his first taste of life in the big aquarium since he was discovered in the aquarium three months ago.

"Orangejello has become like a part of the family here, and I am just so happy to see how he's taken to life in the big pond," said Jennifer Brown, who organized the release party. "We wanted today to be really special because this is a big day for Orangejello and his fellow fish."

Orangejello stayed close to the water's surface for a few moments before daring to swim to the tank bottom. Other fish seemed to pay him little mind, except from an occasional glance from the red-tailed sharks.

After ten minutes of worry that perhaps some fish might harm the little fish, Smith seemed relieved that her fish was holding his own.

"A day I have always dreaded has turned into one of the happiest I have known at this office," Smith said. "I want to thank everyone who made this day possible. Now we can all watch our baby grow up together."

Tank officials are monitoring the behavior of other fish but so fear have no reason to fear for the safety of Orangejello. TankKeeper refused to speculate about release dates for our other babies -- Lollipop, LemonDrop and Gozer. The three baby fish continue to grow in their net crib, to which Gozer was added today. Gozer and Orangejello were agreeable cribmates until today's release.

"We're going to just let nature take its course," said TankKeeper. "When we feel that the babies are strong enough to survive in the main tank, we will release them as well."

Fish-watchers who attended Orangejello's release party received commemorative "I Helped Free Orangejello" medallions along with fish crackers. A wonderful fish-shaped cake was served to revelers after the release.