Lemon Drop dead!Lollipop becomes only surviving Corner Triplet

Lemon Drop the baby marble molly was found dead at 11:30 a.m. today in his net crib. The tiny fish was born Sept. 9, the same day as her siblings, Licorice and Lollipop.

"She was a cute little fish who never grew as fast as the others," Tankkeeper said today. "Like her sister before her, she had every gift but length of life. We know they are in a better place now."

Lemon Drop was a runt, barely growing at all since her birth months ago. Tank officials had long wondered if the baby fish would ever be able to survive outside of the net crib. Now, tragically, we will never know.

Lemon Drop was one of three "Corner Triplets," so named because they were discovered in the community aquarium's seedy west corner. The oldest triplet, Licorice, died in the net crib on Sept. 16, one week after her birth. The surviving Corner Triplet, Lollipop, appears to be doing well. Lollipop grew more quickly and was released into the aquarium Nov. 9.

Chubby Arbuckle, born Oct. 13, was the only fry in the crib net at the time of Lemon Drop's death. Chubby, the last daughter of Fatty Arbuckle and Knuckles McGee, is approaching pre-teen size and was released into the community aquarium at 2:45 p.m. so that tank officials could clean and examine the net crib, which will be decommissioned pending a federal investigation.

The other crib-bound babies -- the six so-called Platy Bunch -- are safe and sound in the neighboring plastic crib.

Tank officials report that Lemon Drop's remains were too small to conduct an autopsy. A burial at sea is planned.