Artist formerly known as Phish dead at 1

Andy Schiller's famous dojo loach, one of the first tropical fish added to our aquarium last April, died overnight while being treated for a fungal infection. He was 1 year old.

Phish is the latest in a string of recent fungus-related deaths. The plague already claimed the lives of our other original dojo loach, Whino, and a new loach, Tonic, who was added to the aquarium only last week.

Sources say that tank officials are hopeful that the plague will end now that all dojo loaches, its most acute victims, are gone, but several other fish have died during this period. The plague may go on indefinitely.

Phish was one of the most famous residents of our aquarium. He was featured alongside Whino in a Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph called "Loach Lovin'" (pictured above) by renowned aquatic photographer Aaron Lindberg.

"Of all the photos I have taken in my career, that photo of Whino and Phish is the one that still gets the most attention," Lindberg said from his office across the pond. "I am often stopped on the street and asked how the loaches are doing. It is sad now to know that they are all gone. So many great lights have gone out."

Phish was buried per loach ritual within moments of his body's retrieval from the medical unit where he died. Flush Brothers was in charge of all arrangments.

Andy Schiller, Phish's owner, prefers to remember his fish in happier times.

"He definitely made a contribution to the great history of our aquarium," Schiller said. "The people will always remember him as one of the finest bottom-feeders who ever lived. That is quite a legacy for any fish."