Sadly, I found today that my Beloved Mr. President has passed away.
The snail, that is.

We noticed he had been acting strange lately.  He was less active, for starters.  For nearly a day, he floated around the top of the tank, hiding in his shell.  This only bothered me because he floated for so long.  (Mystery snails have a lung, and breathe air.  It helps them move easier underwater since there is less weight, and floating is a natural way to travel downstream quickly.)  I had seen Mr. President float on a few occasions before, but he usually would relase the air or grab onto the glass within a few hours.  Then, when he became active, he only barely came out of his shell, and only used one of his antennae as he moved, with most of his head tucked under the shell. (This was unusual since he was never picked on by the fish, and so always carried his full head out of the shell with both antennae moving everywhere.)  This morning, he was half uncurled from his shell, and the other snails were crawling on his body.  That was the sign.  I picked him up and gave a light tug with by thumb at his "trap door" (A little shell-cover that protects him when he is fully in his shell)  He didn't react.

He was a centerpiece of the aquarium, and provided many moments of entertainment to my roomates and I as he crawled around the gravel and climbed plants.  Some people probably think it strange to think that a snail could be a loveable source of entertainment, but they can, and he was.  He will be missed.

His name is a long story, let's just say it is not a politcal comment, but a video game reference.

I have decided that I will not replace him with another mystery snail, though I am tempted.  Instead, his absence in the tank will be a benefit to the Cronies (Now the World Leaders, perhaps? We could have a Mr. President, a Mr. Prime Minister...), who will now have less competition for the food and space.

I suppose that is the way nature goes.  Things Live, Things Die. 
It may sound gross, but I have worked on cleaning out his shell, to keep.  It's not pleasant, and of course I feel a little weird about disecting a former pet, but well.... it is only a snail.

Here is to you, Mr. President.

Inside: Pictures of snail growth, and a new addition to the tank!

Oh, as for the show... ummm... well, nothing too special about this week, just the regular shuffle.  But know that I AM planning the shuffle this time, so it should sound good. Should.