Experiment Ends With Little Ed’s Death

Bringing a sad but inevitable close to a decidedly unsound and unscientific experiment, a goldfish named Little Ed died Saturday after 156 days of living and even thriving in an aquarium filled with water from the Los Angeles River.

Little Ed’s decline into poor health began last week. He was found Saturday morning by David Sarno, a weekend editor for latimes.com.

Although his age was undetermined, Little Ed was one of two goldfish moved into the tank in April as part of a story about the restoration of the concrete-lined river. The Times then set up a camera allowing Internet users to view the fish online. Some saw great drama, others great boredom.

The intent of the experiment was twofold: fill space in a political notes column and to see how dreadful the water in the river is or is not. To that end, some readers criticized the project as a profoundly buffonish attempt at both science and journalism that also completed failed the ethical litmus test. Others found it interesting and rooted for the little fish.

Both fish were purchased from a Highland Park pet store where they awaited a worse fate: being fed to larger fish.

Little Ed’s companion, Little Antonio, died in June after 111 days in the tank.

The fish was named after Councilman Ed Reyes, who chairs the Council’s river restoration committee. Little Antonio was named after the mayor of Los Angeles, who has promised to back the plan and secure money for river projects.