Old friend

Before you all go yuk let me explain.
In our garden we have two small ponds, one of which is nearly ten years old now. Shortly after it was first put it in we were jamjar dipping in the park and happened to catch 3 sticklebacks. The kids decided they should come home with us and we popped them into the pond. I mistakenly thought they wouldn't survive long in a still small pond and forgot about them. Over 8 months later I was clearing out some weed and found a freshly dead fish and discovered the others where still alive. They bred and many generations later its time to move them to a new home as the pond is extended. I went to fish out any I could see today and found Great great great great grandfather floating on the surface.

Other stickleback facts.
During breeding time the male changes colour dramatically, his throat and belly become fiery red, his eyes turn bright blue and silvery scales appear on his back.
The male builds a nest and tends for the eggs, fanning them with his fins.
They are ferocious hunters and take small insects from the surface like a trout.
They have three sharp 'stickles' on their backs after which they are named.