A non-anomalous channel catfish (left) and a Tallawassa River catfish (right).
Special Containment Procedures: SCP-XXXX-A is considered a protected species under the jurisdiction of the Department of Anomalous Wildlife and Nature. As such, no new non-research Foundation operations are permitted on the Tallawassa River. Civilians are to be told the river is off-limits for development and recreation due to heavy pollution by harmful byproducts of phosphorus processing. Sites close to the Tallawassa River are to be informed of SCP-XXXX-A's side-effects and are to disregard them as harmless.
Description: SCP-XXXX-A, also known as the Tallawassa River catfish1, is an anomalous species of catfish endemic to the Tallawassa River in north-central Florida, United States. SCP-XXXX-A's primary anomalous trait is their unusually strong psychic field, which is powerful enough to interfere with the psychospheres of nearby organisms.
The results of psychic interaction with SCP-XXXX-A on the mind of an individual vary between reports. Side-effects include, but are not limited to:
- Appearance of unfamiliar memories, identifiable as such due to their perspective being from the point of view of a catfish.
- Hallucinations related to catfish or their environment.
- Repeated intense intrusive thoughts, usually from the perspective of a catfish, the most common of which is some variation of an intense urge to check on one's eggs.
- Emergence of an intense fear of the American alligator, the primary predator of the Tallawassa River catfish. Rarely, fears of other predators have also been reported.
- Persistent dreams from the perspective of a catfish.
All of the above side-effects are temporary and subside on their own or once an individual is removed from the presence of SCP-XXXX-A. People historically living in areas near the Tallawassa River often described these phenomena as rarely disruptive and typically a peaceful and insightful experience. Those who spend extended amounts of time living near the river have shown no long-term side-effects of interaction with the fish, though it is not uncommon for such individuals to become dependent on the interference and react with symptoms of withdrawal when not in close proximity to the river. This is a non-anomalous side-effect of the high levels of dopamine released by the brain during interference, and it does not typically present an issue or pose a threat to a person's health. Withdrawal symptoms recede after 1-2 weeks.
The anomalous characteristics of SCP-XXXX-A have been known for centuries. Potano communities living in modern-day Alachua and Marion counties recognized the unusual psychological effects of living near large populations of the species, which were prominently included in oral histories of the area. Written documentation of SCP-XXXX-A, such as the excerpts below, date back as far as the earliest expeditions by Spanish conquistadors into the area. The species's psychoactive properties were well-known and widely regarded as a scientific mystery until the species's existence was covered up by a Foundation disinformation campaign in the early 1920s.
Journal of Juan Ponce de León, Spanish conquistador, 1513 (translated from original Spanish)
There's a certain river near the north side of the peninsula, as discovered by a troop of my gentlemen three days ago. They came back speaking of a certain abundant fish they encountered, one they claimed was in possession of curious magickal abilities— or, perhaps simply hallucinogenic abilities, if one were to have asked me.
I set out to find it myself today, despite my reservations. I came to this fertile land for one particular reason, of course, and even a man as esteemed as myself is permitted to hold out hope in magick, so long as it shows its results. I followed the path they took, but I did it alone.
It happened upon me sooner than I had figured that I was standing in the presence of a great river. The very same river they spoke of, no doubt in my mind, for I perceived within a heaping and lively sum of fish. As such, I sat myself by the riverbed and watched them. Not after long, I elected to leave, feeling disappointed yet vindicated to a degree. Once more I found myself satisfied in my belief in the Lord. I knew it was only He who could perform such feats. Curiously, it was only then that I knew of what the men were speaking, and I felt as my very mind shifted before me.
My vision was overrun with the most vivid scene I've ever witnessed. For some reason, though it was over in an instant, I had come to understand the blissful lifestyle of these fish, and though it might seem strange to say, one could very well have called me envious in that position. O, great visions they were— I found myself swimming along the river, clear as precious quartz, and engorging myself with the most delicious stocks of seaweed. I feel myself sounding like a madman to say this, but it all felt so real to me in that moment that I could not tell if I had woken up from a long, unpleasant dream.
As soon as it arrived, my vision left. And as such, so did I. I am back at the campsite with my fellow men, but I am changing my course for tomorrow. I know in my heart that this is the signal I have been searching for. I know that this will lead me to the Lord's Fountain of Youth.
Poem, unknown author, 1848
Today I saw the whole world.
I saw it in the eye of a fish,
which peeked⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀its eye at me.
I know ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀that it
saw ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀me ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀too.
Today ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀I saw
the changing ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀river, and all
within. Today I saw the whole world.
I saw it in the eye of a fish.
SCP-XXXX-B is piscesene trichloride (PTC), an anomalous byproduct of amnestic production and potent psychotoxin.
Addendum XXXX.01: The Newberry Amnesiac Facility and SCP-XXXX-B
The Newberry Amnesiac Facility, 2010.
After the first experimental amnesiacs were developed by American chemists and neurologists for use in World War I, the SCP Foundation was granted rights to use the technology by the U.S. government in 1922. In 1923, the rights to the manufacturing process of amnesiacs was bought by the Foundation, which soon became the world's sole producer of the chemicals. This allowed the Foundation to carry out its first mass coverup campaigns of prominent anomalies, including SCP-XXXX-A.
During the early- and mid-1920s, the Foundation established several production plants nationwide, including the Newberry Amnesiac Facility, known to the public as the Springhill Chemical Plant under the cover story of a chemical purification facility for the region's strong phosphorus industry. The Newberry Amnesiac Facility, located in the small town of Newberry in Alachua County, Florida, was the site of the development of the first amnestics, a safer and more potent alternative to amnesiacs. Within the next two years, all amnesiac production facilities had switched to the manufacturing of amnestics and amnesiacs fell out of use throughout the Foundation.
04/24/1936
SCP FOUNDATION DEPARTMENT OF AQUATIC AND MARINE ANOMALIES
SCP-XXXX-A Psychic Interaction Record
Type of Interaction: Dream
Personnel Involved: Researcher Liana Newins-Ziegler
Date: 04/23-24/1936
Background: Vivid dream reported by Rsr. Newins-Ziegler, stationed at DAMA Outpost-07 near Hawthorne. Subject reported the described interaction was the only dream able to be recalled from the night of the twenty-third, and that such could be done with perfect clarity.
Report: "I was a catfish and I was in the river. I recall thinking to myself that some other fish was causing me problems and I went to confront him about it. I could not understand what was communicated. Several other fish surrounded us and watched us as the two of us began to fight. A larger catfish swam between us and we went our separate ways. I returned to a bend in the river to check on my eggs. I recall believing that several of them had been taken by the other fish. I was angry. I was very angry. I woke up and I needed to calm down. I am not sure if I have ever been as angry. (Pause.) I need a moment. It still hurts to recall."
The formula for amnestics was developed in 1938 by a parachemist at the facility named Kellin James Rawlings. The formula involves the reaction of two anomalous chemicals in a double-displacement reaction. The products of this reaction are the active ingredient in amnestics and SCP-XXXX-B.
SCP-XXXX-B, or PTC, is a powerful psychotoxin. Exposure to SCP-XXXX-B can cause severe damage to an organism's psychosphere at very small doses. Damage to the psychosphere is permanent and can have disastrous effects on an organism's cognitive functions, mental health, reproductive health, and memory. While SCP-XXXX-B does not cause direct damage to an organism's psychic field, the absence of a healthy psychosphere has poorly-understood deletorious effects on an organism's ability to properly maintain an active field, which in extreme cases can cause it to significantly weaken in the long-term.
The Newberry Amnesiac Facility, along with most other amnestic production plants across the United States, was shut down in 1966 following the outsourcing of most amnestic manufacturing to sites in India.
05/09/1939
SCP FOUNDATION DEPARTMENT OF AQUATIC AND MARINE ANOMALIES
SCP-XXXX-A Psychic Interaction Record
Type of Interaction: Hallucination
Personnel Involved: N/A
Date: 05/09/1939
Background: Two local fishermen reported seeing a vivid hallucination while in a makeshift raft on the river. Subsequent panic caused their raft to capsize and the two to fall into the river. Both were unharmed, and reported the interaction ended upon being submerged in the water. The two were reprimanded for trespassing and amnesticized.
Report: "Me and Clyde here, we was— we was sailin' on that there river. Down the Tallawassa, we was fixin' to catch ourselves some good dozen catfishes when all upon a sudden there was a big ol' alligator somethin' vicious. Was chargin' right toward us. Clyde screamed like he was a little girl, and— what? It was true, wasn't it? You hollared somethin' nasty, almost blew my eardrums clean off. So then, we fell off our boat and was like there ain't nothin' there in the first place. Scared the livin' heck out 'a the two of us, I'm 'a tell you somethin'. We ain't go back there, left our boat behind and went on runnin'. Still caught us a mighty fine barrel, though, you want 'a see?"
Addendum XXXX.02: Changes in Psychic Interference and Investigation
Several SCP-XXXX-A swimming in the Tallawassa River near Newberry, 2019.
In the mid-1940s, reports began appearing of unusual psychic interactions with SCP-XXXX-A. Researchers from the Department of Aquatic and Marine Anomalies (DAMA), under whose jurisdiction SCP-XXXX-A and the Tallawassa River fell, had been keeping regular records of interactions with the fish, and noticed that recent side-effects brought on by these interactions had become less focused and vivid. Despite extensive studies on SCP-XXXX-A populations, no source of the issue could be found.
11/24/1944
SCP FOUNDATION DEPARTMENT OF AQUATIC AND MARINE ANOMALIES
SCP-XXXX-A Psychic Interaction Record
Type of Interaction: Memory
Personnel Involved: Dr. Dominika Malachowsky
Date: 11/24/1944
Background: Interaction discovered during unrelated conversation with a co-worker at DAMA Outpost-09 near Hastings. Report is a recreation as recalled by those involved.
Report: "Have you ever been inside the river? It's quite nice in there, though just a little bit murky. I remember I was in there, once. The sunrise is really beautiful from inside the river. Actually, I think the murkiness is what makes it just that much more beautiful. You can see the rays start to slowly shine in, it's like when the clouds block the sun just right and you can see the beams of light, but it's all around you. It's really something. There's little specs in the water that all light up around you, and they dazzle and dazzle. You can feel the cold water start to warm up in there. Me and the other fish, we— hold on. No. Wait, what?"
Between 1944 and 1968, SCP-XXXX-A interactions had dwindled in clarity and populations of the species had declined in number by over 90 percent. This was believed at the time to be the result of heavy pollution of the river caused by civilian urban runoff. Despite efforts to conserve the health of the river, the species continued to rapidly decline.
01/31/1950
SCP FOUNDATION DEPARTMENT OF AQUATIC AND MARINE ANOMALIES
SCP-XXXX-A Psychic Interaction Record
Type of Interaction: Dream
Personnel Involved: Researcher Harold Murphree
Date: 01/30-31/1950
Background: Dream reported by Rsr. Murphree, stationed at Site-166 near Daytona. Dream was reportedly difficult to recall and was one of several on the night of the thirtieth, though the others could not be recalled.
Report: "Right, so what I do remember is I was part of a big swarm of these catfish, and we were swimming somewhere but I couldn't tell you where. We were going real fast, like we were real determined. There was a darkness on the water above us. I think it was, uh, some kind of boat? Or something? The water was dark is all I remember. We kept swimming. I saw something ahead of me but I don't remember what. I woke up scared, I think, but not that much."
In 1993, a study on SCP-XXXX-A populations was rediscovered during an unrelated audit of the DAMA archives. The study showed that a small population of the species living in the Union County portion of the river, upstream from the Newberry Amnesiac Facility, had shown considerably less psychic damage than those living downstream. While this small population had been extinct since the early 1970s, the reemergence of the paper prompted an investigation into the Newberry Amnesiac Facility by the Department of Anomalous Wildlife and Nature (DAWN). The investigation found evidence that Robert Farrior Dauer, director of the Newberry Amnesiac Facility from 1943 until his death in 1965, had outsourced the disposal of SCP-XXXX-B to a civilian third-party phosphorus company by the name of Magnate Solutions. Letters between Dauer and Magnate president Trevor Pugh were recovered from Dauer's son and the abandoned office of Magnate Solutions in Gainesville, Florida.
FROM THE OFFICE OF ALFRED J. LITTLE2
Dear Mr. Pugh,
I am writing to you in the interest of business between your company and mine as the overseer of the Springhill Chemical Plant in Newberry. We've recently developed a new method of processing phosphorus into multi-purpose chemicals and have found ourselves in possession of large amounts of undesirable byproducts which need to be disposed of. I was informed through word-of-mouth that your company offers inexpensive disposal of phosphorus byproducts and would like to set up an arrangement with your men. Please write back to me as soon as you're able if you are interested. I await your response keenly.
Signed,
A.J.L.
Mr. Little,
We've received your letter. We're interested. We can work out more of the specifics in-person if you would like, but I was wondering if you could give us just a bit more specificity on exactly what them byproducts you need help with are. Don't hesitate to write with any questions you all got, and let me know when some of your folk could meet with some of mine.
Thank you for reaching out,
Trevor Pugh, President, Magnate Solutions
FROM THE OFFICE OF ALFRED J. LITTLE
Dear Mr. Pugh,
I regret to inform you that I cannot get into specifics at this moment. We are an authorized defense contractor for the United States government and revealing too many details about our process would constitute a breach of our conditions. All you must know is that the byproducts in question are not harmful to human health and can be disposed of in any way you see fit, so long as it is performed in a timely manner and your men do not ask too many questions. I was informed that this should be an arrangement to your liking; I have been told you are capable of engaging in more under-the-table dealings, if you know of what I speak. I look forward to meeting with your men, details of availability can be found enclosed in this envelope.
Signed,
A.J.L.
Mr. Little,
If that's how it is, then of course. I did not know about your company's involvement with our great military. You and all them at the plant don't need to worry about a thing, me and my people aren't nosy types. My folks will handle all them chemicals you got. I'll send my people over real soon. We have ways of ensuring your problem is dealt with. Should we discuss pay at this time?
Thank you for reaching out,
Trevor Pugh, President, Magnate Solutions
FROM THE OFFICE OF ALFRED J. LITTLE
Dear Mr. Pugh,
We will pay you what you charge. I will have my men discuss it with yours. All I care about is that the chemicals are gone and it's cheaper than the alternative. The details don't matter. I look forward to our meeting.
Signed,
A.J.L.
Mr. Little,
It's a pleasure doing business with you all. I do await our meeting as well. You can trust my folk to do a good job. They are a reputable bunch, I assure it.
We thank you kindly for your patronage,
Trevor Pugh, President, Magnate Solutions
08/14/1976
SCP FOUNDATION DEPARTMENT OF AQUATIC AND MARINE ANOMALIES
SCP-XXXX-A Psychic Interaction Record
Type of Interaction: Fear
Personnel Involved: Dr. Kai Beaty, Dr. Liana Newins-Ziegler, Rsr. Molly Turlington, Rsr. Geoffrey Fletcher, Rsr. Orion Norman, Jr. Technician Marina Reitz, Agent Siobhan McCarty
Date: 08/14/1976
Background: Seven personnel at DAMA Outpost-07 near Hawthorne reported a weak shared fear which manifested upon waking on the fourteenth. Notably, this is the first SCP-XXXX-A-induced fear not related to any predator of SCP-XXXX-A.
Report: "I mean, I'm sure we all have this to some extent, but on my mind that morning, for some reason, was the nagging thought that I'd be forgotten, that everyone I loved wouldn't be able to remember me at all. It went away as soon as it came. It didn't help that my retirement was only a week away at that point. The others said the same thing. It was strange." — Dr. Newins-Ziegler
The investigation began looking into Magnate Solutions, which filed for bankruptcy in 1981, and found that agents of the company, under the orders of President Pugh, had dumped large amounts of the undiluted chemical into the Tallawassa River near Newberry for an unknown amount of time. It is believed that Dauer was the only employee at the plant aware of this, as interviews with former personnel indicated they had been told that the SCP-XXXX-B had been shipped to acroamatic abatement facilities, the traditional method of the chemical's disposal. It is estimated that the amount of SCP-XXXX-B released into the river during Magnate's partnership with Dauer was enough to completely wear down the psychosphere of any organism entering the Alachua, Marion, or Lake County portions of the river during its peak in the early 1950s.
09/17/1998
SCP FOUNDATION DEPARTMENT OF AQUATIC AND MARINE ANOMALIES
SCP-XXXX-A Psychic Interaction Record
Type of Interaction: Hallucination
Personnel Involved: Dr. Harley Matherly
Date: 09/17/1998
Background: Dr. Matherly suddenly fell over during a meeting in DAMA Outpost-01 near Orange Heights. No injuries were sustained and the meeting resumed following the short disturbance. First report of physical effects of SCP-XXXX-A interaction.
Report: "You ever stand up too fast and see all those freaky colors and swirls and such? It was like that. I got really light-headed out of nowhere and couldn't maintain my balance. My vision was all brown, with little specs of white every here and there. There was a silhouette in front of me. Dark, through all the brown. Really blurry. It was over in a second. I'd say it looked like I was looking through a grimy aquarium tank and seeing, uh, something inside. I couldn't tell you what."
As the existence of SCP-XXXX-B was classified Level-5 at the time of DAMA's initial studies into SCP-XXXX-A, it was not able to be tested for and as such went undiscovered in the river until the DAWN investigation. DAWN researchers, in collaboration with the Department of Parachemistry, began an initiative to develop an effective method of safely removing SCP-XXXX-B from the river. As of 2025, little progress has been made due to SCP-XXXX-B's extreme ecological persistence and poorly-understood nature.
01/28/2014
SCP FOUNDATION DEPARTMENT OF AQUATIC AND MARINE ANOMALIES
SCP-XXXX-A Psychic Interaction Record
Type of Interaction: Memory
Personnel Involved: Sr. Archivist Jon Weimer
Date: 01/28/2014
Background: Sr. Arch. Weimer was temporarily visiting Site-86 Facility 12 near Gainesville during a routine audit of their records.
Report: "I had this weird memory while I was there. I was in the river, in the water. It was all brown, like it is now. I remember I couldn't see a thing. I think I died. I just remember choking and then nothing. It didn't take very long. That's pretty much all I remember. Is that good enough?"
As all individuals involved in the affair had passed away prior to the investigation, no one party could be held responsible under Foundation code and the case was closed.
05/18/2025
SCP FOUNDATION DEPARTMENT OF AQUATIC AND MARINE ANOMALIES
SCP-XXXX-A Psychic Interaction Record
Type of Interaction: Hallucination
Personnel Involved: Dir. Kurt Marston
Date: 05/18/2025
Background: DAMA Director Marston reported the vision as appearing in his chambers while on a temporary visit to DAMA Outpost-01 near Orange Heights. Second report of physical effects of SCP-XXXX-A interaction.
Report: "On the floor. On the floor there was a shape. Blurry, like a dark spot in my vision at first. Then as I got closer it became ever so clearer. I think it was an SCP-XXXX-A. It was convulsing on the floor, making these barely-perceptible sounds. Horrible choking sounds. It stopped convulsing and looked at me, or at least I think it looked at me. My eyes started watering out of nowhere. I don't know why. I didn't feel anything, emotionally. It looked at me. We made eye contact, I think. I started sobbing uncontrollably. It looked so in pain. It stopped moving at all after that. I left my room. I couldn't stop. The crying, I mean. I remember vaguely what it looked like and what the sounds were but I can't call them to mind. I just remember crying. Crying and crying. I couldn't stop crying. Even after I left the room, the tears kept going. God. It was in so much pain. I remember that much, too. It was in so much pain. I just— I can't picture any of it in my head. Why can't I remember it? Why didn't— (Pause.) Why didn't I feel anything? I was crying but I felt nothing. I felt nothing. God, I felt nothing. Nothing at all."
The above is the last occurrence of SCP-XXXX-A interaction to-date. As of 2025, SCP-XXXX-A's population in the Tallawassa River is estimated at ~490 individuals.
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