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ColorGoodStables · Dec 30, 2016 7:39 PM

Was going to out this on a fish forum but I know I didn't take all the precautions I could have and didn't want the flak for it.

I don't know if any of you keep fish so I'll give a bit of information first. I have goldfish (along with other tropical tanks) goldfish are very filthy and require lots if space and filtration. A single tail (commonly need 75 gallons per fish and fancies need between 30-40 gallons for the first and 10-15 for each extra. Goldfish that are kept in small spaces (e.g a little tank or bowl) will become stunted.
Because of selective breeding and mass production many goldfish suffer from certain defects.
More about my fishies. I started keeping goldfish almost 5 years ago and knew nothing about proper care. I had 2 fancies in a 10 gallon one of which died very soon the other grew to be a nice 5 inches (minus tail) but sadly dies after having a bad bacterial infection that I tried treating repeatedly.
I currently have a nice cycled 75 gallon tank. It holds 4 goldfish and 6 white clouds. This would be fine except one of those goldfish is a stunted 4 year old common. He is in the tank because of the move, I was unable to bring his pond with us.
Now because of this fish (Phillip) one of my favorites is now sick. I noticed the little guy was having some problems before we moved. Looked like simple bruising on his side, only it didn't go away. He now has what's known as swim bladder. Which is a side affect of bad water quality (over stocking) as well as poor breeding. I was hoping the poor thing would recover on his own but he isnt. Only getting worse.
My gorgeous little fishy now has what looks like a tumor slowly forming where the "bruise" is. After studying him the most of the morning I have decided my best bet is to ease the fish of his pain. He can't swim properly and will eventually have a very painfully tumor. He also appears to be forming other sores/tumors on his belly and face.

I'm really upset as I've had this fish for almost 3 years and he was a rescue. I got him on sale from my local fish store. He was small "ugly" and had something wrong with his face. I worked for months to get him back to health once it was clear he wasn't ready to croak. He is now such a pretty fish and it's such a shame.
I keep telling myself he's just a fish and no one cares, because really people flush fish every day. But it's not working. I think I'll probably cry after euthanizing him (I don't believe is flushing a live animal, you should flush any animal it's hard on the plumbing not to mention breaking the body down and filtering it out...)

Sorry for the super long post, just had to vent it out a bit. I'm sure my lovely SO will try to order me a nice shiny fish to replace him but I see my fish the same way as my dogs. Family

RoseFlute · Dec 30, 2016 8:17 PM

Aw, that's sad. Good information in case I ever think about getting a goldfish, though. :P How does a burial ceremony for a fish go? Dirt doesn't seem right. Throw him into a nice pond somewhere? Or maybe from a boat to the ocean or a lake? :) At least he had a great owner while he lasted. :)

MoonAcre Stables · Dec 30, 2016 8:23 PM

I can understand the love for fish. I've loved the ones I've had. In a different way than other pets but loved them nonetheless. And have cried over a couple. But i know a lot of people, just like you, are very attached to their finned friends! I'm so sorry about your little guy. Sending hugs and positive, healing thoughts your way

ColorGoodStables · Dec 30, 2016 8:56 PM

@RoseFlute haha I try to spread information about them when I can. Goldfish are very underappreciated in my opinion. And honestly I either bag and toss my in the trash or bury them. I think my fish are generally healthy but I'm always worked about them getting eating and making something else sick. Wish I could just toss them in a river for a turtle or racoon to eat XD it'd honestly make me feel better to feed some wild animal rather than toss it

@Moon it's pretty difficult. I have to get the clove oil tomorrow. If I can't get any from a store I have to order it which means longer suffering. My niece and nephew are home all day for the next few days so not sure how I'll kill off a fish they like without upsetting them 8-|
And I've actually decided to euthanize the common goldfish as well. He isn't doing anyone any good and I know that no one in this town has the space for him so for the sake of my remaining 2 fish so he's getting whacked. Sad but sometimes it's necessary

ConfluenceFarms · Dec 30, 2016 11:02 PM

I had the most hilarious fish named Cranky Bob! He was a golden bottom feeder of some sort. He started out as an inch long yellowish thing and ended up 4 years later about 4.5 inches long and shiney goldish orange. He would even take on the cats as they circled the tank watching him. (Closed tank, they couldn't get in.). People used to make fun of me because I used to take pictures of him and show him off. Bob was great! After he died I didn't bother with more fish. When you've had a fish with that kind of personality the rest are pretty boring.

best friend · Dec 30, 2016 11:19 PM

I love my beta fighters. I got attached to mine as well and was really upset when I came home and found them on the floor.

My cat jr got them out. I jad them for over a year with just their little lid on the tank. They had their own personalities. Booker
would follow my hand as if playing target with me.

I am sorry for your loss but you know you took very good care of your fishie.

ColorGoodStables · Dec 31, 2016 1:46 AM

Agreed (Sounds like Bob was a common goldfish same as Phillip lol.) I do the same thing with my fish though. I am very proud of them and show them off to everyone. All of them have a nice quirk and their own personality. I even have the trained to eat from my hand and allow me to "pet" them. I have a massive fish that's about 6 inches long and roughly 5 inches tall/wide. He's huge! Everyone that visits love him because he's so fat and wiggly.

@friend I've owned bettas before. Had a gorgeous chocolate rose tail male. Sadly he died because I wasn't allowed to give him the proper space he needed until it was to late. I've had females too. I'm actually planning on getting another female to put in my 10 gallon bedroom tank.

I just hope I'm making the best decision for him

Mystic rose · Dec 31, 2016 4:50 AM

My fish had swim bladder, he also kept changing colour , he went from Black to gold and then his side all went purple. I was so upset about it also, but at least you've given your rescue a fantastic fish life , I don't agree with flushing fish either, I buried mine ( everyone thought it was weird ) but it's still an animal that's been loved :x

KerredansCorral · Dec 31, 2016 5:13 AM

ColorGood,
So sorry to hear about your fish. I've had some in my lifetime too, and know how you feel. (Hugs!)

If you live anywhere near a Whole Foods Market, you should be able to find some Clove oil in the Whole Body section.

ColorGoodStables · Dec 31, 2016 12:27 PM

@mystic my fish changed color too. It's normal not the purple though that sounds like he has a bruise from being sick :(
The ground is frozen here so sadly I have to toss my two. It'll be upsetting but no other option

@kerredans I have a Menards and a hyvee so I'm hoping between the two I can find something soon

WheatgrassFarm · Feb 27, 2017 6:01 AM

@ColorGoodStables Can you put him up for sale/adoption? There's a site called AquaBid, which is a lot like eBay, and I know people on The FishLore aquarium forum who would be happy to take him. As for your one with swim bladder, euthanization is an option, but again, I would recommend asking the people on FishLore, as they are extremely knowledgeable. I would take the comet (common) out and put him in his own 10-20 gal. until you can rehome him. I know how nard it is when you have even a chance to lose a fish, and I am so soryy that you have to be in this position.

ColorGoodStables · Feb 27, 2017 8:50 PM

@WheatgrassFarm

Sadly the fish are already gone. I had no way to ship the common on aquabid or a way to accept any type of payment. I thought about separating him but all I had was a 10 gallon with me at the time (my 20g being in Nebraska with family) the fish would have suffered in either tank as they are way to small. Plus thinking long turm there was no way for me to keep the fish. When this was posted it was way to cold to set up a temporary pound outdoors (not to mention what would I do next winter anyway) and no way for me to buy him his own aquarium (even second hand, I looked)
I'm currently expecting a baby mid summer and don't/didnt have the extra money to spend on him. I made the hard decision to euthanize. I still feel bad about it as he was a healthy fish. But for the health and benefit of my remaining fancies he had to go.

I'm currently a part of the MAC (myaquariumclub) forum answering questions for new hobbyists. I knew what the pros and cons of keeping a common fish and knew I didn't have the space, money or means to continue to keep or rehome him.
However on a happier note my remaining goldfish are perfectly healthy and thriving. Haven't seen an ammonia spike or any other sort of issue since the others were removed

Lacy512 · Mar 11, 2017 12:03 PM

I'm so sorry to hear about your poor guys, may they swim in peace. I've got two Bettas that I'm by far obsessed with (note my stable name Little Fish, main tattoo and my stable banner is my oldest guy Yuri :-)) ). I completely understand the fish being part of the family. I got my guys after I moved a couple hundred miles to the city to a super small studio apartment and had to leave my dog and horses behind. I couldn't imagine living without an animal so I got them. I would be heartbroken if anything happened to them.

Glad to hear that the others are doing well. I'm sure it was a hard decision to let the common go but at least you know the others are doing all the better for it. I wish you continued luck with your fishies. :)

ColorGoodStables · Mar 12, 2017 4:23 PM

I recently got a betta! I had two female previously each in there own community tank, I moved then to and gave one to my mom and one to my sister.
My new guy is a little ball of anger! Took him a fee days to warm up but he does the happy bish dance whenever he sees me. I hope to get his tank redecorated and to add some shrimp (he's in a 10 gallon)
As for my goldies they have become pretty good friends with such a big tank to explore they are always side by side. My smallest one has shown the most improvement. Has even grown a little and is a lot more active and not so skittish.
Sometimes the touch decisions lead to the best outcomes

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