Keepers Tales
I reached out to the lovely folk in the Goldfish Keepers Facebook group for their Goldfish stories to show that we all start somewhere - some of us in trickier spots than others, but wherever you are now, you're not alone. You can be a fantastic Goldfish keeper, even if you'refeeling a little out of your depth right now. These tales may make you shed a tear, you will laugh, you will cry... you will be empowered!
Everyone can achieve incredibme things with a little knowledge under their belt!
For more support and stories from this lovely lot, join the Goldfish Keepers Facebook Group!
Some of these Keeper's Tales may contain swears... but who doesn't feel like swearing when you find out the overwhelming truth!
Everyone can achieve incredibme things with a little knowledge under their belt!
For more support and stories from this lovely lot, join the Goldfish Keepers Facebook Group!
Some of these Keeper's Tales may contain swears... but who doesn't feel like swearing when you find out the overwhelming truth!
Peter Wilder
I started my first in a 1 gallon cheap aquarium with 2 inches of gravel. I would feed him flakes and pellets without changing the water but once a month. I never vaccumed the gravel until I found this group. I kept him for 5 years in that tank. I added him to the 55 gallon to get him healthy and he passed 1 week later. I miss my King Arthur.
I am nkw a fish over stocked with with 4 orandas and a black moor in the 55. All the fish are growing quickly and they are about to experience a 75 gallon.
We all start from ignorance and end with bliss.
I am nkw a fish over stocked with with 4 orandas and a black moor in the 55. All the fish are growing quickly and they are about to experience a 75 gallon.
We all start from ignorance and end with bliss.
Peter Wilder's magestic King Arthur
LeeAnne Ruffo
I wrote you guys a story. It's got everything, a call to action, death, despair, learning, a happy(ish?) ending AND A SEQUEL!
TLDR; A highschool freshman twerp was handed 15 common/comet goldfish and learned how severely she'd gone and fished herself. All but one die horribly. Still keeps fish, no longer kills them all. Has bloody vendetta against fish related idiocy.
In high school, some idiot thought it would be FANTASTIC idea to give common/comet goldfish to a bunch of freshman as fair prizes. I won one, but quickly got suckered into taking a total of FOURTFUCKINGTEEN others from my disinterested friends.
I was given a bucket, which the life science teacher (LOL) absolutely inundated with flakes. She was sure to tell me that they would die without a bubbler. She didn’t tell me that housing all of them would require a tank of over a hundred gallons (why do goldfish poop so much!?), and eventually a fucking pond yet larger.
On her advice, I changed the water (sans conditioner, because it didn’t occur to the LIFE SCIENCE teacher to include that information) immediately, and put them into a SMALLER container because it had this magical life saving “bubbler”. Not one peep about a filter, cycling, poop or anything else out of ANY of the adults who saw me cart those fish around.
I never saw the perfect storm I’d taken home until they started dying en mass on the daily. Within hours I was flushing little baby fishies and at an utter loss. That’s a rough deal to hand a kid and her unsuspecting mother.
I stumbled onto ye olde internet and was horrified to find out what caring for these dudes ACTUALLY entailed.
Long story short, I came into that knowledge with abandoned fish dying all around me. Some of them took forfuckingever to die, and I was this freshman twerp who was stuck trying to make it stop. I set up totes and lugged SO MUCH WATER and they kept dying.
I had fucking nightmares about the fish murder I mistakenly committed, and still occasionally do. It’s like fucking fish PTSD. I still have dreams about finding a forgotten storage tote with dying fish inside. Dramatic, but 100% true.
Only one of those goldfish survived this ill-induced “learning” experience. (read: horrorfest) He saw me through high school, and later almost all of college. At eight or more years old, he was only as long as my hand and horribly stunted. He managed to grow lovely fins and would eat out of my hands. Had a plucky personality and seemed to recognize me over the other strange two legged creatures in the house. Eventually he died of natural causes and holy-fuck-stunting, sans horrific illness, thank the fish gods.
After all of this horsecock, years later, I STILL WANT TO KEEP FISH. Does that make me crazy? I will never been the asshole who tells some twerp fish are easy pets, and I will often be the asshole who tells them otherwise, even if they don’t want to hear it.
TLDR; A highschool freshman twerp was handed 15 common/comet goldfish and learned how severely she'd gone and fished herself. All but one die horribly. Still keeps fish, no longer kills them all. Has bloody vendetta against fish related idiocy.
In high school, some idiot thought it would be FANTASTIC idea to give common/comet goldfish to a bunch of freshman as fair prizes. I won one, but quickly got suckered into taking a total of FOURTFUCKINGTEEN others from my disinterested friends.
I was given a bucket, which the life science teacher (LOL) absolutely inundated with flakes. She was sure to tell me that they would die without a bubbler. She didn’t tell me that housing all of them would require a tank of over a hundred gallons (why do goldfish poop so much!?), and eventually a fucking pond yet larger.
On her advice, I changed the water (sans conditioner, because it didn’t occur to the LIFE SCIENCE teacher to include that information) immediately, and put them into a SMALLER container because it had this magical life saving “bubbler”. Not one peep about a filter, cycling, poop or anything else out of ANY of the adults who saw me cart those fish around.
I never saw the perfect storm I’d taken home until they started dying en mass on the daily. Within hours I was flushing little baby fishies and at an utter loss. That’s a rough deal to hand a kid and her unsuspecting mother.
I stumbled onto ye olde internet and was horrified to find out what caring for these dudes ACTUALLY entailed.
Long story short, I came into that knowledge with abandoned fish dying all around me. Some of them took forfuckingever to die, and I was this freshman twerp who was stuck trying to make it stop. I set up totes and lugged SO MUCH WATER and they kept dying.
I had fucking nightmares about the fish murder I mistakenly committed, and still occasionally do. It’s like fucking fish PTSD. I still have dreams about finding a forgotten storage tote with dying fish inside. Dramatic, but 100% true.
Only one of those goldfish survived this ill-induced “learning” experience. (read: horrorfest) He saw me through high school, and later almost all of college. At eight or more years old, he was only as long as my hand and horribly stunted. He managed to grow lovely fins and would eat out of my hands. Had a plucky personality and seemed to recognize me over the other strange two legged creatures in the house. Eventually he died of natural causes and holy-fuck-stunting, sans horrific illness, thank the fish gods.
After all of this horsecock, years later, I STILL WANT TO KEEP FISH. Does that make me crazy? I will never been the asshole who tells some twerp fish are easy pets, and I will often be the asshole who tells them otherwise, even if they don’t want to hear it.
LeeAnne Ruffo's stunning Goldfish tank
Vicky Edge
I started out with two fancy goldfish a 20litre tank sold by a pet shop and wasn't told to cycle. After five days one was dead and I was so upset. I found practical fish keeping forum who gave me the right advice!
That week I bought a second hand tank 120 litres, became fascinated with goldfish and found as much information about them as possible.
Now I'm loving being a member of Goldfish Keepers. I still, to this day, have the one fish that lived. Plus four more adults, three babies from my fish and three fancy goldfish tanks! One's 180litres, then I have 110 litres and a 15 litres for the Teeny weeny baby's 😍
That week I bought a second hand tank 120 litres, became fascinated with goldfish and found as much information about them as possible.
Now I'm loving being a member of Goldfish Keepers. I still, to this day, have the one fish that lived. Plus four more adults, three babies from my fish and three fancy goldfish tanks! One's 180litres, then I have 110 litres and a 15 litres for the Teeny weeny baby's 😍
Vicky Edge's beautiful Silver.
Karolina ThatsMe
I always wanted a goldfish, there was something about them that made me so happy :) I got my first goldfish (fantail) she lived in a 10 gallon for months and months I did 50% water changes every week (the tank wasn't cycled and it had a poor filter) I found out so much about goldfish when I joined this group and upgraded asap I managed to get a buddy for her too :)
Jessica JA
In college I wanted a pet and so since my dorm wouldn't allow cats, I got a goldfish (I think it was probably a comet) who lived in a bowl on my desk. I rarely cleaned the water and didn't know anything about water conditioner, so never used it. The pet store did a horrible job in giving me any information about goldfish, or even fish care for that matter. The poor fish kept trying to jump out of his bowl and I would constantly find him on the desk or on the floor, and then plop him back into his dirty water :( Poor thing finally succeeded in ending his torment, and I didn't think about goldfish again for many more years.
A few years ago, I kept bettas in small tanks and was really in love with them. I still didn't know about the nitrogen cycle or heaters or how important it was to change their water regularly. I think by this point I was using water conditioner. I went into petco to get another betta (planning on putting him in a new "fancy" 1.5 gallon bowl) and they were having a sale on goldfish. I was talked into a black moor who lived in that bowl with no filtration and infrequent water changes before he passed away.
Then about 2ish years ago, I became very interested in aquaponics and was doing lots of reading on how to grow plants by using fish waste. I bought a used 20 gallon tank, which sat in the garage for a few months, and then again, went into petco where they were having another sale on goldfish, and bought a very pretty calico fantail. I had been reading about the nitrogen cycle (was confused) and thought that I should have way more goldfish for my tank for the aquaponics to work correctly. But I set up the tank and worked on doing a fish-in cycle and then read more about goldfish stocking. I couldn't bring myself to put as many fish in the tank as many aquaponics guides said you should, as now I was finding out that about proper stocking and it seemed cruel; I didn't want to hurt the fish for the sake of the plants. The aquaponics system didn't end up getting off the ground. Sadly, Cali died in a water change incident when she got stuck in the siphon hose. She made it for a few days before succumbing to her injuries. I was broken hearted and bawled my eyes out. In the month or so that I'd had her, I'd been reading more and more about goldfish and caring for the tanks and finding out how bad the very little information that I'd previously had regarding fishkeeping was. Then my bettas got tank upgrades and filters!
I then fell in love with Wibbly, who was a tiny little orange fantail with black marks on his fins (didn't know this was a sign of ammonia burn), who lived in the 20 gallon before I decided he seemed lonely and got him a friend, Wobbly. I knew both of them in the 20 gallon wasn't a good idea, but thought I could get away with it if I did lots of water changes. Naive and stupid me. They did NOT get along. I bought a 29 gallon for them (as I was going by the 20 + 10 gallons per fish "rule" that I'd read) but by that point Wobbly was so stressed from being harassed by Wibbly, that s/he got sick and passed. I tried meds for the first, but not knowing what was causing the illness, probably made it worse. Then I left Wibbly alone in that tank for a few months. I joined this group and learned so much more about goldfish keeping. Then I met Lemony Pop, my panda oranda, and fell in love. She came home and joined Wibbly in the 29 gallon. They get along famously. The 29 gallon is heavily over-filtered with 2 HOBs and a sponge filter and water changes every other day.
One day while at my LFS for food, I saw Sprite, a calico ryukin and HAD to have her. She was perfect!. She came home and went into the spare 20 gallon by herself.
Through this group I've learned so much about goldfish care, and quarantine, and treating when they're sick. It's been amazing! I made so many mistakes through the years in regards to the fish I had, and cringe when I look back on what I did to them.
A few years ago, I kept bettas in small tanks and was really in love with them. I still didn't know about the nitrogen cycle or heaters or how important it was to change their water regularly. I think by this point I was using water conditioner. I went into petco to get another betta (planning on putting him in a new "fancy" 1.5 gallon bowl) and they were having a sale on goldfish. I was talked into a black moor who lived in that bowl with no filtration and infrequent water changes before he passed away.
Then about 2ish years ago, I became very interested in aquaponics and was doing lots of reading on how to grow plants by using fish waste. I bought a used 20 gallon tank, which sat in the garage for a few months, and then again, went into petco where they were having another sale on goldfish, and bought a very pretty calico fantail. I had been reading about the nitrogen cycle (was confused) and thought that I should have way more goldfish for my tank for the aquaponics to work correctly. But I set up the tank and worked on doing a fish-in cycle and then read more about goldfish stocking. I couldn't bring myself to put as many fish in the tank as many aquaponics guides said you should, as now I was finding out that about proper stocking and it seemed cruel; I didn't want to hurt the fish for the sake of the plants. The aquaponics system didn't end up getting off the ground. Sadly, Cali died in a water change incident when she got stuck in the siphon hose. She made it for a few days before succumbing to her injuries. I was broken hearted and bawled my eyes out. In the month or so that I'd had her, I'd been reading more and more about goldfish and caring for the tanks and finding out how bad the very little information that I'd previously had regarding fishkeeping was. Then my bettas got tank upgrades and filters!
I then fell in love with Wibbly, who was a tiny little orange fantail with black marks on his fins (didn't know this was a sign of ammonia burn), who lived in the 20 gallon before I decided he seemed lonely and got him a friend, Wobbly. I knew both of them in the 20 gallon wasn't a good idea, but thought I could get away with it if I did lots of water changes. Naive and stupid me. They did NOT get along. I bought a 29 gallon for them (as I was going by the 20 + 10 gallons per fish "rule" that I'd read) but by that point Wobbly was so stressed from being harassed by Wibbly, that s/he got sick and passed. I tried meds for the first, but not knowing what was causing the illness, probably made it worse. Then I left Wibbly alone in that tank for a few months. I joined this group and learned so much more about goldfish keeping. Then I met Lemony Pop, my panda oranda, and fell in love. She came home and joined Wibbly in the 29 gallon. They get along famously. The 29 gallon is heavily over-filtered with 2 HOBs and a sponge filter and water changes every other day.
One day while at my LFS for food, I saw Sprite, a calico ryukin and HAD to have her. She was perfect!. She came home and went into the spare 20 gallon by herself.
Through this group I've learned so much about goldfish care, and quarantine, and treating when they're sick. It's been amazing! I made so many mistakes through the years in regards to the fish I had, and cringe when I look back on what I did to them.
Ankita Nimbalkar
My journey to Goldfish was by chance. 1.5 years back, I had horrible depression. I lost my father which was a really uncertain. He was just 45. After him, I locked myself in my room for weeks without food, didn't meet anyone nor did I leave my room. My Doctor suggested therapy to me. I was unwilling to go where I would be asked questions and was having severe anxiety issues.
My boyfriend felt helpless recovering me from it. He loved me so much but it would not just help anymore. He already had goldfish at home and he just thought of gifting me 2 of redcaps on my Birthday. I was very reluctant at first because I was unable to take care of myself, taking care of some another being was just a nightmare!
At first when I saw dem, I was just staring at them in the tank where they would just wiggle around the tank and just be happy to see me when I was near the Tank. I used to watch them for hours doing their thing and literally spend whole day sitting near the tank.
Somewhere In the long run, the fishy poop, fishy sickness all started intriguing me out the dark hole i was in. I started taking care of dem , coz I didn't want them to die. I wanted them to live long as they were the only thing I woke up everyday in hope..Days went by, And I started paying more attention. Well, I did a lot of mistakes at first. Didn't know much until I came here in this group.
Fishkeeping has taught me to be in touch with reality, away from the negative thinking, and I want to confess here I am out of depression because of them. I was able to come out of it only because they made me realize that I can take care of someone and was capable of making them happy. After my dad's death, this was the only thing that I needed for reassurance and peace. That I could look upto Myself and live happily with his memories.
I know we all here have a common feeling of being able to take care of someone, which reassures us that we can somehow hold our life together. I hope this story really helps and hit a common chord. They uplifted me. Those mute little beings could bring my smile back without even saying a word . Well, who wants to listen to advice anyways??!! All they did was wobble food and make a lot of poop for momma to clean.
I have never ever shared my true feelings with anyone about it but this is the first time.
Now, I have a 300litre tank and Orandas, ryukins and( upcoming ranchu )in them. I am really happy with what I have grown as a person with this hobby. Believe it or not, it is said, what u do After your working hours from yoyr job determines what person you are. Your hobbies make you, not the career, where most of people consider it other way around. And I am really willing to spend money on them than I am to any other materialistic things. As it is rightly said that "when a habit begins to cost, it is called a hobby."
My boyfriend felt helpless recovering me from it. He loved me so much but it would not just help anymore. He already had goldfish at home and he just thought of gifting me 2 of redcaps on my Birthday. I was very reluctant at first because I was unable to take care of myself, taking care of some another being was just a nightmare!
At first when I saw dem, I was just staring at them in the tank where they would just wiggle around the tank and just be happy to see me when I was near the Tank. I used to watch them for hours doing their thing and literally spend whole day sitting near the tank.
Somewhere In the long run, the fishy poop, fishy sickness all started intriguing me out the dark hole i was in. I started taking care of dem , coz I didn't want them to die. I wanted them to live long as they were the only thing I woke up everyday in hope..Days went by, And I started paying more attention. Well, I did a lot of mistakes at first. Didn't know much until I came here in this group.
Fishkeeping has taught me to be in touch with reality, away from the negative thinking, and I want to confess here I am out of depression because of them. I was able to come out of it only because they made me realize that I can take care of someone and was capable of making them happy. After my dad's death, this was the only thing that I needed for reassurance and peace. That I could look upto Myself and live happily with his memories.
I know we all here have a common feeling of being able to take care of someone, which reassures us that we can somehow hold our life together. I hope this story really helps and hit a common chord. They uplifted me. Those mute little beings could bring my smile back without even saying a word . Well, who wants to listen to advice anyways??!! All they did was wobble food and make a lot of poop for momma to clean.
I have never ever shared my true feelings with anyone about it but this is the first time.
Now, I have a 300litre tank and Orandas, ryukins and( upcoming ranchu )in them. I am really happy with what I have grown as a person with this hobby. Believe it or not, it is said, what u do After your working hours from yoyr job determines what person you are. Your hobbies make you, not the career, where most of people consider it other way around. And I am really willing to spend money on them than I am to any other materialistic things. As it is rightly said that "when a habit begins to cost, it is called a hobby."
Ankita's beloved babies
Anca Bolog
My first goldfish, Blub, was an impuse buy after my man once told me that he had a fish when he was little and his aunt threw the poor thing in the river. After that, one day I found myself in one of these pet shops in malls and I eyed a small goldie, so I bought the poor guy, some flakes, water solution and a bowl?!?.
After I got home I made some research and ended up buying him a 10gal tank, but of course I fell in love with fatties and ended up getting some more goldies and a 50gal plastic tub.
My poor first goldie was with me and helped me learn everything I know about goldies today but he unfortunately passed away the night I switched apartments due to unknown causes. I was totally devastated but now I can say that I'm prepared for every problems my fatties will get and they are my pride and joy.
Actually the time I got into fatfish keeping was also the time I struggled with crippling depression and self harming (and even darker toughts) so for a while taking care of them was my only reason to continue.
Basically these wonderful creatures were my salvation at that time and I thank them everyday for that.
Goldfish are wonderful, therapeutic and perfect beings and I swear I will take care of them no matter what :)
After I got home I made some research and ended up buying him a 10gal tank, but of course I fell in love with fatties and ended up getting some more goldies and a 50gal plastic tub.
My poor first goldie was with me and helped me learn everything I know about goldies today but he unfortunately passed away the night I switched apartments due to unknown causes. I was totally devastated but now I can say that I'm prepared for every problems my fatties will get and they are my pride and joy.
Actually the time I got into fatfish keeping was also the time I struggled with crippling depression and self harming (and even darker toughts) so for a while taking care of them was my only reason to continue.
Basically these wonderful creatures were my salvation at that time and I thank them everyday for that.
Goldfish are wonderful, therapeutic and perfect beings and I swear I will take care of them no matter what :)
Anca Bolog's Blub in his bowl.
Chantal Hawkins
I first got goldfish a little over 5 years ago. My ex I was living with at the time suggested goldfish specifically because they were intelligent. I got a calico telescope and a black moor. Eventually I was hooked and ended up with an extremely overstocked tank, and they got a bacterial infection I couldn't kick. The stress between the move and the overstocked tank was too much.
My girls are 4 and 2. They both have been asking for fish for about a year now. My oldest just got diagnosed with ASD back in November, and her birthday was last month. I decided to get her a fish tank. So now we have a black moor (Frank Zappa) and a ryukin (Freddie Mercury) in our tank. It hasn't been without its plunders, however. We lost our original ryukin before we could name it, and Freddie had fin rot. But both are thriving now, and I'm waiting to see if Freddie lays eggs. And no, I don't think I'm changing her name!
My girls are 4 and 2. They both have been asking for fish for about a year now. My oldest just got diagnosed with ASD back in November, and her birthday was last month. I decided to get her a fish tank. So now we have a black moor (Frank Zappa) and a ryukin (Freddie Mercury) in our tank. It hasn't been without its plunders, however. We lost our original ryukin before we could name it, and Freddie had fin rot. But both are thriving now, and I'm waiting to see if Freddie lays eggs. And no, I don't think I'm changing her name!
Katie Walker
This is where I started ... no filter, no airstone, no space. My partner & I wanted our first "pet" together, and naively thought a goldfish would be an easy option.....unfortunately Halldog (in the background orange/white colour) passed away after 4 days and it spurred me to do a little more research into the proper care guide (as opposed to what I did with the fairground fish as a kid). Came across this group, and as they say, the rest is history!
Katie Walker's first tank
I've had Cuthbo for 14 months now, he's currently in a 100lt (I think - can't remember if it was 100 or 120?) which I know is small since my other half surprised me with a Shubunkin. They are both fairly small and I get by with filtering and water changes.
Cuthbo's current tank
We just bought a house with a large enough garden for a pond, and it should be built and ready to move into by Xmas, at which point we are getting the single tails into a glorious pond and I can get my self a wiggle butt fancy. You'll have to wait for my 'after' pictures!
Grace Pammant
Katie's planning her next set up!
My son was completely obsessed with fish. So my mum bought him 2 tiny black moors and a starter kit with a 12litre tank, water conditioner, some gravel and a filter. I didn't expect the moors to last the week. A week passed and I wondered why their water was so cloudy. Onto the Internet I hopped and was appalled at the amount I didn't know. They were immediately given a water change and I started hunting for a bigger tank on my tiny budget. I found my 150litre that also came with a fluval U4 filter. They were tiny in all that space but they grew so fast! I became addicted and I got more fish and more tanks. My son still says the Moors are his fish.
I've had the moors just over a year now and they are in their own giant tank with my mums miniscule moor and panda moor whose tail is too small for his body. I've gone on to have bettas too. I've dealt with fin rot, dropsy and lost a beloved betta to columnaris he got from another fish I just bought. It's actually mad how these little creatures have taken so much love and taught me so much along out journey together. Now I am thoroughly amazed the moors survived their first few weeks with clueless me.
I've had the moors just over a year now and they are in their own giant tank with my mums miniscule moor and panda moor whose tail is too small for his body. I've gone on to have bettas too. I've dealt with fin rot, dropsy and lost a beloved betta to columnaris he got from another fish I just bought. It's actually mad how these little creatures have taken so much love and taught me so much along out journey together. Now I am thoroughly amazed the moors survived their first few weeks with clueless me.
Dem Milovanovic
Well about 2 years ago, I started with 3 fish in a 15L tank, they unfortunately all died. I started again, this time with 4 (one of which I still have today), one of them being a shubunkin. So after searching online I found info that they only needed 10L each (which of course isn't true).
Dem Milovanovic's first tank
I went out and got a 60L tank for them and got given 2 more fish, a comet/common and oranda. Now at this point one of my friends on my Facebook account informed me that they need 80L for the first fish and 40L thereafter.
Dem Milovanovic's 60L tank
Not bad. I went out and got a 140L tub for them to live in while I find a permanent-ish solution. I ended up selling 3, getting a new 200L tank and getting another fish (as I was still at the time told that they need the 80L then 40L after).
Dem Milovanovic's 140L tub
So later down the road my Lil sweetheart dies, one of the originals from the 15L. I get another fish a Lil similar in colour.
Dem Milovanovic's current tank
Now to present time. I currently now have 6 fish as my fish bred! 2 Lil babies left. I still have one of the originals left, he's the big dominant male now and that's just amazing how much he's been through. I still need to upgrade one fish but for the moment I am in a good place from where I started. I have 6 healthy fat fish and that's great!
Dem Milovanovic's current tank
Brian Root
My journey to goldfish is kind of a strange one. I started in aquariums around 2000 and jumped right into the reef world. Lots of ups and downs. After years of reef keeping, I am at my good friends house who has some fantastic award winning koi. After much appreciation for the Koi I took the plunge into that world. Learning about ponds and different filtrations.
Well this is the part where goldfish come into the equation. I was at a Koi show, yeah people "show" their fish, there was also a show going on for goldfish, I fell in love! I knew that, goldfish was my calling. I had a quarantine set up for koi I was planning on buying, instead I came home with 9 goldfish!
Now I am addicted, 3 years later and I am up to around 70... I have 7 container ponds, using different filtration methods. It is a lot of fun to grow and groom these fish we all love!
Well this is the part where goldfish come into the equation. I was at a Koi show, yeah people "show" their fish, there was also a show going on for goldfish, I fell in love! I knew that, goldfish was my calling. I had a quarantine set up for koi I was planning on buying, instead I came home with 9 goldfish!
Now I am addicted, 3 years later and I am up to around 70... I have 7 container ponds, using different filtration methods. It is a lot of fun to grow and groom these fish we all love!
Michelle Arnold Stb Thomas
My son goes to nursery where they have a tank with a fish in and he loved looking at the fish so we thought eventually we will get him some fish. One day my son fell out of his highchair which caused him to have concussion and a seizure and had to go to Birmingham children's hospital for tests but he was fine and next day he came home and as a present after all tests he went through we got him some fish. I had no clue their is so much to learn about fish and their requirements but I'm learning everyday!
Michelle's tank
Sasha Clement
I started out loosing my rabbit, Charlie. She died of a heart attack. My dad came to me one day and said when he was younger he had a goldfish. Named Joey. I bought a 19L tank not knowing anything about fish and bought two fantails. Cally and Pirate. Pirate died of swim bladder and Cally of water poisoning... I then got Bubbles. She was amazing, she died let's say of my inexperience. I then bought Clouds. He died shortly because I went on holiday and he got himself stuck in a shell. I wasn't there to help him... :'(. Then I got Joey! My baby today. I then bought her a bigger tank, a 48L tank and got her a friend, Scuby. He was my first telescope. He passed due to internal swimbladder issues. I then got Mint for Joey. They clearly liked each other. Mint following Joey everywhere. Then I got my Pepper. Mint died of dropsy. My inexperience didn't help. I then got Joey and Pepper a 64L tank. I then gained lots of knowledge at this point in time. Then I bought the 120L I have today with my babies Joey and Pepper still going strong. Joey is 4 years old this year, Pepper roughly 3. I rehomed Pepper so his age uncertain. Joey was a lucky girl. She was bought from Pets at Home. Joey is my baby and she always will be. This is where I am now with my angels.
Bonnie Erikson
when i started i didnt know what a cycle was or a nitrate.i had to learn all these names like nitrite/nitrate/ph/amonia.....prime it was like learning all about the internet all over again .but so worth it now ive got a 125 gal a 250 gal a 40 gal(when i got it i thought it was huge)and 4 outside ponds!!i thought a cycle bump was something you rode over on a bike lol
Justina Pagglioli
We knew we wanted fish for our toddler daughter but before stepping into PetSmart, we didn't know what type. We decided on fancy goldfish, they were large and slow enough for her to watch easily. Got home with 3 Orandas and a 29 gallon tank. That's when the issues started. Bottom sitting and floatiness in all 3.
I began reading and joining FB groups because I didn't want to explain death to my 2 year old yet. I gained knowledge and a huge attachment to all 3. Unfortunately, I lost one not too long ago due to a few unknown issues but the other two are doing great. I have a 90 gal tank waiting to be resealed and cleaned then to move both my boys over and hopefully add a few more. I'd like to have a few Ranchus and possibly another Oranda similar to the one I lost, Franklin.
I began reading and joining FB groups because I didn't want to explain death to my 2 year old yet. I gained knowledge and a huge attachment to all 3. Unfortunately, I lost one not too long ago due to a few unknown issues but the other two are doing great. I have a 90 gal tank waiting to be resealed and cleaned then to move both my boys over and hopefully add a few more. I'd like to have a few Ranchus and possibly another Oranda similar to the one I lost, Franklin.
Justina's adorable Franklin
Gee thee Goldfish
On July 11th of last year I was rescued. My 55 gallon home & I had been abandoned inside a hot office building. When my new patron found me, the two inches of putrid water left in my tank fell just below my dorsal fin. The conditions I endured before rescue left me very, very ill. I experienced the loss of multiple fins and my health was quite tenuous for a while. We Orandas are a shockingly resilient breed. And even though my patron's only fish keeping experience was a "revolving" guppy tank throughout her teens, she studies with feverish joy to give me the best of care. I would be happy for you to share or use my story... as it is one of love, hope and miracles - but NOT one of perfection. My recovery process has been documented with photos on my Facebook page.