HELP! Got a goldfish as a kiddie birthday party favor!

Blinky I think that's an excellent suggestion. You're right, it's not so easy to take a child's pet away. As my husband said, if we bring them back to Petco, someone else is just going to do the same thing with them.

My kids are already fish lovers thanks to our existing aquariums but this goldfish could be special because it's their own fish. My older guy already named him "Minnie". He was watching when I was transfering it from the bowl to the vase and questioned it. I told him Minnie was too big for the bowl. I just told him a few minutes ago that Minnie will have to be moved again to an even bigger home.

Thanks again for the great advice!
 
Originally posted by Finaddictfred
I knew that my responce was not going to be taken well. But I had to say it as Im sure nobody else was going to voice thier opinon on how bad of an idea it was. I do hope the fish does well..as do I hope that every fish that was givin away has a happy life..but..I'm a realist and know better. It may just be a feeder gold fish but thats not the point
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Normally Finaddictfred, someone at the forums (or most of us) would say something to that affect, although not so harshly. But--- this lady got the fish by surprise, and was therefore either forced to flush it, refuse it, or try and give it a better home. The fish will not be stunted in the bowl for a day or two if it has clean water and some food.

This is not a permanent solution, and Teapea knows this. Why are you so mean to her??
 
finaddictfred has some issues......like teapea said you cant just stage a protest and take them from all the party go-ers, last i remember this forum is for help not to be so negative, you could have just as eaisly said that was a dumb idea but let me give you some advice on what to do, rather than that you just look like an idiot yourself to everyone who views this thread....if you dont want to help people then why are you here????

get a clue...and i think this is the seccond time i have had to say that to you.....and lets not make this one a fight...;)

Yes put that comet goldfish into a 10g or bigger so he is comfortable, I usually house my comet's in a 10g, 10-15 at a time, though they are feeders, so three go bye bye every other day....and i do have a filter made for a 55g tank on there so usually it takes a week for my nitrates to get 25ppm+.

Hope everything goes well with your new fishy!
 
Unless you can get a 30g tank for it, you'll need to take it back. I don't think it's a good idea to keep it, even in a 10g "temporarily" (partly just judging from its size) unless you are 100% positive that you will be getting at least a 29g in the immediate future. I think we all know what happens to fish whose owners say "I'm going to be getting a bigger tank soon, I think." Might as well set up the 10g though, until you can figure out what you're going to do...that vase is too small for even a betta, let alone a goldfish:(

Goldfish need space. They're messy. They live a LONG time. I can bet that, unless someone helps the other relatives figure out how much of a responsibility they are to keep correctly and humanely (or better yet, probably, to return - since none of them have any apparent interest in the aquatic hobby), that the majority of them will die soon. And it won't be a quick "I got turned into sushi for an oscar" type deal. It will be a slow death of either disease or ammonia/nitrite/nitrate poisoning.


If your child is heckbent on keeping a fish (though, I think this would be a great opportunity to teach a lesson about fore-thought and responsibility), why not suggest going to the fish store and letting them pick out a fish (like a betta) or a small community of little tetras for that 10g you've got. It would be much more fun to watch than a single goldfish in the first place, would be an appropriate sized, manageable home, and they could pick out several fish that they like.

As for what your husband said - if everyone had that attitude, the hobby would be in a heck of a lot more trouble! Not only would that be perpetuating the cycle because "other people will do it anyway"...it's not completley true. Those fish are often used for feeders (quick death, part of life cycle) or many people actually keep them responsibly in their goldfish tank and ponds.
 
You know I've noticed quite often with this board...there seems to be two distinct types of personalities here. Those who enjoy the hobby and try their best to be as responsible as possible within reason, and those who are fishkeeping zealots, who take the hobby almost like a new religion or something.

Look, I appreciate the advice, (after all, I DID ask for advice), but I'm sorry, it is not practical nor reasonable for me to purchase another 30G or larger tank for a freaking feeder fish I received as a party favor! For goodness sakes I think I'm going out on a limb setting up a 10G for it.

Leopardess, my kids are too young to understand forethought and responsibility lessons, and FTR they aren't"heckbent" on keeping fish. They are 2 and 3 years old. We already have 2 aquariums and Betta fish and this party favor was special because it was "their own". But thanks just the same for the parenting advice. ;) It was a terrible idea on my sister's part but I can't control what other people do. And by the way, the vase I have my Betta fish in is plenty big.

For those who are interested, I spent a good part of the afternoon setting up the 10G I had in my basement. My older son helped me place the plastic plants and rocks as I explained to him this was to be Minnie's new home. We took a trip to the LFS to get some more gravel and filter packs. I let him choose the gravel and he picked Hot Pink because I told him it would glow in the blacklight! Some of the plants I had were glow in the dark as well. He's very excited. I have it running in the basement now, Minnie will go in when the water temp is stable. Hopefully he'll make it.

Thanks again for the advice everyone, even those I don't necessarily agree with. I know you're just trying to help, just wanted to point out that there are different schools of thought out there.
 
You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink it.

At least you got the 10gallon set up all nice for him. That's tons better than the vase. That goldfish is probably the luckiest of the batch.

Good luck.
 
Watcher, yes I agree that bringing them all back to the pet store was most likely the best thing to do, but under the circumstances it's impossible. I do not have the time to contact 12 families, several of whom I have no idea how to contact, and offer to pick up their goldfish and then somehow get them all back to Petco. It's noble but I guess I'm not as noble of a fish owner as you ;) I don't mean that in a bad way either. It just isn't practical or reasonable for me to do that.
 
I understand. I do commend you on everything you have done and understand the predicament.

Many, many years ago I had two golfball sized goldfish in maybe a 2 gallon bowl with a bubbler. I didn't know anything about keeping fish and all I remember is how the algae was out of control in the bowl.

I can't even remember what happened to them. Thank God for the internet, it's changed everything for me.
 
I realize you're trying to be somewhat accomodating, but above all else, the best interest of the living being must be accomodated. It is your pet and therefore your responsibility to take care of it fully and adequately, of course. Otherwise, a person has no business in keeping an animal in sub-par care.

As far as the parenting advice - it wasn't. It was a suggestion. It would alleviate you of the goldfish situation and allow you and the kids to pick out their own (suitable) pet:rolleyes:

As far as different schools of thought - yes, there are certain ways of doing things. But basics are basics. There are certain things that just shouldnt' be messed with. You would never get a mastiff puppy if you planned on keeping it in a bathroom, right? Same with a fish. Sure, it'll probably live, but quality of life takes precedence over anyone's desire to have the creature, or watch the creature. I might want to spend all day with my kids and have them at home with me, but I wouldn't deprive them of going to school - because that is in their best interest.

You asked what to do, yet it seems like you knew exactly what you were going to do from the start. I dont' think you will find any reputable places out there that would say a 10g is adequate for that fish species...I'm sorry, but it's true.

And there's no need to be snippy about it. I was just trying to help and took a while to type all that out. Apparently you don't "agree" with me...but if you don't agree that the fish's best interest comes first, which is all I am getting at, then...I dunno. It's such a basic thing.

EDIT: I'm not even talking about the other families. I'm talking about you and what you have the ability to do.
I realize you have good intentions, and I don't doubt that, but they only take you so far.
 
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Thanks Watcher for your honesty.

Leopardess, first of all, I don't like comparing what I'd do with a pet fish to to what I'd do with my kids. They aren't comparable IMO. Secondly, I have to be completely honest and say you are coming across as quite pious and judgemental. It is my opinion that keeping ANY fish in an aquarium regardless of how well you accomodate them, is altering the way that fish was put on this earth to live. To put it simply, fish were not meant to live in an aquarium. So even the most "ideal" accomodations are still stressfull for aquarium fish. So please don't try to suggest that the way you care for your fish is the most humane, selfless, in the best interest of the fish thing to do. Because the reality is the truly BEST way for that fish to live is in its natural environment.

No, actually, I really DIDN'T know how I was going to handle this. Why would I bother posting if I did? I had a feeling I would catch some flak about this topic (knowing about the afore mentioned schools of thought) but really, I was surprised just how harshly some people can judge. Luckily *most* people here are reasonable and open-minded.
 
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