My moonlight died = (

[cohazard]

After about 8 years, my moonlight gourami has died.

It was bought as a juvie by my cousin at a wal-mart, given to my uncle, then given to me (kept in some pretty bad conditions until I got it).

I've lost fish before, but this particular one has been around the longest. It was my oldest fish.

It was the only fish besides my marble angel, that ate from my hand (I actually think it taught my angel to eat from my fingers).

On a happy note though, I went to walmart to get some river stones for my tank since I recently changed from gravel to sand, and checked to see if they got a new shipment of aponogeton bulbs yet. I always look at their fish and feel bad then leave, never buy from there.

On a whim of nostalgia, I saw a small blue gourami that caught my eye... He was timid looking because there were two blue gouramis dueling for dominance in the small tank, and they were giving every other fish a hard time as well.

So I pointed him out and brought him home. For some reason, I decided to get some giant danios too. I've always wanted some but never really did, so I figured, if I'm going to sin and buy a fish from wal-mart, I may as well save 4 of the danios.

It's weird, the hobby has kind of been second nature lately... but I'm excited to grow this lil guy and give him a good home in my tank.

Anyways, guess I just needed to get this all off my chest... since I'm going to post this, what are your experiences with losing fish you've had for a long time?

I don't even want to think about the day I lose my blue dempsey or my clowns...

 

[Rbishop]

Sorry about your loss!

 

[anaerobe]

Hey SoCalSunset. I understand, and want to let you know you are not alone. I have lost two fish recently, and though I may not have had them for as long as you did, I loved them just the same.
One is an irreplacable danio, his name is Fatty. He is one of the first few fish that started this hobby for me, and as his name implies, he is fat. w/ his short fins he looks like a blimp. He is very lazy & very friendly @ the same time. At the moment I have no intention of buying a short finned danio because it just feels too soon. He was my favorite danio and the most adorable, and it took me a whole week to feel better, but I still miss him.
Another, is a gorgeous balloon molly I received this Valentine's. I've wanted a balloon molly for the past 8 months and when i first laid eyes on him when he was brought to me, it was like love@ first sight. He is bright orange with the most impressive, beautiful sailfin. A couple weeks later he just mysteriously dies, without any sign of sickness. ='(
It is hard losing a finned friend that you love. You can do whatever it needs to heal, I guess for you it is to find peace in another gourami and saved fish. I too, have acquired new fish to care for, including saving a fin-rotting guppy, and gave the guys a proper burial.