Some of you may have already heard this story, but bears repeating for what I have to get off my chest.
My Father started an outdoor pond more than 4 years ago, and for the first few years it was a nice little project he took care of. Now that his job and other things have taken front seat in his mind, this pond and it's fish have suffered for it. It started with not having an effecient pump or filter, then little or no water changes, after that, the addition of apple snails which I told him would eat every plant in the pond. They did eat all the water plants, then they reproduced so much that now there are probably tons in there.
Surrounding plant material continuosly falls in there and the snails eat that also, while deteriorating the water quality further.
Last year, I tried to make a big deal about it to maybe get the pond fixed up a little, but my efforts fell victim to oldschool ignorance. For the longest time, I tried to think of how to get the fish out so I could euthanize them all, because they all either have ulcers, bumps, or are no doupt loaded with parasites. But I didn't have any way of getting them out of there without tainting my own fish net with their parasites. Then I was told to completely leave them alone because they were his fish, so I did with the pain of knowing they were suffering. I'm a lover of all living things, I even feel bad when I hurt a spider or moth.
For the longest time, I just avoided looking at the pond at all. I guess at one point, I must've assumed they'd died from the conditions. But I came home today after taking my dog for a walk and we were playing outside, when I looked over at it and saw one goldfish that I'd seen in bad condition before.
The ulcer on the end of it's tail was huge, it's gills were red and disdended, breathing slow, barely moving. At first, I walked away in disgust. I knew I couldn't leave it like that. No living thing deserves to live like that.
Although I didn't like the method, I used the only thing I could find in the yard, a shovel. In the fashion of a spear, I thrust it forward into the fish, nearly cutting it in half. Then, I thrust down on its head.
I tried afterward to get the body out of there so I could at least dispose of it before it started to fester. While I was trying to do that, I notice other fish in there still alive. I left the fish in there, and I just got out. I know I'm probably going to end up having to do the same to the others.
I don't think any lfs would take them after the conditions they've been in at this point. Someone on this forum already told be that euthanizing all of them would be for the best after what they've been in. I can't even imagine how sick they must be. Their immune systems must be supressed unbelievably. The creul thing is that the very hardiness that makes them good pets is exactly what allowed them to last this long.
I wish there was a way I could get a heron to come and eat them, but I don't think they'd eat diseased fish. I wouldn't want to make the bird sick either.
As for the many snails, what do I do with them? I know they probably harbor parasites at this point too, I don't even know if there's a way to disenffect them. If there's some hope for them, then they'll go to an lfs.
I just hate having to do somehing like that, but I can't stand to see them like that. They didn't ask for this. I just had to vent all of it.~Angela
My Father started an outdoor pond more than 4 years ago, and for the first few years it was a nice little project he took care of. Now that his job and other things have taken front seat in his mind, this pond and it's fish have suffered for it. It started with not having an effecient pump or filter, then little or no water changes, after that, the addition of apple snails which I told him would eat every plant in the pond. They did eat all the water plants, then they reproduced so much that now there are probably tons in there.
Surrounding plant material continuosly falls in there and the snails eat that also, while deteriorating the water quality further.
Last year, I tried to make a big deal about it to maybe get the pond fixed up a little, but my efforts fell victim to oldschool ignorance. For the longest time, I tried to think of how to get the fish out so I could euthanize them all, because they all either have ulcers, bumps, or are no doupt loaded with parasites. But I didn't have any way of getting them out of there without tainting my own fish net with their parasites. Then I was told to completely leave them alone because they were his fish, so I did with the pain of knowing they were suffering. I'm a lover of all living things, I even feel bad when I hurt a spider or moth.
For the longest time, I just avoided looking at the pond at all. I guess at one point, I must've assumed they'd died from the conditions. But I came home today after taking my dog for a walk and we were playing outside, when I looked over at it and saw one goldfish that I'd seen in bad condition before.
The ulcer on the end of it's tail was huge, it's gills were red and disdended, breathing slow, barely moving. At first, I walked away in disgust. I knew I couldn't leave it like that. No living thing deserves to live like that.
Although I didn't like the method, I used the only thing I could find in the yard, a shovel. In the fashion of a spear, I thrust it forward into the fish, nearly cutting it in half. Then, I thrust down on its head.
I tried afterward to get the body out of there so I could at least dispose of it before it started to fester. While I was trying to do that, I notice other fish in there still alive. I left the fish in there, and I just got out. I know I'm probably going to end up having to do the same to the others.
I don't think any lfs would take them after the conditions they've been in at this point. Someone on this forum already told be that euthanizing all of them would be for the best after what they've been in. I can't even imagine how sick they must be. Their immune systems must be supressed unbelievably. The creul thing is that the very hardiness that makes them good pets is exactly what allowed them to last this long.
I wish there was a way I could get a heron to come and eat them, but I don't think they'd eat diseased fish. I wouldn't want to make the bird sick either.
As for the many snails, what do I do with them? I know they probably harbor parasites at this point too, I don't even know if there's a way to disenffect them. If there's some hope for them, then they'll go to an lfs.
I just hate having to do somehing like that, but I can't stand to see them like that. They didn't ask for this. I just had to vent all of it.~Angela
