CaseyCip22
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
OK folks, here goes. I haven't had a goldfish since I was maybe 7, and even then I remember them only living a couple of years. But here's my story:
Day 1: Saturday night I went to a cheesy church fair and I won a goldfish playing that throw the ball in the bowl game. I brought him home, and put him in the biggest thing I had (a big wine glass) with his same water for the night. Named him Spot Conlon (Newsies reference) Night one, a-ok.
Day 2: Sunday, he hung out in the wine glass all day and went to Petco and bought him a 5 gallon tank with a filter, a plastic plant, some red gravel, and a spongy rock. Oh, and a small goldfish friend, whom I named Teddy Roosevelt. I set the tank up about 9pm. Filled up with water, put in the water conditioner (though I put in the whole packet, which was meant for a 10 gallon tank, so too much?). Then I put both Spot and Teddy back in their bags and did the whole bag/water/temperature transfer thing. They were fine all night until about midnight, when I noticed them both huddled together and kind of sitting on the bottom of the tank. They moved when I turned the light off, then...
Day 3: Monday. Today they fluctuated between swimming and a smaller amount of huddling at the bottom of the tanks. Then, about an hour ago, Spot seemed dead. Not moving, not breathing, not moving his fins at all. H wasn't floating on the top, but he didn't move when I went after him with my net. So, he's dead.
What did I do wrong? Was he just a crappy, carnival fish who never had a chance? Will Teddy do better because he's a pet store fish? I spent like $90 on a tank and all the stuff, so if Teddy goes too I'd still like to keep a fish or two. Maybe some other kind, who knows. But if Teddy lives, maybe I'll get him another goldy friend. Any thoughts?
UPDATE, it's 11:45pm here in NYC and Teddy Roosevelt isn't looking to great. He is still breathing, but he's floating around on the bottom and he doesn't swim (just floats) when I shimmy the plant.
Day 1: Saturday night I went to a cheesy church fair and I won a goldfish playing that throw the ball in the bowl game. I brought him home, and put him in the biggest thing I had (a big wine glass) with his same water for the night. Named him Spot Conlon (Newsies reference) Night one, a-ok.
Day 2: Sunday, he hung out in the wine glass all day and went to Petco and bought him a 5 gallon tank with a filter, a plastic plant, some red gravel, and a spongy rock. Oh, and a small goldfish friend, whom I named Teddy Roosevelt. I set the tank up about 9pm. Filled up with water, put in the water conditioner (though I put in the whole packet, which was meant for a 10 gallon tank, so too much?). Then I put both Spot and Teddy back in their bags and did the whole bag/water/temperature transfer thing. They were fine all night until about midnight, when I noticed them both huddled together and kind of sitting on the bottom of the tank. They moved when I turned the light off, then...
Day 3: Monday. Today they fluctuated between swimming and a smaller amount of huddling at the bottom of the tanks. Then, about an hour ago, Spot seemed dead. Not moving, not breathing, not moving his fins at all. H wasn't floating on the top, but he didn't move when I went after him with my net. So, he's dead.
What did I do wrong? Was he just a crappy, carnival fish who never had a chance? Will Teddy do better because he's a pet store fish? I spent like $90 on a tank and all the stuff, so if Teddy goes too I'd still like to keep a fish or two. Maybe some other kind, who knows. But if Teddy lives, maybe I'll get him another goldy friend. Any thoughts?
UPDATE, it's 11:45pm here in NYC and Teddy Roosevelt isn't looking to great. He is still breathing, but he's floating around on the bottom and he doesn't swim (just floats) when I shimmy the plant.
