Anthropomorphising Goldfish
Doesn’t that sound like the title of a “literary” novel??
Well, this has nothing to do with writing except that it’s interrupting my concentration. We have a stream-like fountain and small pond in our yard. A landscape guy cleaned our filter and put in some new plants and suggested some goldfish would help balance the eco-system. He said the small kind you buy at Target would be fine.
I bought some at my local pet store. Do you know that goldfish only cost 8 for $1.00? What else can you buy for that kind of money? I did as I’d been told and floated the plastic bag in my pond for fifteen minutes to avoid a rapid water temperature change for the fishies. The first day, I could see them frolicking under the plants. They looked so happy to have all that algae and stuff to eat! Then yesterday I couldn’t see them, but there are a lot of lily pads, so I thought they might be under the pads. Today I found one belly up. I felt so bad. What did I do wrong? Then I saw another goldfish almost get sucked into the filter (this box-like thing with a net inside to catch leaves etc). Horrified, I lifted the top of the filter and. . . well, I feel terrible. I can’t reach the filter easily, so I don’t know how many were in there, but I got out three and they were long gone. I have a bad feeling there is only that one lone, very strong fish still in the pond. I don’t know why this is bothering me so much. John says that’s why they only cost 8 for a dollar. But I’m the sort of person who apologizes to the ants I kill in the house. (Yes, I eat meat. Don’t even go there. . . ).
I hope by the time I go to bed tonight I can get those pretty little sparkly fish out of my mind. Of course, now I’ve put them in your mind. Sorry about that.
Diane, I know how you feel. I lost almost a full tak of fish once because they got a disease and I didn’t know it. it happened shortly after I got fish and didn’t know a whole lot about them yet.
As for your pond, I thought you had to put Koi or only certain types of larger golfish in outdoor ponds. Also, you probably need a bigger fish that is stronger to meet the size of your pump. If you have a pet store that specializes in fish in your area, I would try talking to them or you can try a pond store and they should be able to help you pick something out. I’ve only had fish in tanks inside so I don’t know much about it.
I love fish though and encourage you to get some. They are fun to watch and very relaxing. it will help the ecosystem and they will eat the algea and keep your pond & stream looking nice. That is something I’ve always wanted, but never had the space or the money.
Cheryl
Thanks Cheryl. I was going to give up on the fish, but maybe I’ll talk to the company that installed my pond and see what they recommend. I know it would help keep the algae in check. Both the landscaper and the pet store guy said the goldfish would be all right, but I just don’t think they were strong enough to fight that filter. 🙁
Sounds like something I would do. I am a vegetarian and have been for 15 years, but I see nothing wrong with others eating meat…but the poor goldfish…alas…through the years we “overfed” many and found them floating…I felt terrible.
By the way, I asked my son why I didn’t know about SOPRANOS–he told me that show is on HBO–I don’t have HBO–he doesn’t even do cable-he does not watch television–but he does rent movies and buys DVD’s…and he has some of the Sopranos…Our cable where we live is the biggest utility bill we have and even with no HBO…
D. On the house channel, I have seen people put small fish in their little ponds, so there must be an answer to your problem…good luck.
brenda, I never had HBO either until John and I set up house together. He couldn’t live without it and now, neither could I. but the HBO/cable bill is a monster, that’s for sure. Still, when we look at our budget and try to figure out where to cut back, we don’t even consider cutting HBO. Another HBO series, which recently ended and which you might enjoy on DVD, is Rome. Fantastic!
The goldfish you got sounds like what mine would eat for lunch only here they are almost 10 for $1.
Generally Koi are what goes in ponds, atleast around here that’s what people use, and my pond food is for Koi (I got a new position at work I love dearly). If i lived closer I’d give you the big goldfish in my tank that my fish never ate. He’s about 4-5 inches long.
I tried watching the Sopranos when A&E started to show it but couldn’t get into it. Cable is included with rent where I live otherwise I wouldn’t have it. So now I sit and watch the tv guide channel when I need noise. Weird huh.
I think you’re right, Krysia. The little goldfish were just too tiny, although they’d be recommended to me. I don’t know if my pond is big enough for Koi. When I finish my book, I’ll contact the installers of the pond and see what they recommend. I guess I feel a little less terrible about the deaths of my goldfish now that I read you FED them to your fish!
Congratulations on your new position at work! You go, girl!
Just trying a test post as WordPress seems to be blocking me as a spammer right now! LOL I wanted to post a “fish story” but it won’t let me so far.
Crossing fingers…
Yay! It worked! So…
Hehe….this made me laugh and cringe all at the same time! My daughter asked the other day if we could fish sit for a friend for a few weeks. I asked if the bowl had a top and she said no. I told her we could watch it only under the condition that the friend knows there’s a cat in the house and we will do our very best. 🙂
Then…
My ex gave me a fish for my birthday when I was in college. I couldn’t very well turn it down, but I was terrified of it! Not only was I afraid Fred would jump out of his bowl on the shelf above my bed and land on my head during the night, but I couldn’t stomach catching him in the net to clean out the bowl. The little wiggling feeling made me squeamish! Thus, the bowl didn’t get cleaned very often, and the little blue guy was belly up long before his time. I felt terrible the day I walked through my dorm door and saw something floating belly up across the room. I yelled for a friend down the hall to check Fred’s status, and then asked her to flush him for me. It was a sad day. I didn’t really mean to be a fish murderer either.
Ah, Julie, now I have something to hold over you. Poor Fred. You might want to share your story with your daughter’s friend before she brings her fish over.;)