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One of our favorite past times (my wife and me) is to go garage sailing. We pulled up to one in a less-than-promising neighborhood and found a very nice 65 gallon aquarium setup for $75.00. This tank had everything from the lighting fixture to a very expensive filtration system. I offered $65.00 and I was the proud owner of the new home of Wonder.
Took it home set it up, having a great time just with the experience. I like to put things together and setting up a tank is like a puzzle, but you can put the pieces where you want.
Wonder's first day was miraculous. She swam back and forth in the tank, staying oriented right side up for most of the time.
She was dead within 24 hours.
I have other goldfish in that tank. I don't think it was the water or the setup or anything that I did wrong. I think she just died happy.
I would just assume keep it that way.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
We named her Wonder
I walked in and told the guy that the request was going to sound weird, but I wanted him to give me the sick fish. He immediately said yes and went to get a bag. He hem-hawed around about not seeing how distressed she was. I nodded and smiled for the time it took him to finish the job and then I took her home.
The hospital tank was a 10 gallon with two power filters, an air stone and no gravel. The first treatment was an antibiotic (yes, Virginia they have antibiotics for fish). After that treatment she was showing signs of parasites, so it was another 4 day treatment.
After that I concentrated on regular water changes and supplemental ammonia scrubbers and establishing a good bacterial filtration system. Since the tank was relatively small, I wanted water conditions to be as close to optimal as possible.
Wonder, the Rescue Fish spent most of her time upside down on the bottom of the tank. It seemed very difficult for her to right herself and get off the bottom, but she managed it.
Ancillary information; within two days of her coming home she started changing colors. Large black patches started growing across her body and continued till the day she died. At the last she was 50% black. She started as pure red. My research indicated that it was a sign of healing. I guess I will never know.
The hospital tank was a 10 gallon with two power filters, an air stone and no gravel. The first treatment was an antibiotic (yes, Virginia they have antibiotics for fish). After that treatment she was showing signs of parasites, so it was another 4 day treatment.
After that I concentrated on regular water changes and supplemental ammonia scrubbers and establishing a good bacterial filtration system. Since the tank was relatively small, I wanted water conditions to be as close to optimal as possible.
Wonder, the Rescue Fish spent most of her time upside down on the bottom of the tank. It seemed very difficult for her to right herself and get off the bottom, but she managed it.
Ancillary information; within two days of her coming home she started changing colors. Large black patches started growing across her body and continued till the day she died. At the last she was 50% black. She started as pure red. My research indicated that it was a sign of healing. I guess I will never know.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
A moment of silence
Wonder the Rescue Fish is dead.
This obsession started a couple of months ago when I was visiting a local Mom and Pop Aquarium shop. I needed some supplies for my goldfish tank and thought I would look around before I got what I needed.
That is when I saw Wonder.
She (my wife said she was definitely female) was upside down in a large tank that was filled with dead and dying goldfish. Some of the fish had been dead for days, considering their current state of decomposition. She would, from time to time, do nose spins trying to get off of the bottom of the tank.
I left.
When I got home, sitting in front of the TV, I couldn't stop thinking about her. She was a large Ryukin, gold in color, with most of her tail fins eaten off. Still, she had my heart. She had a look of nobility about her that I couldn't get away from.
I went back to the store.
This obsession started a couple of months ago when I was visiting a local Mom and Pop Aquarium shop. I needed some supplies for my goldfish tank and thought I would look around before I got what I needed.
That is when I saw Wonder.
She (my wife said she was definitely female) was upside down in a large tank that was filled with dead and dying goldfish. Some of the fish had been dead for days, considering their current state of decomposition. She would, from time to time, do nose spins trying to get off of the bottom of the tank.
I left.
When I got home, sitting in front of the TV, I couldn't stop thinking about her. She was a large Ryukin, gold in color, with most of her tail fins eaten off. Still, she had my heart. She had a look of nobility about her that I couldn't get away from.
I went back to the store.
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