RIP: My shubunkin goldfish

[Blazer]

It seems like yesterday but it was at least four years ago that I got myself a fishtank and two tiny Shubunkin goldfish to occupy it. Those two grew so large that I had to buy myself a larger fishtank for them to live in, just a year ago one of the two died and the other one stayed alone in that aquarium for a while until I decided to give him some new friends by buying a couple of tiny little goldfish (the picture was taken on the day I bought the little ones).

The shubunkin seemed to be happy with the companionship as they schooled together all the time.

But just now I noticed the poor big guy floating on the surface of the water, I gave him a little tap to see if there was any life left in him but he didn't respond. Mind you his eyes weren't fogged over yet so he died only moments before I found him. So I took him out of the tank and brought him away.

Now I'm watching the other fish in my fishtank but it's strange to see the old guy not there anymore.

[Din Of Win]

Sorry for your loss


My first 'real' job was working in the fish section of a PetSmart. I've seen the attachment people have to their fish, and it's as real as any to a cat or dog. Because of their life-span, gold fish in peticular are easy to get attached to.

A well done gold fish tank is a suuuuuuuper classy set-up, and way easier to manage than a salt water set up, or even a fresh water setup with fragile tropical species (lookin' at you Cichlids).

[Kipaste]

Sorry to hear about your fish.

One thing I'd do, especially now since you have several goldfish, is keep a keen eye on water parameters. Goldfish are messy and produce a lot of waste and keeping the nitrates below let's say 10 mg/l requires some work. But it's worth it as goldfish can live well over 20 years.

[Barkless Dog]

We learned to never name or get too attached to a fish