Please tell me I'm not a bad person.

[jwbryson1]

Drinking and posting...not a good combination generally but Hey, at least it's not Facebook, right?

I bought my 8 year old daughter a fish and a frog last weekend. The frog died this morning and the fish died tonight. I'm crying myself to sleep. :violin:

I feel like a slug...

 

[mishele]

Why did you kill them?

 

[cgipson1]

These things happen... sometimes can't be helped!

 

[jwbryson1]

Why did you kill them?

It wasn't volitional. I feel responsible, however, since I've only had them 1 week and they are now dead.

P.S. But thanks for the confirmation. :mrgreen:

 

[jwbryson1]

I think the water was not right for them and that killed them. Chlorine is the enemy.

 

[mishele]

They could of been sick when you got them.

 

[jhodges10]

Don't feel too bad, we bought three fish, all three were dead within 24 hours. Took a water sample to the pet store and they told us the water was fine. You never know what your getting when you buy fish/frogs from the store.

 

[Jaemie]

Pets die. When i was a kid, mine dropped dead at a awfully steep rate. It's the reason I don't have have pets now.

I suppose it's a good lesson for children, difficult as it might be to accept. You know, life and death and all that. I wouldn't beat myself up over it.

 

[jwbryson1]

They could of been sick when you got them.

I think the fish may have been sick. It's okay. She's doing okay. We are going back tomorrow to get our $ back and look at other fish. I'm just upset that they died.

 

[jwbryson1]

Pets die. When i was a kid, mine dropped dead at a awfully steep rate. It's the reason I don't have have pets now.

I suppose it's a good lesson for children, difficult as it might be to accept. You know, life and death and all that. I wouldn't beat myself up over it.

Thanks. Damn wine is getting to me. I appreciate the comments. :hugs:

 

[Jaemie]

If they are those 10 for $1 "feeder" goldfish, they are notoriously weak and sickly and suffer from poor genetics. I worked in a fish store for several years. It's generally recommended to isolate new fish in a separate aquarium for a week or two to ensure they aren't sick and don't contaminate your main tank. Of course, few people have a quarantine tank handy, so it's not always an option. Also, when you first bring the new fish home, after floating the bag for 20 minutes to equalize the temperature and reduce shock, gently scoop out the new fish and put it in the tank and toss all that fish store water down the drain. It often contains parasites and other pathogens. Most good fish stores have healthy fish guarantees and will refund or exchange within a reasonable time period.

 

[jwbryson1]

If they are those 10 for $1 "feeder" goldfish, they are notoriously weak and sickly and suffer from poor genetics. I worked in a fish store for several years. It's generally recommended to isolate new fish in a separate aquarium for a week or two to ensure they aren't sick and don't contaminate your main tank. Of course, few people have a quarantine tank handy, so it's not always an option. Also, when you first bring the new fish home, after floating the bag for 20 minutes to equalize the temperature and reduce shock, gently scoop out the new fish and put it in the tank and toss all that fish store water down the drain. It often contains parasites and other pathogens. Most good fish stores have healthy fish guarantees and will refund or exchange within a reasonable time period.

Thanks. This was a "strong" betta fish but he was not that strong. I will get my $ back and try again.

 

[Derrel]

YOU ARE a very,very bad man. Oh. NO. WAIT...I mean you are NOT a very,very bad man.

I hope you have a second bottle of wine at the ready!

 

[Tee]

If this is the worst of your problems, life ain't that bad.

 

[SCraig]

If you are going to try again, get some dechlorinator and some aquarium salt (I know, Bettas are freshwater). If you are keeping the Betta in a small cup (I personally HATE to see them confined to a small cup) watch the mix ratio. The dechlorinator I use is 1 drop per gallon of water so 1 drop in a cup of water would be far too much. Aquarium salt (NOT the same thing as iodized table salt but maybe close to "Sea Salt") is very, very good for all fish when used in moderation. I use one tablespoon per gallon for both my freshwater aquariums.

If you got a fish tank for them be aware that all tanks go through a "Nitrification Cycle" when they are new. Ammonia, which is very toxic to fish, is produced in fish tanks due to the decaying of feces, fish respiration, and other means. Over time a form of bacteria is produced in the tank that converts ammonia to nitrite and then to nitrate, both of which are less toxic to fish. The catch is that it takes time and during that cycle it is common for some fish to die. I strongly recommend that when starting a new fish tank that very tough and hardy fish are used initially because they are a high risk. It's also important to not overload the tank because it has no way to naturally control the ammonia and the more fish that are in the tank the more ammonia is present.

So, no, you are not a bad person. Just one going through "New Tank Syndrome" and not understanding the causes. I've been there and it's depressing but natural. I was very lucky in that the guys I bought my first tank from explained to me what to expect and how to monitor the situation and control it better.