Memories of a Geisha

[Little_Orca]

Today I found my new fish Geisha in the filter. She was still alive, as the filter is not strong enough to to damage to the fish, just hold them to it if they are not swimming (ie when they are sick or dead). I pulled her away from it and thought she was dead, but I saw her still breathing, so I put her in the hospital tank with some of the tank water she had been in and watched her.

She looked very thin, like she had been hiding and not eating. I had noticed she was hiding in her new tank, but she was also eating, since I did see her surface for food.

It was touch and go for about ten minutes before she stopped breathing. I watched her for a little longer before I knew she was gone. I looked at the shimmering body that had once enclosed the spirit of my fish had sunken eyes. Does this mean that she was not getting enough food? If so, I just feel horrible. I thought she was getting enough food when they were all fed.

Good Bye Geisha... I'll miss you, especially your tank buddy Sakura.

Edit: just to prevent any confusion, Sakura is fine, I'm just saying she'll miss Geisha since they were never more than a few inches apart.

 

[black angel]

Really sorry about your fish Geisha. How long had you had her? Sounds like a wasting disease, was she quarantined before you added her?

 

[Little_Orca]

I had her for over a week. I had her in the hospital/quarentine tank at first for a while and she looked healthy and was eating fine and passing waste without problems. When I introduced her to Sakura they paired up and were the best of fishie friends.

I always expect that the feeders and comets-as-feeders will be a little sicker than the other fishes at the store, so I keep them in their own little tank first and make sure they are fine and have no visable signs of illness. Sakura and my last feeder from years ago, Goldeen, were lucky I suppose in that neither of those girls were sick and they are living/have lived long lives.

I am guesas the wasting away disease does as it name inplies, it makes the fish very thin and sickly. I've not heard of that nor experienced it before. Where can I get mor information on it?

 

[black angel]

heres a good site for diseases
http/www.goldfishinfo.com/identify.htm