Stupid Co-worker

[BobK]

I have a stupid coworker who keeps a goldfish in a 2.5 gallon mini-bow aquarium. She asks me for advice all the time and I just can't stand listening to her anymore. She asks for advice and then tells me how it is sooooo hard for her to change the water. I told her she can't keep a goldfish in anything smaller than a 10 gallon tank and even that is kind of small. Oh, but I don't have room for one. I barely have room for the 2.5 gallon. It came with a small filter but she "doesn't know how to use it". She lives 5 minutes from my house and I offered to set it up for her but "she won't know how to take care of it". Instead of doing PWC's she moves the fish to a bowl and "washes" the aquarium. At least she isn't using soap.

Just had to vent. She's driving me crazy and I feel bad for the poor fish. It's lasted a long time (4-5 months) so far in those horrible conditions but I'm waiting for it to die of ammonia poisoning from her washing out the tank.

Anybody have any similar stories?

 

[abe]

Sometimes you just can't get through to some poeple

My one friend has 3 goldfish in a 10 gallon, but at least she understands their requirements. She wants to get a larger aquarium, but can't afford one at the moment. Hopefully someday she will. I don't understand the whole goldfish craze; theyre pretty & all but very messy & need lots of space. She also really wants a parrot cichlid...

My other friend stopped by one day & said "awe you have bettas! You should keep them in those cute little vases" um, no... I like my fish to be able to move.

 

[smb7676]

People need to remember they are dealing with life. not a painting!!!
Something like 9 yrs ago I wanted to get one of those vase plant betta things but I jumped on the internet and found out that they are not not safe for the fish so I did research and ended up getting a REAL tank, and found that a betta wasn't a fit for me. It takes secs to look up info even less to kill a fish. Some People Suck there is no excuse for a lack of knowledge. Would you get a rabbit and keep it in your dresser ??
Sorry you have to deal with her.

 

[fishdudein]

Long, long ago in a far away place, when I was just a little boy, my mom got a "goldfish bowl" for us kids. The little "drum" type bowls. We filled the bottom with marbles, because we didn't have any gravel, filled it up with tap water and threw in the goldfish. I'm sure with 4 kids and no feeding schedule, the poor thing had food presented to it constantly. Once a week, Mom would clean the goldfish bowl (you could tell by the smell that it needed cleaning). This process involved taking the fish out of the bowl with a stainless steel slotted spoon (we didn't have a net either) and throwing it into a large mixing bowl filled with fresh tapwater. Then you dump everything out of the bowl, clean and dry off the marbles, scrub the inside of the fish bowl, refill and put the goldy back in his clean home. No filters, no dechlorinator, no pwc, not even aged water or acclimated to the new water!

Poor fish!

I also remember it was a big deal when we got some "seaweed" to add to the bowl (I realize now that it was anacharis). This is what the ladies who worked at the dime store called it. There were no fish stores.

 

[BobK]

Thanks guys. It's frustrating but I have to learn to tune it out. Hey fishdudein, I remember going to the "dime store" with my mom when I was a kid (20-25 years ago), Woolworth's, right? Anyway we were there at least once a week and I was always looking at the fish they kept there. Always loved the fish. Never had any dechlorinator back then but my dad always made me let the water sit at least 24 hours before putting in in the fish tank. I even had a power filter back then. Used it for years and years and never had a problem with it. We even made our own sponges for it. Ahh, the good old days . . .

 

[FoundMoney]

Does she have any other redeeming qualities? Maybe you should offer to go over to her house and help her with her tank. Who knows what might develop?

 

[BobK]

Oh I've offered, several times. She lives 5 minutes from me. She's always said maybe, I'll see. After a few times I just took that as a no. Oh well. I'd do it if she said yes. It wouldn't really be any trouble at all.

 

[Kittycat]

I guess the concept of goldfish in a fishbowl is so heavily programmed in our heads, a lot of people are surprised to even find out they can't live in one. Heck, sometimes I chance upon a kids' show on TV like sesame street and they have a goldfish in a fishbowl in the background. Maybe the fishes in those shows go back to big tanks after taping, but I think they shouldn't help propagate such misconceptions and irresponsible fish keeping on young kids.

 

[FoundMoney]

I guess the concept of goldfish in a fishbowl is so heavily programmed in our heads, a lot of people are surprised to even find out they can't live in one. Heck, sometimes I chance upon a kids' show on TV like sesame street and they have a goldfish in a fishbowl in the background. Maybe the fishes in those shows go back to big tanks after taping, but I think they shouldn't help propagate such misconceptions and irresponsible fish keeping on young kids.

Yes, that is Elmo's pet goldfish Dorothy and as you may or may not know Elmo is a very popular character. At least 25% of the show is dedicated to Elmo and Dorothy figures quite prominently in the segment. Perhaps we should contact Sesame Street and inform them that they are tacitly endorsing cruelty to animals and they should give Dorothy a bigger tank.

 

[sammydee]

Do I detect a hint of sarcasm there?

 

[OohFeeshy]

Hehehe contact them and see their response It won't get you anywhere but It'l be a laugh.
RE the debate, you can hardly open a kiddies book without a mention of a goldfish in a bowl. Once I emailed Hagen who make 'goldfish' tanks. I said you can't fit any goldies into my tank etc. etc, they said, oh, fancy goldfish only grow to 9cm,they'll be fine.

 

[FoundMoney]

Do I detect a hint of sarcasm there?

No, not really. Maybe my tone reflects the fact that I don't think they'll do anything about it.

 

[WILDER]

Poor thing hardly any room to swim, and all the waste from the goldfish will make it ill eventually.

 

[SailfinGirl]

Waaaay back when fish didn't need dechlorinators, filters, massive tanks etc, my family had goldfish in a bowl. My mum used to completely change their water once a week, and put the fish into a half full sink while she did so. The fish didn't immediately die, in fact they lasted for more than a year. Must have been doing SOMETHING right.

 

[FoundMoney]

We had a goldfish in a bowl, too. It lived for about 4 years. My mother used to change the water every week, as well. She would set aside the water overnight so that the chlorine would dissipate. Still, I don't think the fish was very happy.

I went to the Sesame Street site and wrote this:

I am writing in regards to Elmo's pet goldfish Dorothy. I am certain you are not aware of this but keeping a goldfish in a bowl, although a common sight, is a terrible thing to do to any fish. Goldfish can grow to be quite large and can live for many years. They deserve to live in something larger than a goldfish bowl. Do some research on goldfish and you will learn how to properly care for this animal.

I am a fishkeeper and a parent. I watch Elmo's World on Sesame Street every morning with my daughter. Luckily I know a little bit about fish so I can explain to my daughter that she should never keep a goldfish in a bowl. But what about all of the other well-meaning parents out there that think they're doing something nice for their child when they get he or she their very own Dorothy? What they are really doing is perpetrating more cruelty towards goldfish. I'm sure that is not your intention.

Please buy Dorothy a bigger tank.

I doubt they will respond but I'll let you know if they do.