not a good start to monday morning. i go on another forum, just a general chat type one with some of my mates. there's a girl i know fairly well from there i've not met her in person but spoken loads on the forum. she posted up on friday saying she'd got some goldfish as a first pet for her son. i just asked what size tank she'd got and if it had a filter on it, few other people chimed in saying along the lines of yeah i'm sure you need some equipment not to just stick them in a bowl. So I posted up a handful of links for her, just a bit of basic stuff, tank maintenance, cycling and a little bit on goldfish care. she just replied saying 'Thanks Alice, but I'm really not that bothered, it's just a couple of goldies for XXXX's first pet'.

hmmmmmmm surley someone who is supposedly my friend, who knows full well that I'm a bit of a fishy nut, will know that comment will wind me up something chronic.

I've given her a big old rant about ignorance being no excuse for cruelty, especially when someone offers you up the help and information you need.

really wound up, that is not the start i wanted to my monday morning

oh well Alice, save it for someone who cares,and if she ever does need your advice in the future,refer her back to that message

have a nice day ( bit late now i spose lol)
we appreciate you,even if she dosent

shelagh xxxxx

Sorry to hear that MW. That would really wind me up too.

Unfortunately, i think the whole problem stems from LFS's having far too relaxed an attitude to fish cruelty (ie. they'll sell you them regardless), which makes it really difficult to do anything about.

Many people all over the world abuse fish, and goldies especially because of the misaprehension that they are easy to keep and can just be thrown into a 2 gallon bowl.

All you can do is offer advice or offer to show her what to do. I don't think there is any laws in place which would enable us to do something about it. It's ridiculous, but i don't think there is.

Poor goldies, i hope they get on ok.

BTT

The thing is the majority of fish keepers are not into the hobby as much as we are. Like your friend she has only bought a couple of fish for her son people do not want to get as involved in the hobby as some people, I know its not right and that it does verge on cruelty but people wont listen is doesn’t matter how much you tell them the do not want to go out and spend £££££ on how they see it as a couple of goldfish where as someone like yourself who is into it as a hobby and not just a couple of fish as a pet sees it in a completely different view and will drop the cash on the proper equipment and give them the proper care they need. As I said we are only a small percentage of the fish keeping population where as alot will keep there fish well you will always have people that will view them as just fish and not give the proper care for these fish sad but true.

Thankyou Shelagh, that's a really nice thing to say


Aye I know, poor common goldfish is the most mistreated animal on this planet.


Sadly I'm well aware that the vast majority of people who keep fish do not love them as much as we do and don't take half as much care as we do. But it still amazes me how someone can take on a responsibility for another living animals life, and not have enough brain power to think 'oh I'll do a little bit of research, read a couple of links and make sure I'm giving this animal a good shot at life'.

Sadly I'm well aware that the vast majority of people who keep fish do not love them as much as we do and don't take half as much care as we do. But it still amazes me how someone can take on a responsibility for another living animals life, and not have enough brain power to think 'oh I'll do a little bit of research, read a couple of links and make sure I'm giving this animal a good shot at life'.

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I totally agree.

Thats the thing people wont do research if they already think that they know what they are doing. Even people who treat there fish with care believe that fish grow to the size of there tank and most people think that goldfish can live in bowls hense the name goldfish bowl the majoirty of us made the same mistakes when entering the hobby. But people wont go looking for info when they think they know how to look after a goldfish bescause hey its just a goldfish they dont take much to look after do they?

Oh I know Mark, sadly common sense is not all that common.


I just don't get it sometimes why people don't think that fish deserve the same care and attention as any other pet.


In this case though it's not even a case of going looking for info, she's been given the info she needs unprompted, all she's gotta do is read them.

I think the thing is now adays other people just dont want to look after anything, my brother wants a marine tank now he has seen mine but wants it to clean its self and he dont want to do any water changes nor does he want to wait out the time for the water to become good for fish.

gold fish still have feelings as the family dog, might not be as smart and get your paper but still knows pain!

Now you got me cheesed off

Eigdoog

just got an image of a goldfish swimming around with the paper in his mouth our society is built around instant gratification, this is why there's so much of a problem with people being in debt on credit cards and store cards and such like. people don't think they have to work/wait for anything anymore, you want something you go out and buy it and worry over the consequences later.

concerns me sometimes the way our society is heading.

well it seems my rant has shamed her into doing something about it. she's all off blaming the fish shop for giving her bad advice now. which i can understand cos most people think that they are the experts and yes fish shops should improve what their doing. I do always still think there should be a level of personal responsibility though.

anyway hopefully one way or another I'll get her to get these fish into a proper sized tank with a filter at the very least.

Well done you. To most people, sadly, they are "only fish".

I remember many years back I had a neighbor that kept their dog chained in the yard to the dog house day in and day out. I got a puppy and they seen me outside playing with it. About a week later I noticed their dog was gone, and then a few days later they had a new puppy chained to the dog house !

All sorts of pets are abused

The other day I was in the pet shop and a lady points at a bird "what's that?"
clerk says, "A sun Conure"
Lady looks at her strange and says "A Parrot?"
Good Grief