Returned From Hols And Goldfish Dead!

[sallyann]

Just got back from my hols yesterday to find my goldfish dead, some of you might have been following my thread in the past, everything in the tank was fine, filter working, no ammonia, ph ok, I have been away 2 weeks, my son just a week , he changed the water before he came out, he has done it loads of times, added dechlorinator, etc. My neighbour was feeding one flake every 2 days, turned tank light out, she checked on him on Thursday teatime and gave him one flake of food, then on Friday teatime he was dead, still in tank when I got home, could not see any signs of illness, a little red round one eye socket, but he had been dead for 2 days. She did say his tail was bent up when he died, but before that he was swimming around, coming up for food. I think he was probably old, I have had him for 8 years and he has survived high ammonia, filter rinsed out every week, complete water change, all the wrong things, so when his tank mate died, I came on the forum and learnt how to do everything right, got him a new bigger tank and filter, then he goes and dies!! I still have all the gear, and am going to have a rest from fish keeping for the moment. My family all think that I should have left him in a small tank and continued doing what I had for 8 years, but i know this was cruel. I have no idea why he died, but maybe all the mistakes I did caught up with him.
What is the best way to steralize all the equipment tank and filter casing? it is a bit smelly, and I want to store it clean if poss.
Many thanks to all who helped me on the board too, I might be back one day.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

Oh Sallyanne, I'm sorry to hear that.

You did everything you could, after everything he went through I think 8 years is a reasonable age, he had most likley sustained some damage from ammonia poisoning and when they get that there's nothing at all you can do for them.

But you can at least be comfortable in the knowledge that you did everything you could for him and his last few months were at least comfortable.

To sterilise equipment wash it all in a weak bleach solution, you know the cheap thin bleach you get with no fragrances or anything like that, mix it up 20 parts water to 1 part bleach, soak and scrub everything in that then rinse it all thoroughly.

I hope you do come back one day, if you ever decide you want to keep fish again you know we'll all help you out to get things set up right the first time and hopefully avoid all the hassle.

 

[sallyann]

Oh Sallyanne, I'm sorry to hear that.

You did everything you could, after everything he went through I think 8 years is a reasonable age, he had most likley sustained some damage from ammonia poisoning and when they get that there's nothing at all you can do for them.

But you can at least be comfortable in the knowledge that you did everything you could for him and his last few months were at least comfortable.

To sterilise equipment wash it all in a weak bleach solution, you know the cheap thin bleach you get with no fragrances or anything like that, mix it up 20 parts water to 1 part bleach, soak and scrub everything in that then rinse it all thoroughly.

I hope you do come back one day, if you ever decide you want to keep fish again you know we'll all help you out to get things set up right the first time and hopefully avoid all the hassle.

Thanks miss wiggle
I have sent you a PM, but will reply here too.
I must admit I could not believe he died really last night, but am feeling better today, it is sad putting the tank away, but i will get back to it, shame to waste my newfound knowledge, felt a bit better when I picked my cat up from the cattery this morning, till she was car sick everywhere , then did a poo, all in the cat carrier, poor cat, silly cattery had fed her before she travelled! Never had a problem before, it is an excellent cattery too. So now got to disinfect that too, had to drive with windows open
Once again a big Thank you for all your help

 

[Miss Wiggle]

oh dear! bloomin cats...... had ours in the vets this weekend for their boosters, one of them was being a right little madam and I couldn't catch her to get her in the carrier, was chasing her round the front room and accidentally knocked over and broke a vase that Ian had got me when we were first going out.

wouldn't be without them though even when they're being a pest.