Some People...

[cuticom]

So theres this tank up on ebay that comes with "inhabitants" it's a good price and I can always use an extra tank, so I email the guy to ask what TYPE of fish they are, the reply I get is ones black, ones orange and ones multicolored. Their two inches long. No mention of the species, so I ask again, and he replied

"Hi, as these are pets, we didn't ask what they where we just bought them, to us they are just fish"

I still can't believe that reply, I'm guessing their goldfish, but theres no such thing as just fish, for god's sake, theirs so much variation with fish, from barely 1mm long to 5m, carnivores, herbivores etc, some cant live in warm water, some cant live in cold. Theres some really really odd people out there.

 

[tetraqueen]

So theres this tank up on ebay that comes with "inhabitants" it's a good price and I can always use an extra tank, so I email the guy to ask what TYPE of fish they are, the reply I get is ones black, ones orange and ones multicolored. Their two inches long. No mention of the species, so I ask again, and he replied

"Hi, as these are pets, we didn't ask what they where we just bought them, to us they are just fish"

I still can't believe that reply, I'm guessing their goldfish, but theres no such thing as just fish, for god's sake, theirs so much variation with fish, from barely 1mm long to 5m, carnivores, herbivores etc, some cant live in warm water, some cant live in cold. Theres some really really odd people out there.

This may seem so but I wanted a fish as a child and mum took me to the local pet shop bought me a bowl and there were only a select range of what we called goldfish to choose from. Some had markings , some were gold , some were more pretty than others.

Now I am older I realise you can get several different types and that stockist now have a vast range but in some remote areas ignorance was bliss I reckon one of the goldfish that grew too big for me was infact a small carp that went to the neighbour. I later got goldfish with no marking as my sister boyfriend then husband now said yeah yeah get her those then my pond will take them.

I am not that old and some people think as I did when I was nursing they were for pros and were difficult . I now feel that way about marine fish and all the mention if this and that make Nemo an impossible fish to keep.

I do not know a lot either about what I do do with fish and someone here says your whipping a dead horse. So very litttle hope for us that are not as clever. They could just as well be Plattys as Goldfish.

Why not enlighten us rather than making fun of us who may just be scared through sheltered upbringing. Those that have got intelligence either were taught or read it and I feel they are priveledged but their conceited attitude makes them divide a world that could all live happily together.

You may have lots to give passing on knowledge and I believe giving from the best is a gift, gloating etc just shows that ignorance is to be held with those that if have any knowledge at all should know better.
My pennies worth anyway.

 

[madgap]

Alot of people get into the hobby without having a clue.
Your e-bay guy is simply admitting that he done it all wrong and is doing the sensible thing.
Perhaps you could ask for a picture of the fish? Seeing as he doesn't know how to identify them.

 

[digdog]

I know what you mean Cuticom, i bought a tank off of a friends son. He knew what the plec was but didnt have a clue what the other 15 fish were. They quote *are the ones that the local fish shop sell*. Tetraqueen i am afraid i dont understand your reply at all!

 

[dwarfgourami]

In a way I understand what you're saying Tetraqueen, and when I was young it certainly was easier to live totally isolated from information. Then again, part of me wonders what would we make of someone who said I've got a cage full of rodents but I don't know what they are and I haven't bothered to find out. You'd expect somebody who was going to keep (or even sell) a hamster to find out what it is, what they need to eat, and whether they should be kept in groups or on their own. Surely not all guinea pig keepers are educated or privileged people- but few of us would see that as an excuse for not giving a guinea pig what it needs. Even very young children can be incredibly knowledgeable about the needs of their rats, so why not their fish?
The pet shop I was in yesterday had a sheet posted on the bearded dragons cage detailing the shopping list you would need for a bearded dragon. It was just assumed that if you were going to buy one of these lizards you would do what it took to look after it. Pity they didn't have something similar for the fish.
Admittedly this ebay person was selling the fish, so he was not planning to be responsible for them longterm, but he was responsible for finding them a good home, which would be more likely if they were identified. And he was selling on ebay, which seems to suggest internet access.

 

[cuticom]

My belief is, if your getting a pet your responsible for caring for it properly, for having at least a basic knowledge about it, which would include what SORT of animal it is. As DwarfGourami said, your expected to know what sort of animal your getting so you know how to care for it. Besides, if they bought the fish, surely they would take note of the name, even if it is just assorted goldfish? no offense but if someone can't even bother to know what sort of animal they have and what species specific care it needs, then they shouldn't be owning animals.
Finally got a pic of the guy, fish are a shubunkin, black moore and comet.

PS dwarfgourami, do you have piggers? LOl their my fave animal, I'm a pet/rescue person mainly, used to show but got sick of the attitudes the breeders had towards non breeders.

 

[jollysue]

I know multitudes of folk who are wonderful people and were brought up with a goldfish bowl pet. They now are bringing their children up the same. Most think I am over the top, and just "yes, yes!" me when I speak to the facts and needs of the little goldie or the facts of food safety or many other things that I think people could be more attentive to.

But in the long run, these are people who are better about many things that I am negligent of, and some of these things are more important than the care of goldies. You can scream at me now but the world does not hang in the balance on the care of aquarium fish.

I do agree in principle, however, that if one takes on a live creature to care for, they should be responsible about it. Nevertheless, many (more commonly men I might add) see animals as "only fish " or "just a dog", etc. They do not recognise them as cognitive creatures. "Put the new puppy on the porch, and yell at it when it whines," is not an uncommon approach to pet keeping.

On the other hand, if a person wants to be seen as a hobbyist, they will need to commit themselves to learning and practicing what they learn.

The "ain't it awful" approach to others is based more on an effort to make the complainer feel better about themselves than an effort to be truly righteous. IMO, it is generally self righteous and does more harm than good.

As hobbyists, we know that that is a poor aquarium combination--especially for the black moore.

 

[rich]

I wnet into my neighbours house the other day and there was a goldfish in a small tank in the kitchen. Their son had bought it spontaeously on the way home from college. There was nothing in the tank, just water which was almost like milk it was so cloudy. I offered to put it with ours until they got a tank set up, which they were going to ask him about. I wonder what % of goldfish end up the same?

I know my tank is too small for 2 goldfish, but at least the water is filtered, crystal clear and cleaned regularly. and they have a variety of food and live for years. Taking them back to the shop would probably mean them ending up somewhere much worse.

 

[tetraqueen]

I went to a local fish store and toyed with the idea as I do like the goldfish and thought about having the 30 Gallon with them. On here I was told I could have to fancy goldfish. In the shop all be it they will sell but they have approx 30 of them in half that tank size. I asked how big they eventually grow to the counter assistant who stated I d not know. (honest). She told a young guy to help me who I thought hey he's young but may know more. They get as big as my fist he says. What size of tank and I said about 30 Gallon he said well then about 60 as you would get two in a gallon bowl. However he says these are not like the ordinary Goldfish on the other side for them you need a pond. Have you a pond and I said no. If I were you I'd go for cichlids he said far nicer. Do you have a heater etc and I know his patter was starting to get me to buy lots. I then thanked him and moved on as that day I was not returning home and was looking at other bits for when my tank was ready.

I agree those who sell fish should know and as a buyer I now would ensure I know more and through past disasters I have learnt at a cost as to not buy Bala sharks. The extent to reading about these fish is not fully explanatory as there are lots of diseases or illnesses etc when very few if any fish are taken to the vets. On the other hand the system care for your child midwife before they are born, health visitor, preschool checks and all through life you are told by the media etc however some folks refuse to accept and obey all that advice so I suspect it’s the same some will go by the book and fret at every twist and turn. I was dragged up as the youngest of five but still go to university etc. Those that want to understand me do. My understanding of the hobby is very limited and all I really wanted to state is if it is said with good intent the message does get across. I think we need to advocate for the fish.

For some the goldfish is the first experience of family to care and love for a child. It can also be a child’s first experience of death and dealing with loss. When I trained as a nurse way back in the 80's we suggested a goldfish to a family with daughter who had Leukaemia for her sibling to experience that life could be temporary. It seemed logical to me then that the ward sister was intelligent enough to pass this on however my thoughts on this being logical today are different. Fun fair fish never last but then again are they expected too.