I found that out already and will be getting a bigger tank. That's why I'm pissed at the sales person. I told him what size tank I had and he sold me the fish anyway. He knew to tell me I needed heat and air but not a bigger tank.

Truth be told, this is why I always do my research before buying now. Especially if it's a fish I know nothing about. Unless it's a common tetra or a goldfish I look into what I'm thinking about getting first. 6-8 inches isn't that bad though. Not compared my 12 inch Oscar. Kind of wish I could have put him in a 30-50 gallon tank instead of the ten I had him in.

Salespeople are well known for selling people stuff they really shouldnt have, especially in the fish department. They dont care as long as they have made the sale.

6-8 inches is very bad when its in a 5.5gal tank. An oscar in a 10gal is also definately bad.

Doesnt matter what type of fish it is, wether its a goldfish, tetra or other, research is best, dont believe all stuff you are told especially by fish salespeople *L*

Common goldies are treated badly by most people, it annoys me when people think they are expendable. They are a very fast growing fish, growing to huge proportions in a year or less (under optimal conditions) & they can live for 20yrs. They are the most abused fish out there in my opinion. Crammed into small bowls or tank, under the false belief that they only grow to fit their housing. Sadly they dont grow, this is true, but in doing so it vastly shortens their lifespan, by stunting thier growth. It is a cruel practise.

Sorry soapbox there

Soda ~ great to see that you are looking at upgrading your parrots tank size, well done...would love to see pics :)

I would have put my Oscar in a bigger tank, but my mom wouldn't let me since all the tetras and smaller tropical fish were in the 30 gallon......She didn't like the idea of my big fish eating her little ones.

I agree goldfish are pretty well abused except the fancier ones, but to be honest at literally only 15 cents for one.......they make cheap learning pets. I know it's cruel, but that's their designated by people lot in life. Not a lot, but their life.

Yeah, this myth persists about a lot of animals, not just gold fish. The only reason *any* animals only "grows to fit its environment" is that the animal dies rpematurely from crappy care.

Sorry Lord Snow, if that was the case, the oscar should have been rehomed, not made to fit your lifestyle! If you can't upgrade when the fish needs it, you should not have it. Plain and simple.

I dont care how much a fish costs, using another animals life to 'learn' with is totally unacceptable. There is absolutely no excuse for this to happen, their is plenty of ways to get informed.

gekko ~ sadly you are right

Sorry guys but this is just something i feel strongly about.

I believe I mentioned that I made the same mistake that Soda did in that I purchased before research. We were looking for a tank suitable for the size of him, but never got the chance. We even checked with fish stores in the local area and none would take him. Said he was to big for them to keep or try to sell.

I wasn't condoning what happens with goldfish, I was just stating that that's what people use them for. Me personally, I only used them to feed my Oscar.

There are other options for fish than the lfs. I've put ads in my local paper, ads on the local notice boards, the internet...given them away if i have to. Never ever failed to find homes for pets that for whatever reason i have had to rehome....just a thought for anyone else that may get caught by their untruthful lfs

You never got a chance to get him a bigger tank? Whys that? Did it die?

Goldies aren't good feeders actually. They can cause problems for the fish at a later date. Not exactly sure what happens, but i know on another forum i'm on, they highly recommend they are not used as a regular feed.

A good pellet and proper cichlid frozen food is far better

Not purposefully but my pond ones oft ended up as owl food :(

I didn't feed him solely goldfish. I gave him pellets as a main diet and 5 goldfish once a month. Yes he died. One of the cats got on top of the tank, broke the lid and did enough damage to my fish that he died.

I have more of a problem with "giving away" a pet. people only value something at or below what they paid for them. if it's free it's completely expendable. I also do not like the idea of feeding an aggressive predatory fish like the aforementioned on a pelleted or frozen diet. My dogs get fresh raw meaty bones from time to time in addition to their diet, they also have been known to hunt their own small game when the notion strikes, as do the outdoor cats, my indoor cat gets raw as a rare treat as he like to eat it on the bed and doesn't like to eat in a dog crate lol. I also enjoy steaks ~ rare~ and sushi.

It is the cows lot in life, I know my beef, not talking about you love, on a first name basis. I raise, hand feed, call the slaughter house and have Don come pick up "hamburger" "porter" "roast" "t-bone" or who ever is munching in the catch pen and then after a few days I go pick him up in a lot of hard frozen paper wrapped bricks detailing the particular cut of the contents. The cows come when called and LordSnow and Marlboro have both had a laugh at my expense to see me stand at the pasture fence with a watermelon rind calling "Hey baby, come on baby!" and have 6 cows come galloping to me.

As for the people selling the fish, if these companies took more care in educating their employees and parents took more responsibility in educating themselves and their children before buying little Johnny a living breathing individual so that (s)he will have something else to bug besides mommy. I worked at a pet store, for a large chain.... I was a groomer but I took their "animal specialist" courses..... it was a joke you got a 30 page pamphlet on each division and took a 5 question test on each. I wasn't on the floor much in the fish or reptile/amphibian section because I refused sales to some customers because they obviously couldn't take care of these animals. People feel that if they can afford to buy it they are entitled to it. I was at a competitors store when I watched a MANAGER chase a customer down in the parking lot that had just purchased a semi- aquatic frog and told the man "BTW it does NOT need oxygen." then turn and walk back in looking like he just laid a golden egg.

The burden of knowledge should rest on the purchaser, or you will never know what you're buying.


:jacques:

I know I know

:rant:

I cant help it

:2cents:

Kyttn

Giving away is FAR more humane in many cases than keeping something in unsatisfactory conditions IMO. I've been given many a free animal over the years and i certainly didnt think they were expendable, i cared and loved them no different than an animal i had paid hundreds for.

Nowhere Bama did i state that a predatory fish could not EVER have feeder fish, it is a fact that using them though as a SOLE part of a fishes diet is not good for them. I used to own oscars, also fed them on occassion feeder fish, i used to stun the feeder so that it death was not unecessarily cruel. The main staple of a fishes diet should be a good pellet or frozen food, these food are designed to meet the requirements of the fishes diet.

So Mr. Fish likes to move rocks from one pile to another but it will swallow one here and there. Kiddo is concerned about that. Doubt it will poop it out so will it just come back up or what?

They do love to redecorate *L* I wouldn't be too concerned, this is natural behaviour for many cichlids

Thats what I tried telling her.:)

Thanks Fangtasia