What do I do with a fish that wont die? Sounds silly I know but SERIOUSLY!!! One year ago this week my hubby brought home a little fish for Rio. I thought it was cute and fun. So cute that I even took pics because Rio was so excited. I predicted that the fish would be dead in a week and told my husband that because he bought it, he was going to have to explain to Rio why we were flushing his new and ONLY pet down the toilet.
One week passes and the fish still swims. At this point Rio feeds it daily and hubby cleans the water every few days. Perfect pet at this point. This attention from the boys lasts for maybe a month and then I start to notice that I am feeding and cleaning the dang thing and I start to wish that it would die. Horrible I know but I never asked for the thing to begin with.
ONE YEAR LATER, I am 100% responsible for the thing. I have considered flushing it alive but I cant make myself do it. I have considered giving it away to some poor unsuspecting family but at the mention of that, Rio complains that it is his ONLY pet. I have even considered buying a dog for Rio so that I can give the fish away but I think that starts a vicious cycle and I think that does make me a bad person to wish a dog dead.
So, I feed and clean the fish and think daily “JUST DIE ALREADY!!!”
8 Comments
Ok, I am rolling on the floor laughing. This is quite a dilemma you’re in. In one sense, a dog would be easier to take care of, but then again, you can leave a fish for a few days without food and you don’t have to worry about it pooping on your carpet.
You are hysterical!! LOVE IT!! I feel this exact same way about our cats. It was my idea I wanted them, bla bla bla… But now I UNDERSTAND WHY no one wants a cat! Don’t know what to do at this point either! lol… You’re great!
This might seem counterproductive, but if you get a better tank for it with filters and stuff, you probably wouldn’t have to clean it as much. I only cleaned my betta fish tank every 3 or 4 months, and that was basically just changing out the water. I’d swish the rocks and stuff around to unearth any grossness a couple of days in advance and have the filter get it, then the day of wash out the filter and stuff and then put it back in with some new water. It maybe took 10 minutes. I have one like this, but if I recall correctly it’s a bit smaller than that.
Also, you just know that when you go out and spend $30 on a new fishtank, the fish will die, so… you could go that route too. Just buy the tank, maybe take it out of the box to tempt the gods, then box it back up with the fish dies. Problem solved!
Ha, that makes me laugh. I have a funny fish story for you. I bought 2 goldfish once when I was in college. One of them died, so I bought another, and then another, and for some reason I couldn’t keep them alive, except for this one hardy goldfish. Finally I got tired of it, but it wouldn’t die. I dated this guy that had a tank of some kind of shark-fish, and so I decided to give him my fish as food (mean, I know, but at least it was “natural”- I mean in the wild they have to put up with predators, right?) So, he fed his shark my goldfish, and it killed all his shark! It must have had some disease that kept killing off the other fish.
Amanda, great advice. The cheapest filter tank I have been able to find is $15 which is way too much for a fish I hate but you are so right. If I cant kill it I guess I have to make my life easier.
Joelyn, your fish story is so funny! That is why I posted this. I knew that there had to be others out there who could relate.
That is hilarious! I have a fish that is my daughter’s but I am also 100% responsible for! They are pretty durable. I can’t blame anyone but myself, though, because i am the one that got it for her. but once this one is gone, no more
My brothers kid won a goldfish at the fair 7 years ago… they still have it and it’s HUGE now. They have had to buy new fish bowls for the growing goldfish and it now has a huge filtered tank to swim around in. Tell yourself that you love the fish and you want him to be around forever, then watch and wait, he’ll die in a week.
Uh Darla, don’t get a Hermit Crab as a replacement. We’ve been the fish route and now we’re in the crab business and it won’t die either. The boys would love a dog, but then my sister tells me about her dog having diarrhea and I think stuffed animals are the only way to go. Oh the joys of being a parent!
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