Fishicide...

It's true - we were almost the perpetrators of "fishicide".. why?? As you know Morgan has been saving to buy a fish - and as of this week (and a very special report card gift - thank you Auntie Ellen) she was able to buy her fish and all the things she needed...  When we got to the store we picked out the tank and gravel, found the fish food and water treatment solution, and then headed to find the perfect goldfish.

Now I don't know about you but I have always thought goldfish were the easy fish of the flock - they're made for kids to have right? Well - I learned I was quite wrong. Morgan surveyed the gold fish case and then found her favorite fish (in fact our PetCo friend had to chase him around with the net while Morgan tried to talk him in). He was all bagged up, ready to go... and then, our helping friend saw the fish tank in our cart. 

It turns out goldfish are super finicky and you have to have their water prepped for like 4 days - she recommended even adding feeder fish for a couple of days to get the water bacteria levels right AND they have to have a filter - because they are also one of the dirtiest fish. SO, long story short there we were fish in bag, about ready to take our goldfish friend home for a quick death. 

The minute I tried to explain it to Morgan she started bawling - like BIG bawling... she wanted this goldfish so badly, but she also understood she did not want him to die (it was that unfortunate and simple - you take him, he dies). Our fish helper felt very bad - she had not known we did not have the tank set up (she asked if we had one and I said yes, I meant in the cart - she meant at home) - so, she quickly tried to divert Morgan to the beta fish. At first she wanted nothing to do with them then, after a bit she started to gain more interest and finally found one that would suffice - for now.

So now we have a "starter fish" - his name (as of tonight) is beautiful...  And, he will be prepping the tank for goldfish (yet to be named) when he gets to come home next week. The fish helper friend promised to take good care of him for her until she comes back - I really just hope that dang fish is still there - but how many people buy goldfish on an average week really??? Especially now that I know what diva fish they are.   Turns out they are not the "run to the store and replace before your child notices them floating because they only live a few weeks kind of fish" - they are actually just high needs fish that have been misunderstood.

So friends - morale of this story is - not all fins are the same and a little research can save a lot of heartache later (and counter space when you end up with two fish - ha ha).

** the tank pictured above is the one she chose - and what it will look like once a goldfish lives in it. :-)