I got quite attached to that calico fantail goldfish and I'm going to miss her

[Quiet Em]

During covid my son built me a beautiful three tiered pond with waterfalls in my backyard. We started with four shebunkin goldfish, a dozen minnows and three calico fantail goldfish. The shebunkins reproduced and we have about 15 of them now. One of the calico fantails was not very healthy and didn't make it through that summer.

We bring them in in the winter because the pond is not deep enough for them to stay outside. The calicos stay in an aquarium in my living room but the shebunkins and minnows are in a huge stock tank in the basement. The weather has been iffy here but we are planning to move them all outside this weekend.

The two calicos have thrived and are about four times the size they were when we got them. The one has always had a swim bladder issue, a common problem with this type of goldfish. Sometimes it was so bad that she would be upside down. We have always managed to resolve it by feeding her shelled peas when she had a problem and being very diligent with the water quality. This time there seemed to be nothing we could do to save her. She had so much personality for a fish. Calico fantails are not the best swimmers and this one was so very animated with her shimmy style of moving around. Just so cute and sweet.

Anyway, they are social fish so I'm going to the aqarium store tonight to get another so the one I have left isn't lonely.

[3catwoman3]

1. I hope the successor has an interesting personality, both for you...

...and the remaining original fish.

How could you tell she was a girl?

[Quiet Em]

2. I only know she was a girl because my son told me

He's a biologist who also did studies in marine biology. I believe he said there was something in the anal area of this breed of fish that can identify gender. But I certainly wouldn't know that myself.

and thank you!

[Quiet Em]

3. Just talked with my son. He says I need to quarantine a new fish for 14 days.

He has a tank for that at his house so he's going with me so if I purchase a new fish he can take it home and put it in his quarantine tank.

Glad I talked with him. I would have just brought it home.

[Luciferous]

4. My husband has a couple of aquariums.

I didn't see the appeal at first, but now I get it. It's relaxing to watch them, and they definitely have their own little personalities. I'm sorry for your loss.