Regular Member fantailfan1 Posted September 6, 2015 Regular Member Share Posted September 6, 2015 Another thing to think about is how big are the fish when you buy them? If you're buying large adults they aren't going to live as long as little fish that you purchase. I tend to get my fish very small. I not only like to watch them grow and change but then I know that they've only been in someone else's care for a short time. I agree with the others though. You have cared for them meticulously. I truly don't think it's your "fault". 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member TonySydney Posted September 7, 2015 Author Regular Member Share Posted September 7, 2015 Thank you both for your kind words. I feel so bad that I failed to help this little fish. I love the look of the butterfly telescope eyes and I love the intelligence of goldfish too. I get very attached. I find it a struggle to accept that doing everything right to keep these fish does not mean you wont lose them anyway. I did an internet search to see what other intelligent fish I could keep instead of goldfish but I don't like any of the other recognised intelligent fish; except perhaps the Siamese Fighting Fish but I think they are a very short lived species. I will continue to care for the remaining two fish and hope for the best. It seems this happens to all goldfish keepers and it is part of the facts of life of keeping goldfish. I'm just not sure I can cope with the loss of something I have become so attached to. I'll stop mopping soon, it just gets me down when I can't help the fish recover. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member kiro Posted September 7, 2015 Regular Member Share Posted September 7, 2015 It's perfectly understandable to be upset. Goldfish are full of personality and easy to get attached to. Like koko said, we're here if you want to talk. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member QandD Posted September 7, 2015 Regular Member Share Posted September 7, 2015 After I lost my fish Queenie, who I'd had for seven years and was the first fish I'd ever owned, I, too, thought that I would quit keeping goldfish. I also blamed myself bitterly for her death. I had another fish I needed to care for, though, which kept me in the hobby. After a few months I could reconcile myself to having tried to give my fish the best life to my abilities, and got a friend for Duchess three months later. It sounds like you're going to need to grieve for your fish, but like everyone here has said, you have been very meticulous and your tank is beautiful. I'm sure your fish was wonderfully happy while he was feeling well. I don't think you failed him at all. I'm sorry you lost him and hope you feel better soon. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member TonySydney Posted September 8, 2015 Author Regular Member Share Posted September 8, 2015 I am two days late doing my 90% water change, I usually do two 90% water changes a week. Anyway when i tested the pH of the tank water it was 6.8; the tap water is 7.2. I hope this is not too big a difference for the fish to handle. To try to reduce any risk of shock I have slowly added the new higher pH tank water to the bucket the fish are in. I have added a 2 litre jug of water to the bucket every 15 minutes for about an hour. I am about to put the fish back into the tank. Is this pH difference a problem? It usually doesn't change much. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Blitz Posted September 8, 2015 Regular Member Share Posted September 8, 2015 I think if the PHs are within .5 of each other it should be fine. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member LisaCGold Posted September 8, 2015 Regular Member Share Posted September 8, 2015 Do you use anything to buffer the ph to help prevent it from falling too much? Ideally a stable ph of 7.2 and above is best for goldies. I use baking soda to buffer my ph. See link below my signature for information on that. The key with using baking soda is to periodically (like every two months) do as close to a 100% water change to remove any baking soda build up. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member TonySydney Posted September 11, 2015 Author Regular Member Share Posted September 11, 2015 Thank you both for your feedback, I will study your notes LisaCGold on using bicarbonate when I get back from my conference next week. I have thought about buffers before but they were so expensive I hesitated to try them. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member fantailfan1 Posted September 11, 2015 Regular Member Share Posted September 11, 2015 Baking soda = great buffer and cheap. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member TonySydney Posted September 12, 2015 Author Regular Member Share Posted September 12, 2015 I decided with time being short before I go to the Convention next week to buy a commercial Buffer. I bought Seachem Neutral Regulator. Writing this, I just realised I stuffed up, I need one that regulates to 7.2. I will take the buffer back and get them to order me a Goldfish version 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member mysterygirl Posted September 14, 2015 Regular Member Share Posted September 14, 2015 I'm so sorry that you lost your fish, Tony. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member TonySydney Posted September 14, 2015 Author Regular Member Share Posted September 14, 2015 Thank you mysterygirl, I feel really sad that I could not save him. I still have two fish but I no longer enjoy them as before. I just seem to be waiting for something else to go wrong. I think these fish are too delicate for me to care for. I will do my best for these two but doubt I will get more goldfish when these two are gone. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member fantailfan1 Posted September 14, 2015 Regular Member Share Posted September 14, 2015 What does the other buffer buffer to? Your pH doesn't have to be buffered to 7.2 . . . . 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member TonySydney Posted September 23, 2015 Author Regular Member Share Posted September 23, 2015 Hi Fantailfan1, Sorry to take so long to respond, I have been away at a conference. The buffer is called Seachem Gold for Goldfish, it buffers between 7.2 to 7.6 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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