Happy ending for a fishie
Since last fall I've noticed a pretty, approximately 6" long white and orange-speckled fantail goldfish at the smaller of the two locally-owned pet stores I go to for aquarium supplies. She's blind in one eye, but otherwise a lovely fish. I couldn't understand why she'd been there for so long, with no one buying her! I didn't think her half-blindness would be THAT big a deterrent to prospective fish owners.
I felt really bad for the poor thing, but I do NOT have room for another fishie in my home right now. So I just said hello to her every time I went to that store. I even named her "Kelley" after Helen Keller. Heh. ;)
In the same tank there were always to red-orange fantails--one about the size of "Kelley" and another that was still fairly large but somewhat smaller than the other two. I thought they were the same ones over the months, too, but I wasn't sure. There wasn't anything wrong with them, that I could tell. But I was usually so busy paying attention to "Kelley" that I didn't pay all that much attention to the other two.
Two tanks to the left of where they were was another goldfish tank, always filled with tiny baby fantails. All swarming up to the glass to greet me, being adorable. *squee* ^_^
I've never bought any fish at that particular store; all mine came from the other store, but I've seen some nice ones there so I wouldn't hesitate to buy one there. If I had had room, I'd have "rescued" that poor white fantail a long time ago, I think. :-\
I was in the store today getting filter sponges and I happened to notice the older lady who's the resident fish guru helping a customer buy some tropical fish. I struck up a conversation and said how bad I felt for that poor white goldfish who'd been there for so long.
Imagine my delight when the lady told me, "Oh, she's not for sale. Those three are our breeders." :D
Yes, it seems "Kelley" and the two big orange guys are their breeding stock!!!
Those three lay eggs, the pet store people take the eggs out (assuming the parents haven't eaten them) and hatch them in the back room. As soon as the babies get their colors, out they go into the display tank to be sold as pets. The store lady told me that some people have offered to buy the three, and she said the only way she'd sell them would be for all three to go together, for $200!
Here I've been feeling sorry for that "poor" fish all these months, only to find out she's a highly valued breeder! LOL!
I was so happy I just about bounced up and down right there in the store. XD I thanked the pet store lady for telling me, since I didn't have to feel bad for her anymore. Heehee... That made my day. ^_^
Otherwise my day was pretty boring. Worked all afternoon, went to the pet store and Best Buy (only came home with the filter sponges--boring!), had supper at A&W (yum!), came home, cleaned fish tanks, washed hair, read in Outcast of Redwall for awhile, and then typed this.
I felt really bad for the poor thing, but I do NOT have room for another fishie in my home right now. So I just said hello to her every time I went to that store. I even named her "Kelley" after Helen Keller. Heh. ;)
In the same tank there were always to red-orange fantails--one about the size of "Kelley" and another that was still fairly large but somewhat smaller than the other two. I thought they were the same ones over the months, too, but I wasn't sure. There wasn't anything wrong with them, that I could tell. But I was usually so busy paying attention to "Kelley" that I didn't pay all that much attention to the other two.
Two tanks to the left of where they were was another goldfish tank, always filled with tiny baby fantails. All swarming up to the glass to greet me, being adorable. *squee* ^_^
I've never bought any fish at that particular store; all mine came from the other store, but I've seen some nice ones there so I wouldn't hesitate to buy one there. If I had had room, I'd have "rescued" that poor white fantail a long time ago, I think. :-\
I was in the store today getting filter sponges and I happened to notice the older lady who's the resident fish guru helping a customer buy some tropical fish. I struck up a conversation and said how bad I felt for that poor white goldfish who'd been there for so long.
Imagine my delight when the lady told me, "Oh, she's not for sale. Those three are our breeders." :D
Yes, it seems "Kelley" and the two big orange guys are their breeding stock!!!
Those three lay eggs, the pet store people take the eggs out (assuming the parents haven't eaten them) and hatch them in the back room. As soon as the babies get their colors, out they go into the display tank to be sold as pets. The store lady told me that some people have offered to buy the three, and she said the only way she'd sell them would be for all three to go together, for $200!
Here I've been feeling sorry for that "poor" fish all these months, only to find out she's a highly valued breeder! LOL!
I was so happy I just about bounced up and down right there in the store. XD I thanked the pet store lady for telling me, since I didn't have to feel bad for her anymore. Heehee... That made my day. ^_^
Otherwise my day was pretty boring. Worked all afternoon, went to the pet store and Best Buy (only came home with the filter sponges--boring!), had supper at A&W (yum!), came home, cleaned fish tanks, washed hair, read in Outcast of Redwall for awhile, and then typed this.