Damson

We have a problem in that our completely up for it nearly 8 year old has suddenly worked out that her beloved goldfish can't come with us. What a nightmare. She now is thinking that she doesn;t want to go. To us it's no biggie to us as it's certainly not going to influence our decision, but when you are 8 it's major.

Has anyone got any advice/experience with this one as surprise, surprise, I've not seen it on here before. No suggestions of flushing it down the bog please!!!

Cheers
Lorraine

Dorothy

Why not tell her it will come with you? Before you go you can either flush it or give it to someone else and when you get here tell her he's in quarantine. When she's not around drop by a pet shop and replace him. Hopefully she'll never be the wiser. You can ever say you'll buy him a nice new tank for his new home in Australia.

grossenbol

I gave my son's goldfish (who was ill anyway but just would not die ) 2 weeks before we left, a lot of cheap whisky in the fish tank, died pretty quickly and happy by the looks of it zooming about the tank, made the death easier for the lad to come home from school and see his little pet passed away from it's illness.

viviennef

On a serious note, I know I would never purposely kill my child's goldfish. Some one will take it on, the problem is more how you keep it positive for your child.

1. lie, say its coming with you and then be amazed when it never turns up - I wouldnt go for this myself
2. Arrange for new goldfish home. Sit down and talk to 8 year old about your concern that Australia would be too hot for said goldfish, about how atmospheric pressure affects goldfish and about how when you love something sometimes you have to be kind and consider their feelings. Have a goldfish rehoming party with balloons and friends around, facepaint them all as goldfish, take photos - ideally if the goldfish can go to a best friend that would be good.
3. say the goldfish jumped down the plughole to go party with Shaun the Sheep (my recent excuse when ours died after I gave them a shock changing the water too many times)

Good luck
Viv


Viv

The Bloke

I can't think of a more agonising death for a fish. If it is true, shame on you.

sj oldfield

[QUOTE=Dorothy;7165766]Why not tell her it will come with you? Before you go you can either flush it or give it to someone else and when you get here tell her he's in quarantine.

DOROTHY!!! How can you even think of 'flushing it'!!!

Kingseat

I'd go with the poster above - goldfish on the way but in quarantine. Get a new one when you arrive. Good luck. I'd never laugh. I might have to give me 2 dogs up.

Dorothy

[QUOTE=sj oldfield;7165921] I didn't say I would do it! I was simply giving her some options. Besides, at least I didn't suggest poisoning it with whiskey!!!

Kooky.

Hey, my mother revived quite a few fairground goldfish with a bit of whisky when I was a girl.

Ok serious - poor little girl. To us it's "just" a goldfish, but people said that about my cats too and I wouldn't have come without them. I'd be as honest as possible; kids are not daft and have long memories. I'd go for vivienne's 2nd suggestion I think.

Pollyana

My Gran used Drambuie to resurrect a goldfish once - I remember cos I wanted to know what it tasted like....... one small glass and i was hooked for life! The goldfish thought it was pretty good too - lived for years after that!
My sister has used brandy to wake up a hamster before now as well.

pumpkin blossom

If you do a google of humane ways to euthanise a fish putting them in alcohol is actually one of the recomended methods. I once had to put a sick fish in tequilla, they die very quickly, and it is more humane than letting them suffer when they are sick. Certainly more humane than putting them in the freezer which many people do (freezer can't be as quick as alcohol).

philnorris

I know this is going to sound really sad, but I had a goldfish for nearly 8 years (fan tail), was still healthy until I gave it to a friend, who managed to kill it in less than 2 weeks. I was most peeved about it. :curse:

Icarus

Does this work for humans too ? anyone know ?

Icarus

This would only work if all goldfish looked the same , as we all know they do not .

mine looks like Leslie Ash

pumpkin blossom

If you had enough for you to swim in maybe.