I've been a fish keeper since the Mittons Pet Shop days in the late 60s.

Lost my "all time favourite fish" today, "Spooky" the Discus showed signs of parasite infection six weeks ago and I've been trying hard to get rid of the bastard worms ever since. I've raised him from a tiddler to the size of a small dinner plate  and when I would walk into the living room in the morning he was always the first to greet me wagging his body like a tail and saying "give me some grub", he always ate his grated beefheart from my finger and he would splash the water when he wanted my attention.

Both me and the missus have been fed up all day and even reminisced over red wine and some soul food of steak and onions tonight... it's been almost like losing a dog.

Does anyone else have similarly dysfunctional hobbies?

Here he is in his prime:

 

 

Sorry for your loss.

In that picture, he looks like he wants to chop your head off and shit in your eye sockets though

Edited March 22, 20251 yr by Spider

5 minutes ago, Spider said:

Sorry for your loss.

In that picture, he looks like he wants to chop your head off and shit in your eye sockets though

That's why he was my favourite and we called him "Spooky" because of those eyes

Shit that mate. Losing any pet is crap

 

One of my customers had a massive undercover pond thing full of koi carp.

He'd had them years, some were huge, he'd spent tens of thousands on this big space for them.

All of sudden they all died. He reckons it was his neighbour that poisoned them. Think Id be on a murder/arson charge.

2 minutes ago, gonzo said:

Shit that mate. Losing any pet is crap

 

One of my customers had a massive undercover pond thing full of koi carp.

He'd had them years, some were huge, he'd spent tens of thousands on this big space for them.

All of sudden they all died. He reckons it was his neighbour that poisoned them. Think Id be on a murder/arson charge.

I am almost certain what has happened... I brought some catfish on line to help clean the tank, I suspected they were wild caught when I got them and quarantined them for one month. I now realise they must have been carrying a wild form of parasite, I have tried all of the usual treatments and tricks... got another fish going the same way... they're all my original "Crazy Gang" from when I first started keeping Discus five years ago... kicking myself but we are where we are.

Sorry for your loss bud; you clearly had a bond and he adored you…

I mean that with all sincerity, as I have lost pets and been crushed

However… there are plenty more- yeah never mind 😂

Genuinely sorry pal, hope I raised a wry smile

Spooky?

#sickening 

Our dog is 13 and has all of a sudden started to show her age. I absolutely dread the inevitable. 
 

 

I don't mean to sound unkind. But I just can't imagine ever having an emotional bond with a fish. 

Although I'm sure there are people out there who can't imagine ever having an emotional bond with a dog. 

I suppose we're all just somewhere on the animal human cognitive awareness spectrum 😁

4 hours ago, Ani said:

Our dog is 13 and has all of a sudden started to show her age. I absolutely dread the inevitable. 
 

 

It's like losing a child. Absolutely fucking horrible.

2 hours ago, kent_white said:

I don't mean to sound unkind. But I just can't imagine ever having an emotional bond with a fish. 

Have you ever tasted Cubera Snapper? That will change your mind matey.

sorry for your loss mate ,people can bond with spiders n slugs 

my dog is old and i come home to a house smelling of cat shit every night ,it does go in a litter tray 

7 hours ago, Ani said:

Our dog is 13 and has all of a sudden started to show her age. I absolutely dread the inevitable. 
 

 

Lost mine (12 years old) in October last year, was signs of decline but put it down to age. Took her for a long walk on the Sunday, by the Tuesday she couldn’t get up the stairs, and vet said she could have chronic renal failure, tests for two days and they said nothing they could do so had to say goodbye which was so hard. Whole family was devastated, only saving grace was that it wasn’t drawn out so we know she didn’t suffer much.

8 hours ago, kent_white said:

I don't mean to sound unkind. But I just can't imagine ever having an emotional bond with a fish. 

Although I'm sure there are people out there who can't imagine ever having an emotional bond with a dog. 

I suppose we're all just somewhere on the animal human cognitive awareness spectrum 😁

May make a difference if you've coughed up thousands though.

It's bastard galling when a twatting heron drops down and makes a lunch from some of your pond fish.

Even had a kingfisher do it once. Wanker.

10 hours ago, kent_white said:

I don't mean to sound unkind. But I just can't imagine ever having an emotional bond with a fish. 

Although I'm sure there are people out there who can't imagine ever having an emotional bond with a dog. 

I suppose we're all just somewhere on the animal human cognitive awareness spectrum 😁

I agree, I must be turning weird(er) with old age.

I've kept fish for almost 60 years and obviously seen plenty come and go but yesterday I was like a seven year old who had lost his per goldfish. 

I amaze myself sometimes... cognitive spectrum? More like I'm turning into a slobbering old git 😁

2 hours ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

May make a difference if you've coughed up thousands though.

It's bastard galling when a twatting heron drops down and makes a lunch from some of your pond fish.

Even had a kingfisher do it once. Wanker.

Never thought of the value but  I'd guess he was £200 worth, more if his mate hadn't been killed by a love rival 18 months ago... he's already taken over as cock of the tank

2 minutes ago, Dimron said:

I agree, I must be turning weird(er) with old age.

I've kept fish for almost 60 years and obviously seen plenty come and go but yesterday I was like a seven year old who had lost his per goldfish. 

I amaze myself sometimes... cognitive spectrum? More like I'm turning into a slobbering old git 😁

I had a goldfish from birth up to about the age of 14. I remember clicking one day telling my Mum that we should ring the Guinness Book or Records for its longevity - but she confessed that it had died about 4 times and she'd just bought another one! 😂

12 hours ago, Ani said:

Our dog is 13 and has all of a sudden started to show her age. I absolutely dread the inevitable. 
 

 

My Rescue Staffy is now 13... arthritic hip but still up for his grub and wants to go out but no more "power walking", just a potter and sniff around the village. Gets a Librella injection monthly and hydrotherapy twice a month.

Done that final visit to the vets a few times and it's not very nice

13 hours ago, RoadRunnerFan said:

Spooky?

#sickening 

They all have names... Adrey because she has black fins like Audrey Hepburn's gloves, Joey after Joey Ramone because he looked like a punk when a youngster, Killer because he killed a tank mate in a fight and so on

17 hours ago, Ani said:

Our dog is 13 and has all of a sudden started to show her age. I absolutely dread the inevitable. 
 

 

Mine is 11 on Wednesday, the last few months he sends to have rapidly aged. I'm dreading what's no doubt coming in the next year or two

Not that I'm easily led - but I've been up the Koi Aquatics today looking at the possibility of a new tropical fish installation for the Kent household! 😂🐠

4 hours ago, Dimron said:

Never thought of the value but  I'd guess he was £200 worth, more if his mate hadn't been killed by a love rival 18 months ago... he's already taken over as cock of the tank

Dunno about your mate, but some of these koi addicts spend a fortune on them.

Usually kept in a bland environment. 

If we're going to an aquatics place, I always have a look at the most expensive ones, and think what the fuck, they're just like the cheaper ones, with different markings.

Each to their own of course, but I would never go down that route.

A couple of basic ghosties in our pond, and that will do.

3 minutes ago, kent_white said:

Not that I'm easily led - but I've been up the Koi Aquatics today looking at the possibility of a new tropical fish installation for the Kent household! 😂🐠

Do you want any sword tails?

Got "millions of the gits".

They breed readily and are easy to look after, just out-compete other species. 

Would need a chomper to keep their numbers down, but that risks other small ones that aren't prolific.

1 hour ago, Sweep said:

Mine is 11 on Wednesday, the last few months he sends to have rapidly aged. I'm dreading what's no doubt coming in the next year or two

When you get on first name terms with your vet... your cheque book empties pretty quickly 

1 hour ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Do you want any sword tails?

Got "millions of the gits".

They breed readily and are easy to look after, just out-compete other species. 

Would need a chomper to keep their numbers down, but that risks other small ones that aren't prolific.

The woman at the shop has told me she'll help me pick a low maintenance selection! 😂

1 hour ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Dunno about your mate, but some of these koi addicts spend a fortune on them.

Usually kept in a bland environment. 

If we're going to an aquatics place, I always have a look at the most expensive ones, and think what the fuck, they're just like the cheaper ones, with different markings.

Each to their own of course, but I would never go down that route.

A couple of basic ghosties in our pond, and that will do.

When I was rennovating the house I promised myself a "special" tank at the end... I'd never had a crack at Discus and as you probably know, they can be "difficult" but my builder's ego took over... did my research and asked lots of questions... ended up buying ten tiddlers at £30 each... the remaining fish are now 7 inch specimens that retailers sell at up to £200. 

A lot of discus keepers keep their fish in bland environments just like the Koi keepers but I have broken their rules and keep them in a planted tank which admittedly is more tricky as they need super clean water

PS my favourite pond fish is a Shubunkin 😉