Goldfish

[Dick Cheese]

Why is it that Godlfish that you win at a fair seem to live longer than the ones you buy from a shop? Is it somthing to do with having some Gypsy in their blood?

[Richard Head]

Have you got some gypsy in your blood Dick?

Anyway, fairground fish only live for about a week if you leave them in the polythene bag. Less if there's a hole in it.

[woofgang]

I would suggest that they have been put through so much stress that only the toughest survive and that this is NOT a good thing

[Dick Cheese]

Woofgang,

It is a good thing, cos they live longer!  Surely that's better than having your fish die after 3 weeks?  The fish you get from the fair live for years.

[woofgang]

Umm well if you think of all the fish suffering that is embodied in your one survivor, that is not a good thing!

my fish are from a water garden centre, the oldest is now 10 years old and huge and every other year I give away about 5 or ten offspring to good homes.

When you go to buy fish, check for sad or dead fish in the tank, evidence that they are properly quarantined before sale or that they are bred on the premises, staff who treat the fish carefully. Take your fish straight home and make sure that the tank or pond is ready to receive it before you buy. I know its a small thing, much less important than the starving people in Africa but fish are alive and can feel pain and stress.

rant over!!

[Richard Head]

Good advice woofgang. I've just checked my fish to see if he's happy. I told him a joke but he didn't laugh, so he must be a sad fish, so I'll flush him down the bog.

[woofgang]

lol Richard! a sad fish is one whose tail is not spread and whose dorsal (top) fin is closed to the body and not standing up and open...a sign of stress or disease

[cupcake 2nd]

9-10 goldfish that you win from the fair,die in a week!

[Bob A Job]

I can vouch for this 'Gypsy' Phenomennon, in our pond when i grew up the fish from the garden center lived up to a maximum of 5 years, but we had one goldfish, simply called 'Original' was in a bowl for three years then in the pond for a further 10 years!!!!!

Longer than most cats! 

[Richard Head]

That's because cats don't live in ponds, they drown in them. Bloody 'ell, even I know that.