Accidentally Killed My Fish - Feel Awful

[dogsitter]

That's it really, not looking for advice or telling off... I know I've did a stupid thing and have to get it off my chest.

I've had the fish for around 9 months. We had 9, then a jumper who died and last week a death by natural causes. So the number was down to 7

I changed the tank today and I'm always so very careful no fish swim into the bowl I use to get old water out. It wasn't until I was putting the dirty water down the sink, that I saw my Zebra Danio going with it! It was too late by the time I saw it. Feel so awful. What a slow painful death my lovely, lively wee Zebra will have If only I had at least emptied the water down the toilet. I could have got it out then. I'll have to tell my 5 year old that another fish has died.

[SagaNorensLeatherTrousers]

RIP Zebra

[Gileswithachainsaw]

:(

[LIZS]

any chance he lodged in the u-bend

[EauRouge]

Yes, he could be in the U bend. Danios are tough so it's worth checking. Don't feel bad, I've heard this happen many times. It's easy with small fish, even with a syphon tube.

[dogsitter]

I'm so stupid, I just kept running the water when I realised what I'd done. I thought he should have water to swim in if he was stuck in there. Realise now I could have maybe for him out u bend.

I can't let on to my dh what happened. I go on to him like I'm the 'fish whisperer' and don't allow him to change the water. Poor fish

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Can you check? Just in case

[hmc]

Poor you - please don't feel guilty.

[dogsitter]

I just checked the U bend. Couldn't empty it properly, so used a siphon. Couldn't get it working so I had to suck the siphon. Yuk. No Zebra in there

[Gileswithachainsaw]

:( poor fish .

And poor you, what a horrid accident

[EauRouge]

I know people that have been keeping fish for 30-odd years that have done this. You're not stupid, it was an accident; we all have them. Please don't beat yourself up about it. It's sad that your fish died but it wasn't through cruelty or neglect. It would be far worse if you were just shrugging and saying 'oh well, it's just a fish'- you obviously care about them a lot.

[marne2]

I think a lot of us have done things like this, I'm always sucking my baby fish up when I'm vacuuming the sand or using a syphon. I also put a fish down the loo thinking it was dead and as I pulled the handle to flush he moved ( felt very guilty but he was on his way out anyway so probably died quite quickly of shock ), I also lost a danio, not quite sure what happened but I think my daughter fished it out and then the car killed it.