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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To pour boiling water on the fish

171 replies

Sokmonsta · 12/12/2012 09:30

We have a plastic tub with goldfish in the garden. Not mine, we were looking after them for a friend while he moved house. Now he's moved, not collected them and the sodding tub is nearly frozen solid. Have sent him a terse message saying sort the fucking fish (we've had them months). But the only way I can see to help them out is to put hot water in the good 6 inches of ice on top. And it's icky because there are also dead fish frozen in there.

Am seriously wishing I'd just put them in my parents pond when they were on holiday in September!

OP posts:
SantaIAmSoFuckingRock · 12/12/2012 17:28

you could have had them in your parent's pond all this time?

i just dont know what to say. those poor fish suffering needlessly all this time.

when you found the first dead one did you not think it was time to improve their living conditions?

ChippingInAWinterWonderland · 12/12/2012 17:30

When you found the first dead one did you not think it was time to improve their living conditions?

That is a fair point, but it sounds like the OP has been coping with a lot of personal stress - so I guess it's a bit of a case of 'not throwing stones'.

Sparklingbrook · 12/12/2012 17:30

You could try asking in the 'Fishnet' topic in the Pets section Sokmonsta.

FivesGoldNorks · 12/12/2012 17:31

hmm I was thinking the same ChippingIn :)

FloatyBeatie · 12/12/2012 17:32

Sorry that you've had this undeserved flaming, Sokmonsta. Don't let it get you down.Thanks

DogEgg · 12/12/2012 17:32

They might live ouside, but not in a barrel tub that is small enough to freeze.

If doing your best means you let animals freeze to death, then it isn't a very good best I think, and that's why I'm struggling to fuck off.

Sparklingbrook · 12/12/2012 17:33

Just stop posting then DogEgg.

FloatyBeatie · 12/12/2012 17:33

It hasn't frozen all the way down! -- just like a pond it has ice on top and water below. Facts before flaming, please.

SantaIAmSoFuckingRock · 12/12/2012 17:34

i know they are big pond fish but a pond is different than a tub above ground level.

foreverunning · 12/12/2012 17:38

Jesus I can't believe this thread and how the OP has got such a pasting when she came on here with the best will.

How many of you hysterical people are experienced in keeping fish?!! I have had pond fish for many many years - a pond and not a tub admittedly but it's really quite shallow and, particularly in the last two hard winters it has frozen SOLID, trapping the fish within the ice. They go into a state of immobile hibernation and, come the warmer weather they unthaw and have come to absolutely no harm whatsoever.

Give Sokmonsta a break - and good luck with them OP

SantaIAmSoFuckingRock · 12/12/2012 17:38

dont get me wrong. the owner is the complete bastard in this situation but i'm just shocked that it didn't enter OP's head that outdoors in a tub might be harmful to them. all animals need their habitat adjusted according to the seasons. it just amazes me that it didn't occur to OP or the owner that the fish would need protected. fair enough if OP didn't know (i'm thinking she might have asked the owner or her parent's though as they have a pond and might know) and as i said the owner doesn't deserve to have them after the way he has left them.

just so sad for the fish. it didn't need to happen.

ChippingInAWinterWonderland · 12/12/2012 17:41

I don't think they have frozen to death - they haven't lacked oxygen. If anything they have probably died due to being fed when it was too cold.

Call it a barrel/call it a tub - whatever, it's 3ft high - it's not going to be able to be put into the car frozen and taken to her parents to put in the pond to be defrosted as you suggested is it??

nipersvest · 12/12/2012 17:43

foreverunning, the op got a pasting firstly down to the 'daily mail' shock factor type thread title, and secondly the first post didn't really explain what she had been doing to care for the fish long term.

it's only in subsequent posts the full picture became clearer.

DingDongKethryverilyonHigh · 12/12/2012 17:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sparklingbrook · 12/12/2012 17:44

Why do people feel the need to give an OP a pasting? What does it achieve?

complexnumber · 12/12/2012 17:54

Then I'd recommend you get in the barrel, fill it with water and stand in it outside until you freeze solid and go all "icky". Idiot!

'When mumsnetters go mad'

FierySmaug · 12/12/2012 17:57

I'm staggered at the abuse the op is getting over this!
Surely the one to blame would be the owner who dumped these fish on her and seemingly forgot about them? She's clearly done her best to care for them, but perhaps she has more pressing things to see to like, oh I don't know, her children?
The most baffling/amusing thing, is the number of posters saying they would report her to the RSPCA and that she is 'disgusting'. Have I entered a lunatic, parallel universe? I don't condone animal cruelty but let's get a grip here. I assume every single poster condemning the op never eats fish Hmm

Lilithmoon · 12/12/2012 18:01

Actually Fiery no I don't ever eat fish and the OPs suggestion of pouring boiling water on the tub was disgusting and potentially cruel as was the state she had allowed the fish to get into.

FloatyBeatie · 12/12/2012 18:04

There's something about animal threads that brings out the most extreme kind of self-righteous cant in some posters. Any gap in the stated facts is interpreted in whatever way is necessary to allow maximum imputation of cruelty and make space for maximum expressions of superior concern.

It's like the whole internet, but more so.

OwlLady · 12/12/2012 18:05

she didn't know what to do, even i can see that and i have only kept fish indoors, years ago

FierySmaug · 12/12/2012 18:09

But perhaps she thought pouring boiling water on them would help them to warm up and thus stop them from freezing to death?
I wouldn't know how to properly care for outdoor fish if a friend dumped them on me and left them for months on end into the winter. They should have been collected by their owner sooner, and the op would never have been put in this position. Is it not good that she has come onto MN to ask for advice out of concern for the fish?

WelshMaenad · 12/12/2012 18:17

I wouldn't have a fucking clue what to do with pond fish. Poor op has had a right pasting when she was just trying to help a friend. Owner is to blame for the situation.

I hope the fish are happy in their new home!

complexnumber · 12/12/2012 18:20

There's something about animal threads that brings out the most extreme kind of self-righteous cant in some posters. Any gap in the stated facts is interpreted in whatever way is necessary to allow maximum imputation of cruelty and make space for maximum expressions of superior concern.

That's so true Floatie-B

DogEgg · 12/12/2012 18:56

OP I am sorry. My mother died a few days ago and I over reacted to your original post. My situation made me react out of character and I regret that.
I see now that you have problems of your own and I didn't mean to make things worse. I wish you well and hope things soon get better for you.

I'm very glad you have the fish sorted - that'll be one weight off your mind.

OwlLady · 12/12/2012 19:00

dogegg, if your mum died a few days ago aibu is the last place you need to be :( please go and drink baileys, unless you are an alcoholic, and look after yourself xxx