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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have released a goldfish into the stream behind our house

170 replies

roseability · 06/10/2008 22:39

Had 2 goldfish (I got them years ago before DS was born) in quite a big tank and I thought they were well looked after

One died of natural causes so we released the other. My DS wasn't interested in them (only a toddler) and I didn't want him getting old enough to want more as I admit they need more looking after than I originally thought

Am I hideous? Mean? Cruel to animals?

Hit me I can take it

OP posts:
VineGARISHtits · 06/10/2008 22:43

Well, its probably dead now

wilkos · 06/10/2008 22:43

yabu

mine are ancient and a nusiance with the blardy cleaning out etc but am patiently waiting for them to die. yes they are fish fgs but still pets. and you have just abandoned yours.

nice.

sorry.

PeaMcLean · 06/10/2008 22:44

It will probably starve to death.

BroccoliSpears · 06/10/2008 22:45

Poor fishy

WriggleJiggle · 06/10/2008 22:46

Cruel, they will die.

StayFrosty · 06/10/2008 22:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

muggglewump · 06/10/2008 22:47

I think that's a bit mean really.
Maybe I'm a wuss but I could never do that to a pet.
We have two fish in a tank and it's only 20 mins or so to clean the tank once a fortnight. It's not that hard or time consuming.

expatinscotland · 06/10/2008 22:47

it's cruel.

why not freecycle it adn the tank too?

Shitehawk · 06/10/2008 22:47

What a horrible thing to do.

HRHSaintMamazon · 06/10/2008 22:47

how can a goldfish be hard work?
if you have a reasonable sized tank just get a filter, you would only need to change the water once every 3-4 months.

whatyou did was akin to dumping an old dog by the motorway.

sorry but it was wrong

Scotia · 06/10/2008 22:49

It was a bit cruel, I doubt it would survive. You could have given it away on Freecycle or Gumtree.

Sycamoretree · 06/10/2008 22:49

You'd be better off saying you decided to fry him up for supper. At least then, he would have had some purpose in his final hours

Poor fishy wishy - all alone, in the dark, in a cold, cold stream, with no fishy flakes to eat.

Shame on you. (well, you asked).

Spidermama · 06/10/2008 22:49

Freecycle don't take animals sadly. I'm trying to get rid of my fish. I couldn't release mine as they're in a heated tank.

You've probably released it into the mouth of a bigger fish but hey, maybe those last minutes of freedom were worth it for the fish. Who knows?

cory · 06/10/2008 22:49

Very irresponsible. Non-native fish pose a threat to native wildlife and this is illegal! I for one would have reported you.

LackaDAISYcal · 06/10/2008 22:50

It is probably heron food by now ; goldfish not being known for inconspicuous colouring.

Scotia · 06/10/2008 22:50

Sorry, cross posted with Expat. If it was a big fish you could have given it to someone with a garden pond.

expatinscotland · 06/10/2008 22:50

Gumtree might. Our local paper does and doesn't charge for ads for free stuff.

Better than dumping it.

Ashantai · 06/10/2008 22:51

We had one fish for bloody years which i threatened to bleach, maim and generally give my neighbours cat a fishing rod and tell it to get on with it! , but i couldnt bring myself to get rid of it till it died of natural causes.

My daughter bought a triop kit a few months ago to grow disgusting prehistoric beasties. I inadvertantly killed them cos they needed mineral water and she refilled the tank with a bottle from the fridge. I had neglected to tell her that i had drunk the water and filled it back up with tap water and they all died.

Even though the sight of them made my stomach turn, i still felt bad.

HRHSaintMamazon · 06/10/2008 22:51

Im just so sad for that poor fish. you should have posted on here..im sure if someone was local they would have given it a loving home.
I know i would have.

StayFrosty · 06/10/2008 22:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cory · 06/10/2008 22:54

Spidermama on Mon 06-Oct-08 22:49:42
"Freecycle don't take animals sadly. I'm trying to get rid of my fish."

Have you tried an internet fish forum? Or Aquarist Classified?

wilkos · 06/10/2008 22:54

it could have joined my elderly three in their fishy care home

just to make it clear i may be waiting for them to die but they are still cleaned and fed regularly

the more i think about it the more i think you are just cruel. and lazy.

VineGARISHtits · 06/10/2008 22:54

I had a goldfishh called Kevin, i was very fond of him, he would flap his little finns at me when i came into the room.

My friend had a goldfish who commited suicide, he jumped out of the tank and died

You should have let it die naturally, they are not that much hard work to look after

PeaMcLean · 06/10/2008 22:57

Last month, I saw a fish being attacked by one its tank mates (as opposed to flat mate). Tank mate was territorial apparently. Bits missing out of its victim. Was really quite grim. I felt an absolute fool reporting it to the shop owner but glad I did. I'll go to heaven.

exasperatedmummy · 06/10/2008 22:57

Oh for fuck sake!! Its a fish, at least she didnt stick it down the toilet - there is a pond near us it has two enormous goldfish in it, been there for years - people keep trying to catch them. Yeah, its probably dead but thats got to be better than the poor things i see in goldfish bowls. There is research that has shown, and dont ask me to link it becuase i only vaguely remember this, that fish in bowls and psychologically distressed.

OP - maybe you could have rehomed it, but dont beat yourself up over it.