Sneaky goldfish

Question
QUESTION: Hi Lynda. I just thought I would update you on my goldfish Dsher the splasher, Rudolph and Comet. They are doing great. I tried to take a picture of them to send to you but my camera is broke. I promise you you will get a picture of them even if it takes for ever. I am getting my catfish on Saturday. I have a name in mind for it. What do you think of calling it spike? I didn't know goldfish eat and eat and eat and eat and eat, appetite. I had better watch them when I feed the catfish. I have some very sad news about my friends Betta fish, the one I told you about. She has had it for 12 years and she did cre him. He got better. She phoned me last night. The Betta fish died at tea time last night.
Danielle.

ANSWER: Hi Danielle,
I don't want to contradict your friend, but a betta cannot live for 12 years!!!  The longest is 8 years, and that is with lots of care.  It rarely happens, but it does when really well cared for.    Most die 1-2 years after they are bought...some sooner when kept in bowls.
All fish will eat more than they should if given the chance.  You must watch this, as you know that Swim Bladder Disease, can easily kill fish.  This starts with overeating, then constipation, then Swim Bladder.
Hope you enjoy your little catfish.
Lynda

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QUESTION: Hi Lynda. Just to update you on the fosh. I have good news and bad news. The good news is Rudolph, Comet and Dasher the splasher are doing great. The bad news is I went to the pet shop to buy my catfish and the lady said no as I need a heater. She wasn't very nice at all either about my oldfish. She turned round and said "I don't know why you have goldfish. who cares about them anyway? I don't like them one bit." I just said I care and she should care too because fish are lovely pets. One fish had ich and I asked her if she had tried to cure him and guesse what she said, no it's only fish. I love my fish to bits don't I? I hate people like that. then she told me to euthanase my healthy fish but I never euthanase a healthy pet. I only had my budgie euthsanased brcause she was so poorly and ther was nothing we could have done to save her. My friend has got other fish now including that big catfish. The one that can grow about a foot long. Did you say they were Pleco catfish? I can't remember which one the foot long catfish was. Dasher hasn't stpped splashing me yet. I love him to. The only problem I have is Rudolph is still banging into everything. Comet has got one black spot near his head but he is going orange along with the black spot and his mustache. I don't know about you but I absolutely love fish. You were right about cory catfish, they are so cute and I had to hold the flap up for the man before the lady camer over so that he could get a fish for another man and one catfish managed to come right up. As the guy caught him he lifted his net out and asked me to hold the bag with the catfish inside and told me to watch the sting. for a minute. He had his hands full. My friend has gone to France for 2 weeks and she brought her tank with the heater in it and all the fish and asked me to look after her fish as I am the only person she knows who loves fish. I'm not scared of catfish anymore. Like you I want to breed them now. They are fasinating fish. The tank they are in is huge, bigger than a Pleco catfish. I talk to my fish all the time and my family think I'm strange. Where I live there are not very many people my own age so the fish are my friends and they listen to me all the time. You can guesse what Dasher the splasher does can't you.
Danielle.

ANSWER: Hi Danielle,
There are many different kinds of catfish.  The Plecos can live in water 73-80 degrees.  I don't understand why the lady was so blunt with you.  Maybe we are not talking about the same catfish.  Some do live in warmer waters.  I would have to know his common or scientific name.
I'm happy to know that your goldfish are doing well, and Dasher is still splashing around!
I'm not worried about them, I know that you take good care of them.
Have a nice day
Lynda


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QUESTION: Hello Lynda. I will find out the scientific name for the catfish and email you the name of the catfish. I went to get some plants for the goldfish tank on Saturday and she said, "are you still after a catfish?" I just turned round and said no I was just getting plants.  She isn't a very nice lady anyway. She said I should have got a tank with a heater but I didn't know that. Then on Saturday she said she has never liked fish. She was just about euthanase a goldfish just because nobody was buying him so I bought him as I have just got a bigger tank because my 20 gallon tank got three leaks and I haven't got any spare tanks apart from one my cousin borrowed.  She had it in a bag and was just about to freeze the poor little fish. He is only a baby. I called him Goldie. It's cruel to put a fish to it's death. He is so scared of people that I am the only one he will let near him to feed him or handle him or handle him.
Danielle.

Answer
Hi Danielle,
Bless you kind heart.  This little fish will surely grow to be a beautiful fish.  People like that should never work in a Pet Store...makes me wonder about the owner.  I would tell him.  That's nice that you have a bigger tank!  I'm sure Splasher will love it, and Rudolph will probably stop banging into things - lol
You can't have a heater with goldfish, this doesn't make sense.  It's a funny world out there sometimes, you wonder - lol
Goldie is a cute name, and I like Spike too.  Let me know the scientific name of the catfish, and I will tell you all about him.
Have a nice week, and looking forward to hearing from you again.
Lynda