Next is Goliath. He was rescued from a Wal-Mart tank after I witnessed a group of oscars beating him up like a toy. This sweet little boy is already growing fast and emerging from his shy depths. He is a common plecostomus.

 

I really enjoy the filters on your pictures... /random xD;

Also, Patches looks like a sweetheart. <3

 

Thanks! Yes, she really is.

So this is Paisley. I got her March 29th of this year and so far, she has grown an inch in body length. She is also a sweetheart and (I'd like to think) the mascot of this rescue. After I rescued her from PetSmart, she became some what of a big sister to Patches and their other at-the-time tankmate, Indy. Paisley is an orange oranda.

 

I'll get going on the next few profiles.

I really love doing this. I always go to the petstore and other places and see all of these poor fish just being abused. Even though us fish keepers have tried for years to end this sad treatment of our finned friends, we know it won't stop. Many people say to me, "Buying that fish only encourages the abuse. It won't make a difference."

Well, I say, "It made a difference to that fish."

 

Here is Indy (Independence). She was rescued from Wal-Mart from a tank of other black moors that developed sores and had ripped fins from rubbing against objects and each other in such limited space. At first, I thought she was dead, floating about the others. But then she sprang to life when I came up to the glass. Because little Indy was emaciated and obviously smaller than the others, I took her home and named her Independence, as it was the Fourth of July.

Indy was about 1" when I got her, and now, 5 months later with some TLC, she is nearing the 2" mark.

Such a free and independent spirit.
Before and after:

 

Paisley's Story

It's hard to have "favorites", but we all end up having that one fish that really makes us smile the most. And for me, that's Paisley. She has been the fastest growing of them all and truly has a golden heart.

I went to PetSmart one day to pick up a few things for my bettas and stopped by the goldfish section. Among the fancy veiltails and calico ryukins, a small, dainty, standard orange oranda was at the top of the tank, staring at me. I was very surprised at how skinny and under-developed (based on her wen growth) she was. My mother was very insistent that I not get her, but my gut told me otherwise. The whole ride home, I couldn't wait to put her in with Patches.

I got her as a friend when Patches (at the time known as Bobbles Einstein) was pretty depressed. The minute I released her into the tank after the 30 minutes, Patches was swimming around playing with her new friend.

When I turned the tank in my kitchen into a goldfish tank, I moved Patches & Indy into it. Paisley seemed content with the switch at first, but I could tell that she was kinda lonely. I wanted another oranda to go in with her, but most of the ones I saw were either too nippy with their neighbors or too big.

I eventually found Elliot, a small, half n half oranda that caught my eye. I got him situated in the tank and waited. At first, Paisley ignored him and went on with her normal routine. But after about a half hour, she seemed to realize there was a new kid in the tank. They chased each other around, ate together, slept side by side. Ever since, they have been inseperable, and I couldn't imagine splitting them apart.

Paisley has come so far in the past 9 months. She went from being a dainty 1" to a monster at 3". Her story tells why I do what I do: to give these fish, however fragile and small they may be, a second chance to show their golden hearts.

 

Ah, Sushi. This white ranchu has caused me to scratch my head in wonder every now and then. Her odd, yet amusing behavior -- speeding around the tank and swimming against the filter current -- has added quite the element to my tank.

Sushi was a rescue from PetCo. Now, she wasn't the usual fin rot, ich, or emaciation rescue. I saw how beautiful she was (a rare pure white ranchu) and thought how amazing it would be for her to have the chance to grow up and be the prized jewel of someone's tank. Whether it be mine or a loving new owner's, I'm content she will have a great and beautiful life.

 

Beethoven....no, not the musician

Okay, this little pleco is the clown of my rescue. Beethoven is a Bushynose/Bristlenose Plecostomus rescued from PetCo when I saw him in an oscar tank. He was about an inch when I got him and is now 2". I really love this little guy and hope he lives a long and happy life.

 

I just want to subscribe to this thread because Petmania is amazing at caring for animals.

 

This is an awesome thread! Way to go Petmania I just love this. Cute rescues too.

Im subbing this thread.

 

good luck with your rescue.

 

Thank you guys! Makes me feel good on the inside :-D

Last, but definitely not least, we have Elliot. This little, cutie oranda was rescue from a dirty, cramped PetSmart tank. He was the smallest one there (1.4" in body length) and was being picked on by his tankmates; I saw that he was missing quite a few scales. Not to mention how skinny he was. It was horrid. I knew that if I left him there, he would be pestered to death. I had to take him home.

When I added him to Paisley's tank, they immediately became friends. They always swim together and eat together. It's too cute.

I'm happy to say that Elliot is now 2" in body length and nice and plump.

 

Defeniatley subscribing! Your such an awesome fish owner!!!! Come over to my house and do water changes and take care of my fish for me XD!!

I would snatch up all your Goldie's faster than a blink of an eye -wink-

 

XD Thank you.

Well, I am going to be putting a few up for adoption soon. Keep an eye out ;-)

 

Photo Shoot

Just a little mini photo shoot of a couple of our rescues.

 

I love it, Pet. Will be watching.

 

This is awesome, I'm hoping to eventually own a Goldfish sometime in the future.

Which brings me to the question-what is the tank size you'd recommend for a Goldfish?

 

Gold are really amazing pets! They'll keep you entertained :lol:

It depends on the type. From my POV, I'd say 10 gallons for smaller types of fancy goldfish and 15-20 for larger species. Each additional fish should get 10 gallons. I have to upgrade myself now that they're getting bigger.

For commons & shubunkins, the first one should have at the minimum 40 gallons, with each additional one getting 20. They can get really big and would be far too cramped in 10-20 gallons. You could keep them temporarily in a 10G, but would need to upgrade within 1-2 months.

I believe PetCo is having their $1 per gallon sale, which is going to save my life right now.

When I upgrade to 20 & 30 gallon tanks, I'll be using my left over 10G as hospital tanks for new rescues.

I love it, Pet. Will be watching.

Thanks Matt!

All your fish are beautiful. You can tell you really care for them!

Thank you, it means a lot! I really try my hardest to make sure these guys have a great life. Hopefully soon I can find some forever homes for them

 

All your fish are beautiful. You can tell you really care for them!

 

BettaLover, here's a link to a goldfish growth chart. It also details lifespans and such:
http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/articles_74/goldfish-size-life-expectancy.htm

I must add that many people believe that goldfish grow to the size of their tank. Incorrect. Water quality and diet are the factors that determine how big your fish will grow. Goldfish secrete a hormone into the water to stunt the growth of any fish in the water, including themselves. As long as you keep the water clean and feed a high quality diet, your fish will continue growing. But that doesn't mean a 10G is a suitable home for an 8" fish Hope I helped!

 

BettaLover, here's a link to a goldfish growth chart. It also details lifespans and such:
Fishkeeping - Goldfish Size, Life Expectancy and Tank Recommendations - Coldwater Articles - Articles

I must add that many people believe that goldfish grow to the size of their tank. Incorrect. Water quality and diet are the factors that determine how big your fish will grow. Goldfish secrete a hormone into the water to stunt the growth of any fish in the water, including themselves. As long as you keep the water clean and feed a high quality diet, your fish will continue growing. But that doesn't mean a 10G is a suitable home for an 8" fish Hope I helped!

48 gal for one wow! It'll be awhile before I own a goldfish lol. That was very helpful though and it helps me to know what I need in the future to own one.

 

Your betta looks cute bettalover1313. What's his name?

 

His name is Raku, after the clay firing process



PetMania-It's great that you give these fish such a good life. It's also amazing what a good diet and proper care can do for any fish.

 

Deformed Fish Still Have a Heart

So, you might have seen fish at PetCo or Petsmart that look like they have deformities (missing fins, kinked tails, etc.). I have a couple of those. Patches, my first rescue, has bent tails and her top lip is longer on one side, which made it difficult for her to eat. That probably was a factor in why she was so skinny. I helped her out by throwing away the flakes I had (which are nutrionally horrible and floated away whenever she tried to eat them) and got Omega One pellets. After awhile, she gained some weight and figured out how to swim with her bent fins.

One of Indy's eyes is bigger than the other. It's very slight, but you can see it. I'm glad it didn't put her off balance. Since she was living with Patches who also had trouble getting food at the first snatch, Independence was able to put on the pounds. I assume that since the other black moors were perfectly capable of eating food, that she was a runt and couldn't get to the food in time.

So it goes to show that even though a fish is deformed, they can still have a quality life.

I hope to soon get the R2 fish school to help keep the rescues entertained and active. It also helps to rehabilitate fish from what I've heard.

 

It really is. Sure, you may feel like spending a few extra bucks on a nice can of Omega One pellets seems too much. But isn't it worth it to ensure a longer lifespan??
I get people asking me all the time how I keep goldies living so long (more than 3 months). And I say water quality and diet. They say too me "Isn't that a little too much for a $0.28 fish?" No!

 

Ah, the first betta. Now that's a story to tell. Bloo was a royal blue CT and he is actually the reason I started rescuing. He was an emaciated, fin rot survivor in a filthy cup at Petco and I couldn't leave him there. Even though I only had him for 6 months, I will always remember the little crowntail on my desk watching me as I typed on my computer.

I ran a betta rescue called Bloo's Second Chance for awhile and would love to start rescuing bettas again.

 

I swear everyone's first betta is a royal blue CT lol, that's what Beta was too. He's always in the back of my mind now whenever I take care of my bettas. I only wish I'd been half as knowledgeable with him as I am with all my other ones. He had a cute habit of burrowing into the gems in his bowl. It was really odd, but very adorable.

 

CTs must have a genetic habit for burrowing! Bloo used to snuggle himself in the roots of the Java Fern I had in his tank. Too cute.

 

Raku doesn't burrow (thankfully) but he does like hiding in his log and under his bridge. All bettas (and fish in general) are definitely cute and unique

 

Possible Adoptions

Okay, so this is not an official announcement, but I have my thoughts on who is going up for adoption. I am not 100% positive unless I know that someone is willing to adopt. Of course, I will probably wait until after New Years to make any shipping arrangements, but send me a PM if you are interested. It will most likely be posted on TFK as I do not have any bettas for adoption.

As long as you are cleared for adoption (I'll send a set of questions for you to answer), I can reserve a fish until you are able to provide a home, etc.

Indy

 

Possible Adoptions

Sushi