Stupid Goldfish.

I have a goldfish problem. My aunt made me play a game at the Obon festival where you win a goldfish as a prize. She said we were going to give it to her grandkids, but then decided to let me keep it.

And that's how I got Obon, the goldfish.

I thought..all right, no problem. I'll just put him in Senor Cadburry el Pescado de Alviso's (may he rest in peace) bowl instead of getting another fighting fish.

So I plopped Obon in there, only to immediately find him/her gasping at the water surface.

Why was Obon doing this? Goldfish go in bowls right? Right?!

Apparently not. When all else fails turn to Google for answers. I've been browsing dozens of goldfish keeping pages. Apparently these seemingly easy to care for pets are quite a handful. First thing I learned, Goldfish will not survive in Goldfish bowls, not enough surface area to get the right amount of Oxygen...hence gasping Obon (and the untimely passing of Lauren's fish...Norbert).

So, I decided...I'll get a tank! A 10 gallon tank like we had when I was a kid! It will be so cool, I'll put it up at the Berkeley house, plop Obon in there, and get some cool tropical fish too!

Wrong again. After buying the tank I learn that, it's a big NO-NO to put Goldfish in a Tropical Fish aquarium. Goldfish are coldwater fish and can pretty much only live with goldfish. They eat different food, need different water temperatures, and produce a slimy coating which can damage the tropical fish.

So...maybe I'll just get goldfish I think. Four or five different looking goldfish would still be...kinda...cool.

Wrong again. You see....goldfish get big. An adult "common" goldfish (which is the breed I discovered Obon is) usually grow to about 10 inches. And the general rule is 1 inch of fish to 1 gallon of water. Plus, goldfish were bred to have no stomachs. Food goes in and out....making them one of the dirtiest types of fish to keep. One fish alone will take all the resources of a normal filtration system (another reason the bowl is a no-no)

Which means.....if I keep this damn fish, it'll be the only fish. One stinkin' goldfish in a 10 gallon tank....instead of, say, an angel fish, a catfish, and a three or four neon tetras.

Now if I was a less sensitive person, I could just let this goldfish languish in the bowl until it dies or flush it. But I can't.

Anyone want a goldfish? They're easy to care for pets....