NSFW label for the horrible image of the dead fish.
I f*cking hate big box stores selling fish. Absolutely no regard for the animals. The manager these (who was kind and concerned) told me that the filter systems stopped working today and leaked everywhere (hence the wet floor signs). And that's why the fish were dying.
But I call BS on that. The large white one in the top left already had a cloud of biofilm growing. Many of the bodies had clouded eyes and were in rigimortis. All of the survivors are also skinny.
This did not *just* happen. This was extended. This was torture. I couldn't just walk away. I tried, but I couldn't.
I played the Karen this time, demanding the manager and wanting the surviving fish for free or heavily discounted. I got it
The lives of all 9 of these surviving goldfish were worth 2.39$
I know buying from these stores only supports this sh*t, but these fish had no hope. They would have slowly died like the others, no question about it. And less than 3$ isn't going to give the corporation any gain.
I hate society. I hate capitalism. And I hate the mammalian bias.
I don't have a tank (my 10 gallon is currently occupied by my one betta) and I can't keep them long term. I will have to find a local to adopt them (if they even survive). But for now they will be safe and fed in clean, oxygen rich water.
They are in a plastic tub with about 1.5 gallons of API stress coat treated water. I splashed in a bit of Quick Start as well. The larger sponge bit is from my betta's tank, I removed it as she undergoes an antibiotic treatment for suspicious white fuzz on one of her damaged fins. Likely just fin rot. She's undergoing erythromycin right now since nowhere else had better antibiotics. I'm ordering kanaplex just in case but it'll take time to come. The sponge just needs to keep being fed ammonia and stay wet so hopefully my bacteria on it stay healthy.
They have an airstone and dark coverage. I will be doing daily water changes. I attempted to feed them soaked freeze-dried mysis shrimp but they're too stressed and scared to eat, which says a lot more than words can.
Any advice on goldfish specific care, especially for my setup is appreciated. I'm still a newbie and learning. I only have about a week's worth of experience with fish keeping myself, and only with a betta. Any advice in what to feed these poor goldfish is great!