If you have fish I am not house-sitting for you

[Astrolady]

Friends of mine are currently in Melbourne and I was asked to go feed the fish and cat. No problem. They have 5 tanks of fish. Day 1 a small fish in one of their larger tanks was floating. Oh well. Plenty more fish in the tank. Day 3 (today) go this morning to turn their lights on. Their big oscar fish has another fish in it's mouth. I message my friend and get told "just don't feed that one tonight" I go back tonight and the fish in it's mouth is still in the same position, and the Oscar fish is now looking a bit worse for wear. I took a photo and sent it to my friend waiting for some sort of instruction as to what to do (if anything) and all I got was "omg ewww" in return.

I think I am going to have a dead Oscar fish on my hands tomorrow.

[Lenny]

As we all know, i suck with Fish babysitting too.

I am not qualified to give advice. Just sympathy. Fish babysitting sucks.

[Traveller]

I can't even be trusted to house sit a plant! Hope the fish outlives your expectations, these things can't be helped xx

[Astrolady]

Well I've googled and it's apparently a common thing. Quite a few photos similar to the one I took. Just a waiting game to see if it actually digests the fish and survives. The way it was looking though I don't like my chances.

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

I housesat for my cousin, and she has a heap of Koi. I went out one morning and there were 4 close to the top, but I didn't take much notice because I was being assaulted by her dogs that are taller than me. Next day, those fish were in the same spot, all swollen and yuck. I couldn't get hold of her, so I rang her brother, and he goes 'Oh my god, I can't believe you killed her fish - she LOVES them, they're like her children!'​ He was trolling me, she didn't mind

[Astrolady]

Oh Keike I would have burst into tears, if he had said that to me LOL.

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

I almost did, but I've known him long enough to not trust anything he says EVER

[Astrolady]

Well as of late this morning said fishy was still alive and had spat out the other fish *phew*. I put the dead fish down the loo, so he couldn't do it again. But now it looks like he has lock jaw. Oh well. He bites I am not catching him to fix it LOL.

They might all be dead by the end of the week if no one brings fish food. 3 times I have msged my friends to say I am getting low, and last night to say I didn't have enough for today. I was told they had organised someone to get it, but still waiting. It isn't the run of the mill fish food either and they haven't kept the actual packet so I can't go to a pet shop and say "hey do you sell this" cause I have no idea what it is. At least that won't be my problem.

[hj1981]

LOL can we see this picture?
Sorry i had to laugh at it all

[peanutter]

My fish ate my sister's fish. There was plenty of fish food, it wasn't anyone's fault, it just wanted fish that day, or my sister's fish annoyed it a bit much, or whatever ...

I thought fish could go a while without food, though ... ? If they can't though, and they need that fancy food, and your friends love their fish, surely they would have made sure you had enough?

Hope it all ends up ok xx

[Astrolady]

Yeah that's what I don't get Peanutter. My friend personally can't stand the fish, her partner on the other hand. Maybe she isn't passing on my messages to him LOL.
HJ The pic is on my phone and I've lost my computer/phone cable. I can link you to what it looked like though, it just wasn't THAT fish in particular. The fish they have is black and orange.

[OceanPrincess]

Good grief!!! That would have freaked me out!

Why do fish always die when their owners aren't around? We had someone housesit for us on our 9wk honeymoon, we offloaded the cat to my parents but asked him to feed the fish, well, feed them he did, like a cup morning and night. Guess we should have been more explicit with the amount to feed!

They are touchy creatures sometimes.

PS - lockjaw??? Is his mouth stuck open?

[BlackCat]

I have to say I have no idea about fish, but that is both fascinating and disgusting... Im grossed out but not enough to turn away lol...

[Astrolady]

LMAO I know what you mean BlackCat. I sat there staring at him for about half an hour last night. Mainly wondering what in the hell I could do (if anything).

OP - Yeah I think his mouth is stuck open. It was wide open this morning when I was there. Will see how it is when I go back tonight.

[Lenny]

I have to say I have no idea about fish, but that is both fascinating and disgusting... Im grossed out but not enough to turn away lol...

LOL.

[Astrolady]

Well he seemed all good tonight. Found some other food I could give it and it ploughed into the side of the tank and popped it's jaw back. Stupid fish.

[hj1981]

HJ The pic is on my phone and I've lost my computer/phone cable. I can link you to what it looked like though, it just wasn't THAT fish in particular. The fish they have is black and orange.

Bahahahahaha that made me laugh even more however that would of made me panic a bit too.
This fish saga just keeps getting better with it going onto having lock jaw now ploughing into side of tank

[Mummy&Daddy2Be]

oh my goodness that photo is disturbing!!!!!! you poor thing. ohh but this situation is so unique and hilarious at the same time!