Dealing with loss in the aquarium hobby

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eleNt
Posts: 108
Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2022 2:14 pm

Dealing with loss in the aquarium hobby

Post by eleNt »

I've written a brief article about my recent experience. I know a fellow TFF user from Perth who lost all his fish back in 2016 due to his sister's actions - she just didn't like him or his pets. I recall discussing this with him in one of my threads, and it's a prime example of how an incompetent judicial system can cause the loss of beloved pets. I myself have just dealt with the loss of my dwarf gourami, who passed away today - I buried him near a tree in my front yard. You might remember how I used to clean their tank and feed them every day.

Fish can be gone too soon, often due to overfeeding, viruses, parasites, or fish TB. It's tough to determine the cause of death just by looking at the deceased fish, unless you have a helpful community like TFF to turn to. It's all part of the circle of life. If you're dealing with a loss like this, one of the best things you can do is remember your pet and give them a proper burial in your yard, rather than flushing them down the toilet. As with any pet, you'll eventually face the loss of a loved one. We've all had fish we loved and hated over time. Losing a pet is tough for a fishkeeper, but it won't stop them - they'll keep going, even after a loss. I did my best to care for my gourami before he passed, and I'll keep doing my best for my remaining fish. Loss is inevitable for a fishkeeper, and we'll all have to deal with it eventually.
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graye
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Re: Dealing with loss in the aquarium hobby

Post by graye »

Loss is indeed inevitable with living things, but we can find ways to cope and move forward, often enriched by the experiences we shared with what we lost. When it comes to my fish, I don't really have any specific rituals, but since I breed them, I usually have their offspring to care for and continue the cycle. The circle of life in aquariums does require some effort, but it can be incredibly engaging.

As for burials, I don't have a preference - whether it's in the garden or elsewhere. However, I do have a special spot in my garden where my old dog is buried, and I occasionally visit it. Interestingly, there's a human graveyard across the street from my house, and another one behind my fence - which can lead to some humorous conversations with my neighbors. What's noteworthy, though, is that the graveyard behind my house has recently started allowing pets to be buried with their owners. This decision might not be driven by compassion, but it's a thoughtful gesture for those considering their final resting place.

Keep your chin up, and focus on the positives. While fish can have relatively short lifespans, they can still live fulfilling lives.
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eleNt
Posts: 108
Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2022 2:14 pm

Re: Dealing with loss in the aquarium hobby

Post by eleNt »

graye wrote: Sun Nov 20, 2022 6:07 pm Loss is indeed inevitable with living things, but we can find ways to cope and move forward, often enriched by the experiences we shared with what we lost. When it comes to my fish, I don't really have any specific rituals, but since I breed them, I usually have their offspring to care for and continue the cycle. The circle of life in aquariums does require some effort, but it can be incredibly engaging.

As for burials, I don't have a preference - whether it's in the garden or elsewhere. However, I do have a special spot in my garden where my old dog is buried, and I occasionally visit it. Interestingly, there's a human graveyard across the street from my house, and another one behind my fence - which can lead to some humorous conversations with my neighbors. What's noteworthy, though, is that the graveyard behind my house has recently started allowing pets to be buried with their owners. This decision might not be driven by compassion, but it's a thoughtful gesture for those considering their final resting place.

Keep your chin up, and focus on the positives. While fish can have relatively short lifespans, they can still live fulfilling lives.
I agree with you too, and I appreciate your insight. I didn't know that pets can be buried with their people. It's interesting to know that some graveyards are now allowing this.
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graye
Posts: 361
Joined: Sat Jan 08, 2022 9:05 pm

Re: Dealing with loss in the aquarium hobby

Post by graye »

eleNt wrote: Sun Nov 20, 2022 4:11 pm I've written a brief article about my recent experience. I know a fellow TFF user from Perth who lost all his fish back in 2016 due to his sister's actions - she just didn't like him or his pets. I recall discussing this with him in one of my threads, and it's a prime example of how an incompetent judicial system can cause the loss of beloved pets. I myself have just dealt with the loss of my dwarf gourami, who passed away today - I buried him near a tree in my front yard. You might remember how I used to clean their tank and feed them every day.

Fish can be gone too soon, often due to overfeeding, viruses, parasites, or fish TB. It's tough to determine the cause of death just by looking at the deceased fish, unless you have a helpful community like TFF to turn to. It's all part of the circle of life. If you're dealing with a loss like this, one of the best things you can do is remember your pet and give them a proper burial in your yard, rather than flushing them down the toilet. As with any pet, you'll eventually face the loss of a loved one. We've all had fish we loved and hated over time. Losing a pet is tough for a fishkeeper, but it won't stop them - they'll keep going, even after a loss. I did my best to care for my gourami before he passed, and I'll keep doing my best for my remaining fish. Loss is inevitable for a fishkeeper, and we'll all have to deal with it eventually.
If I were to follow the trend of burying pets with their owners, I'd likely end up in a massive burial site by now, considering the numerous pets I've had over the years - from fish to cats, dogs, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and even bugs.

Even the traditional graveyard across the street, which doesn't allow pet burials, has a significant number of headstones featuring etchings of dogs and cats. It's a testament to the strong bonds we form with our pets.

I must admit, I've considered getting a killie tattoo on multiple occasions, but that's a whole different level of commitment.
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eleNt
Posts: 108
Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2022 2:14 pm

Re: Dealing with loss in the aquarium hobby

Post by eleNt »

graye wrote: Sun Nov 20, 2022 6:07 pm Loss is indeed inevitable with living things, but we can find ways to cope and move forward, often enriched by the experiences we shared with what we lost. When it comes to my fish, I don't really have any specific rituals, but since I breed them, I usually have their offspring to care for and continue the cycle. The circle of life in aquariums does require some effort, but it can be incredibly engaging.

As for burials, I don't have a preference - whether it's in the garden or elsewhere. However, I do have a special spot in my garden where my old dog is buried, and I occasionally visit it. Interestingly, there's a human graveyard across the street from my house, and another one behind my fence - which can lead to some humorous conversations with my neighbors. What's noteworthy, though, is that the graveyard behind my house has recently started allowing pets to be buried with their owners. This decision might not be driven by compassion, but it's a thoughtful gesture for those considering their final resting place.

Keep your chin up, and focus on the positives. While fish can have relatively short lifespans, they can still live fulfilling lives.
That's awesome, graye, I hope you get the killie tattoo, it's a great way to show your love for them.
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