Hello all!

I've got a very sad story to tell so hold on to your fishtails. Two weeks ago...I got really excited and decided I wanted a pet. So I moseyed on down to Petsmart and found some beautiful little tropical fish.  Went all out! A big tank, with plants, lighting, heater, filter...everything!Yes, Mr. Dave Johnson, I will continue to call my fish "a pet". :) Anyway, with my busy schedule any other type of pet just won't do..they would require a bit too much attention. Reasoning: fish would be perfect! I purchased 2 yellow and black Mickey Mouse looking fish and a bright red fish from the swordtail family. I fell in love with Lolita, Mickey and Minnie.  Now, I will admit my experience with pets...fish, is not extensive. I had one great little beta fish in NYC that lasted almost a year! (I did have some help from my roomie at the time). Aside from that none, but I am NOT blaming the loss of Lolita and Mickey on my experience. Well, maybe Lolita's passing, but not Mickey!! So sad.  A week ago I was changing the water, didn't have a net yet, and accidentally dropped lil Lo in the sink as I was transferring the fish into another bowl, poor thing. I just stared at the sink I couldn't believe what had just happened. It was like I was 5 years old again and mom said we couldn't go to the zoo and on top of that no starburst for a year. I felt so bad...I sucked it up, not the fish, but the tears and continued to clean the living space of Mickey and Minnie. I said no more! I will get a net so this does not happen again! Unbelievable. Fast forward to a week later, I wake up this morning do my regular fish check before breakfast...and there's Mickey at the bottom!!!!! Swollen! What is going on?!  Everything was going so well compared to a week ago. I got a new net, there's clean water in the tank, food, plenty of space. What happened? That's the question I'll be asking my friend at Petsmart. I'm thinking Mickey either swallowed one of the rocks that may be disintegrating or was just sick??? Not sure, but Minnie will be getting special treatment now. She's all alone and will hopefully last a really REALLY long time.

~Stephanie