Frozen Goldies!!!

[HealthyObsessio]

Ok, this is probably already a done deal, but when I was walking to class the other day I noticed that in our fountain there were some goldfish. This would not be good for them since the water parameters would constantly change. The big problem is that it is still winter here, and if you haven't guessed it already, the water is now frozen! I went to get a closer look and there at least 3 goldies frozen in this fountain!

I feel terrible for the fish, and I am really mad that someone at my college woudl do this! I know this is probably not possible, but could they be thawed out??? I doubt it, but there are frogs that survive every winter by freezing themselves... and also I heard of one person who tried to euthenize a goldie by freezing it, but it didn't kill it!

[Alasse]

If they are in frozen solid water, then i doubt greatly if they would survive

If it was just frozen on top...they possibly could

[honeythorn]

Goldfish in ponds ect.. survive the cold by staying at the bottom . The water at the bottom is actually warmer than at the surface, where there is no windchill to cool the water.

Have you tried breaking the ice ? If the ice is frozen right to the bottom then it is unlikely that they are alive. They aren't the same as amphibians.

Is there anyone at the college you can speak to about the situation? who decided to add goldfish to the fountain?

How big is the fountain? and how deep? Is there any kind of filtration?

[mr gerbil]

If the water's completely frozen, they're dead.

If it's frozen at the top, they're probably fine. Try breaking the ice at the top though, so that O2/CO2 can diffuse.

[HealthyObsessio]

It has always been called "the empty fountain" and the only reason it has water in it now is because of all the snow and rain we have had recently.

I am not sure how long the fish have been in there... but every time I go by, they are in the same position, so I am pretty sure they are dead.

I am just bothered by it because we have actual goldfish bowls upstairs in the lounge where they have a good home and are properly cared for. I wish people could just be satisfied with that.

[Nell]

I am just bothered by it because we have actual goldfish bowls upstairs in the lounge where they have a good home and are properly cared for. I wish people could just be satisfied with that.

Honestly, I hope people aren't satisfied with that, and you shouldn't be either. Goldfish bowls are death traps and the worse possible home for a fish... no filtration, no air, drasticly changing water parameters, the build up of ammonia and nitrites which burn the fish and deplete their blood of oxygen, cramped conditions which result in stunting and premature death... You can't take good proper care of a fish in a bowl; keeping a fish in a bowl is abuse. They really are better off dead.

Goldfish need an absolute bare minimum of 10-20 gallons per fish, and a bare minimum of a 30-50 gal tank with excellent filtration and dilligent maintainance, but they should really have more than that if you want them to be healthy and happy and live out the full potential lifespan of 15-20+ years.

[mr gerbil]

If the alternative was a goldfish bowl, freezing to death was a blessing. Seriously.

Bowls restrict water oxygenation, suffocating the fish. Their small size also means that toxins build up easily, and high ammonia levels, the first product of the nitrogen cycle, will kill fish in hours.
Stunted growth is also a serious problem, as a fish that would normally grow to over a foot long is usually lucky to reach 5cm in a bowl. Yet again, most don't live long enough for this to be an issue.

Contrary to common stereotypes, goldfish need a highly-filtered tank 100 gallons in size or above (I know Nell said 50, but that's really the minimum to keep them alive, not the minimum to keep them happy or give them a decent lifespan).

The oldest living goldfish died at the age of 43. Those dumped in bowls are usually lucky to survive 43 hours.

That reminds me, I was at the pet shop today and overheard some guy saying "I'm not spending twenty quid on some goldfish, they die within a week. How about that one? Want some gravel for the bowl to make it pretty?".
I declined to comment, it usually doesn't help.