I would like to share with you a true story about a very wonderful and great lady I knew, by the name of Pat. Pat was a true Goldfish lover and had thousands of dollars worth of very high quality Goldfish in her collection that she bought from Goldfish Connection. Pat had a beautiful family room with lots the best goldfish aquariums and filter systems money could buy. Plus, Pat's husband built her a goldfish pond that came from the outside of her home into her family room.

For the first six months Pat was happy, her goldfish were healthy, growing and thriving. Her goldfish were even spawning for her which shows me how healthy they were with good goldfish care. She always called me every time she had new goldfish fry and I always enjoyed talking with her, because of the enthusiasm and love she had for her goldfish.

Then the phone calls started to change from being happy to having all kinds of problems. Here are just a few of the comments I received from Pat over the next six months. My pH is too high, so I added pH Down. I think my goldfish have flukes so I gave them a salt bath. I don't think the salt bath helped so I added another product. I think my goldfish have a bacterial problem so I add three different products to help them. These problems went on and on, however, over this period she never added a new goldfish, plants or snails to her goldfish aquariums, nothing changed.

So why was Pat having so many problems, why did she go from having strong, happy, healthy goldfish fish to goldfish with all kinds problems? Well, in a course of conversation I found Pat was spending a lot of time on the internet taking conflicting bad advice from all kinds of sources that were telling her to make all kinds all unnecessary changes. That was her problem! I said, "Pat, the conflicting advice that you are receiving and the fact that you are looking at your goldfish with a "magnifying glass" is your problem. "Please go back to the "Basics" we set up when you first bought the goldfish from me and stop "mothering" them so much" Well she did not listen and goldfish her problems continued.

I did not hear from Pat for six months. Then one day I answered the phone and a weak voice I did not recognize said "Rick this is Pat." I knew there was something wrong. I asked " How are you, why haven't I heard from you in such a long time?" Pat said, about eight months earlier she was diagnosed with cancer. We talked for quite sometime and in the course of conversation Pat told me that she had been bed ridden for the last four months (in fact she had a bed placed in her family room so she could enjoy watching her goldfish) , but could no longer take care of them. Her husband fed them once a day and did water changes for her once a week. Then she said "Rick I wanted to let you know I wish I would have listen to you a long time ago. Ever since I could not take care of the goldfish myself, they have never been healthier and the only care they receive is a feeding once a day and a water change once a week by my husband." "Now I know, as you said, I almost "mothered" them to death." I never heard from Pat again. Then about six weeks later I received a call from Pat's husband telling me she passed. I miss Pat's visits and all the good conversations I had with her.

I know how much Pat loved her Goldfish and I know if she could help you save your goldfish, Pat would be happy to share her experience with you.

Pat's experience:

Be very careful what information or advice you receive and use on your goldfish.

Do not keep looking at your goldfish with a "magnifying glass".

Good basic goldfish care is great! Over "mothering" your goldfish is not.

Last but NOT least: If your goldfish are healthy DO NOT change anything, no matter who tells you to change.