Farewell, Herbert.

[Nigel]

I am very upset today, as one of my goldfish, Herbert, has died.

It was November 1998 when the funfair made its annual visit to Aberystwyth. I won a goldfish on an easy darts game, then, saying he needed a friend, won a second. The stallholder didn't look impressed. I don't remember which was the first I chose, whether it was Herbert or George, who I named after H.G. Wells.

Over the years, Herbert and George grew a lot in size, so much so that they eventually needed a larger tank. As they grew, they also proved to be of different breeds. George is a smallish fish with long tail and fins. Herbert was a large fish with short tail and fins. He had a white patch on his belly when I first had him; this patch spread as he got older until by the time he died this morning, he had just a small, half-centimetre patch of orange on his back, just in front of his fin.

It seems strange that one should become so attached to a fish, but I had Herbert for nearly ten years. He and George were my little companions, a constant through good times and bad.

George and I will miss Herbert very much.

[Gav]

Condolences for the loss of your fish, Nigel.

[The Doctor]

Fair thee well, Herbert!

Ten years, eh? That's a good innings for a goldfish!

-Ralph

[Andy Turnbull]

Sorry to hear about Herbert's departure Nigel.

Andy

[kayevcee]

Bye Herbert! Well done to both of them for lasting so long. You must have taken good care of them, Nige.

-Nick

[Deleted]

My commiserations to you Nigel. I hope you didn't flush him down the toilet like other people do. That would be an undignified send off for a fish that lived as long as he did.

[legios]

Condolences Nigel.

Ten years seems like it must have been quite a good innings for a fish mind you.

Karl

[grahamthomson]

I am sorry for your loss, Nigel.

But as others have said, do take heart in the longevity of Herbert. Ten years is amazing, especially for a fairground fish.

[Nigel]

Thank you all.

It's a shame he didn't quite make the full ten years with me, but good going nonetheless.

Some people want to ban goldfish at funfairs, saying it's bad for the fish, but all the fish my family have had from fairs over the years lasted well. Old Seaspray might have been as old as eighteen when he went.

Zudobug, um, actually yes he did get the great flush-off. It's somewhat traditional, the way all the past family fish went. Personally, I think it's far more fitting for a fish to have a "sea burial" rather than burying in the garden as some people prefer to do. I couldn't bring myself to do it, though, I was too upset. I had to ask my Dad give Herbert his send-off.

[The Doctor]

Seaspray was 18? My goodness, I had no idea goldfish lived that long.

-Ralph

[Nigel]

If you google "oldest goldfish", you will read about world record breaking goldfish, Tish and successor Goldie, who died at 43 and 45 respectively. Both were from fairgrounds.

[The Doctor]

www.goldfishinfo.com/goldlife.htm

A Koi carp that lived to 226???!!!!

226 years old?!!!!

My mind has been blown.

-Ralph

[Deleted]

226 years old? Something smells fishy there.

[legios]

Jul 29, 2008 15:52:56 GMT @zudobug said:

226 years old? Something smells fishy there.

Well, when you are a Koi Carp you are basically a fish that sits on the bottom of ponds and hoovers up anything vaguely edible that comes within easy reach, so I doubt that you have much in the way of stress in your life...

Karl

[The Doctor]

Clearly, the Koi Carp are the secret rulers of the Earth.

-Ralph

[Deleted]

Maybe they're lying in wait to launch a grand scale attack on humankind.

[The Doctor]

I think they are. They need to be stopped.

-Ralph

[Deleted]

Maybe someone along the likes of Captain Birdseye could be a useful ally in such a case.