She was one of my oldest. I got her about five years ago as a three incher. Yesterday and this morning she was bottom-sitting. This afternoon she was gone. I always knew she was getting big but wasn't sure exactly how big. Here's a picture with an 18 inch ruler laying next to her.



Even though she lost a lot of her black and became kind of ugly she was always the dominant presence in my pond. I'll sure miss her.

she wasn't ugly, I'm sorry you lost her, my she RIP and feel better soon

Yeah, you're right. She wasn't really ugly. I think I was just disappointed because when I got her I thought she looked like a really beautiful Showa. My idea was to get goldfish that looked like koi. So, I got a couple of Sarassa comets that looked like Kohaku and a Shubunkin that looked like a Showa.

No doubt she will be missed. When I put food in the pond she would dart to the surface, grab a few bits of food and dive to the bottom. It was quite spectacular because she would flip her tail so hard that water would go flying for six to eight feet out of the pond!

Jim I am so sorry to read this! She was beautiful and I can tell how well she was cared for by her pics!

Do you have any idea what was wrong to take her that quickly? I hope you feel better soon.

I know you will miss her, she was a beauty!!!

Not really. We've had many days of storms the last week and that triggered a lot of spawning activity. There have been a lot of toads doing their deal in the pond lately too. Could be spawning stress, parasites from the toads, just not sure. I probably should of scraped and scoped her but I'm not sure how good that is after they've died.

That is a sad loss, i am sure she will be missed.

She was a big girl huh?

Sorry you lost her.

So sorry to hear that Jim she was a beautiful fish!

It is really sad to hear that you lost a good fish.I personally thought her to be a beauty.

That is sad I think she was lovely too with her black tail and speckles. And she really grew for you! 18 inches is a huge growth spurt from 3!! I know you'll miss her. beautiful big shub.

Oh that is sad news... She was very pretty and must have been wonderful to watch in the pond. I'm Sorry you lost her...

Am so sorry for your loss She was a beautiful fish.

Little Girl you will always be remembered

Thanks everyone for you kind sentiments. I consider myself lucky to have had her in my pond at all. Maybe she was like a shooting star. She lived fast.

That reminds me of something... I've heard people talk about goldfish longevity in terms of degree-days. In other words, they will live longer in colder water and shorter in warmer water. I wonder if living in a warmer climate results in your fish doing everything at an accelerated pace. Will they grow and die faster? Is the lack of a true dormant season a problem? I wonder. :thinking:

Sounds like something I heard too, Jim - in colder weather the metabolism is slower, while in warmer weather everything goes at a faster speed.

She truely was a beauty, and what a girl! She must have had a belly full of eggs, maybe that had something to do with her passing?