Parent's worst nightmare - I killed the fish!

My son got a new fish last week.  It was his dream to have a saltwater tank and I made his spend a year with a freshwater tank before he did saltwater.

He finally got his saltwater tank set up and we got him one blue damsel for a start.

today he went camping with his dad and voiced his fears of leaving the fish.  I promised everything would be Ok and he went off happily.  He said he was bonded with the fish.

Then I cleaned the carpet in his room.  I did not bump the tank but the noise obviously scared the fish a bit.  I did not worry though - I barely looked twice.  I left his room and did not go back for several hours.

When I did go up to feed the fish - there was no fish.  It is not anywhere in his tank!  I am afraid it jumped out - some how getting around the cover.  But I could not find it.  It was not in the filter.  Its gone.

Now I could run off and buy him another one and he would not know.  Except that this particular fish had a bad eye and I doubt I could find another like it.

I feel really bad.  I dont know what to do. 

Check your local bars, he might have just gone out for a night on the town.

I would put up "missing" posters around your neighborhood, if all else fails, I would wait at least 24 hours before involving the police.

LOL. Schnoodie. I would just have it on a cheese cracker. How big could it be?

*looks left* *looks right* Making sure there are no Peta members within listening range.

Maybe he's hiding?

Hopefully he is hiding... They can be really good at hiding. When my son was 5 I killed his pet goldfish, Speedy. I could not bring myself to tell him. So I told him I had to take him back to the pet store because he missed his family. We had to go back several times to see him. He insisted Speedy was not there. I tried to point him out among the 100's in the tank. Years later he asked me about it... And I admitted I lied, Speedy died. If I had it to do over again... We would have had a proper burial for Speedy. My advice to you... Find the fish.

My dad owned a fish store for quite a long time, so I know that blue damsels are actually really small and excellent hiders. Get your hands wet and move everything in the tank. If there are decorative castles or anything like that, take it out and move them. Shake them, too. It would be a little confusing if you did buy a replacement fish and then the other damsel came out of hiding and your son came home to two damsels.

But if you cannot find it, and.. Depending on how old your son is, I'd just tell him.

You are going to tell us where the fish went, aren't you?

Get out and call for your pet by name. Ask friends or neighbors to help you walk or drive the immediate area. Have each one head in a different direction and move outward starting from the tank! Don't try to predict where your pet could or wouldn't have gone – YOU NEVER KNOW. Check everywhere! The best time to call for your pet is at night, and at dawn. If you are calling from your car, drive slowly, roll down all the windows, stop and turn your vehicle off frequently to listen.

Notify people who are familiar with your pet that it's lost. (For example: Newspaper and mail carriers and neighborhood children. ) The more people who know you have lost a pet and that you are upset/worried the better your chances. Make sure others  are aware you're desperately trying to find your pet. Then more people will call you if they see an animal in the woods or on the road, or in their backyard... or swimming in their pools.

Remember: Someone may've commandeered your pet. :) Get OUT there and FIND that FISH!

Original Post by luhluhlovesongs:

My dad owned a fish store for quite a long time, so I know that blue damsels are actually really small and excellent hiders. Get your hands wet and move everything in the tank. If there are decorative castles or anything like that, take it out and move them. Shake them, too. It would be a little confusing if you did buy a replacement fish and then the other damsel came out of hiding and your son came home to two damsels.

But if you cannot find it, and.. Depending on how old your son is, I'd just tell him.

Yeah. I'd make sure that you find it dead or alive. That way he doesn't have to find it dead/smelly. It's nice to build up to the conversation rather than having him find it that way alone. Some fish are just fantastic at hide n' seek. :) The sound might have scared him into hiding!

- crosses fingers-  Best of luck!  btw: Sometimes if a child kills a pet accidently or finds it dead... they'll hide it.

Well, you said you scared him cleaning the carpet so like everyone else said he's probably in there hiding really well.

I'm LMAO at all the "look everywhere for your pet" responses! I think he's hiding, too.  Please make sure you tell us when you find him!