2006-11-26 20:57:48 · 21 answers · asked by Uh Oh!!! 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
It can be a coincidence but it depends on factors like how clean your hands were and if any of the scales were damaged. On the one hand they can be pretty tough things but also very sensitive to bacteria in the water and infections. Also, it depends on the type of goldfish as there are quite a few different species about.
I had one called Big Daddy and he lasted 10 years. He was fed flies, occasionally got an infection in his scales due to the water change and even had his bowl knocked over once. However, the other two that were with him died within the first year so it just depends on the fish in truth. Don't beat yourself up over it. You will never know.
2006-11-26 21:09:29 · answer #1 · answered by JACQUI S 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is a coincidence. I do it with mine all the time if they are getting a bit tricky to catch. The fishes skin is however covered with a type of mucus which helps with the skin and stops infection. You will damage this when you p[ick them up , so make sure your hands are clean. The mucus will re-develop in time so it may make them more prone to infection but should not kill them.
2006-11-27 05:07:09 · answer #2 · answered by rgrahamh2o 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most likely a coincidence
2006-11-27 04:59:47 · answer #3 · answered by Normefoo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's probally a coincidence. I had one that fell out of his tank onto the dirty carpet and I picked him up with my dirty hands and he lived to be 12 years old. It's true that you can damage the scales and the slime coat but I don't think handleing them for a breif time would kill him, especally two days later.
2006-11-27 10:11:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A coincidence...
I was cleaning my golfish tank the other weekend, and I put my fish in the kitchen sink. I came back into the kitchen and heard flapping.... The washing machine emptying had pulled the plug out and my poor, poor fish were just twitching!!
They are fine- 3 weeks on.
2006-11-27 05:01:16 · answer #5 · answered by Coley 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
definitely a coincidence if it was only picked up for a second or two. i've had pet fish in the past, and non of mine ever died after being briefly held like that.
2006-11-27 05:09:01 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fish have a protective layer over their skin (it probably felt slimey to you, like mucus) which can be damaged if you touch them. This layer helps to protect the fish from infection so it could be a coincidence (they not to display symptoms until its too late!) or you could have damaged this layer then the fish picked up an infection and died.
This is why you don't touch your fish!
2006-11-27 05:07:59 · answer #7 · answered by ehc11 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just a coincidence
2006-11-27 08:15:13 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
What did you have on your hands? I used to have goldfish when I was younger. I would always pick them up out of their tank when cleaning them out. I did have a fish that developed a growth after my brother came in drunk one night. He picked it up and threatened to eat it lol!
2006-11-27 05:24:28 · answer #9 · answered by itgirl23 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It doesn't do them any good, but won't necessarily kill them. By picking them up with your hands, you will be damaging their sensitive skin, they have a layer of mucus over their skin, and if you touch them, even if your hands are clean, you 'burn' them. This makes them more prone to infection, and this could be why they die a few days later.
2006-11-27 08:52:09 · answer #10 · answered by KkR 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋