Pet store dropped my oranda when I went to pick her up today

The girl who took her out of her tank is an idiot, the plastic box she was going to put her in was too small, the net she caught her in was too small and whether she missed the box, the fish slipped out of her hand in the net, or the fish jumped, this girl was asking for trouble.

Afterward when she was in the bag to bring home, she was lying on her side breathing intermittently. A couple of times she had very quick seizure-like action, and they said they'd take her to their vet as soon as the store closed (about an hour away at that time). I called about half an hour later and they said she seemed to be perking up.

I fell in love with her the moment I saw her. I'd never considered goldfish before that. She was alone in a small tank perhaps 10 gal or less for months at this store; people thought she was cute but didn't want to pay $25 for her. I think she is a chocolate oranda and SO cute.

I researched orandas for about 3 weeks and decided yesterday to take the plunge. I had previously set up the tank and was cycled and ready to go today. I actually bought her yesterday so no one else could take her. My heart was singing when I went to get her!

I am really crushed. I'm sorry I went to pick her up, and that the one to get her for me was that incompetent girl! I sat in my car and cried for awhile and came home, now looking at my empty tank.

I hope she pulls through but who knows what damage that fall did? About 3 1/2 feet and a huge plop.

Her name is Penelope.

I am so sorry. I hope she pulls through too

Thanks, Sassy. I guess I'll know in the morning.

Sally

Penelope came home today. She is swimming happily around her new 20 gal long tank, a good size for her at her present size. The pet store's vet has her on StressCoat+ for the next week twice a day and Tetracycline for any internal infections from the stress of the drop.

Her color has become much darker and her face is swollen very much. Hoping the end of the antibiotic will take care of those. She has gone from lightish gold/bronze to dark brown.

However, as long as she's here and doing well, I'm happy. She has no sign of swim bladder injury or anything.

She is much bolder than in the store. Swims back and forth, up and down in her 30" long tank, then checks out the hiding places, then looks through the back of the tank, then comes up and looks out the front of the tank. Even if I adjust some of the stuff in the tank (moved the medium rocks so she can nose down in between them looking for food, adjusted the fake plants to create better hiding places) she doesn't show any sign of fear or trauma.

I will probably be up all night watching her to make sure she continues to do well.

Yippee! I hope!

Awesome!!!! Your story is so sweet and compassionate.

What a sweet story! We'll all be pulling for your little Penelope...keep us posted on her!!

I'm leaving her alone today, with the light off. She is swimming from her hiding spot to the center of the tank and back. I want to make her hiding spot a bit more hidden if I can.

I have to give her some more Tetracycline, she will have had a vacation from that for about 24 hours later today. I hate to do it, because I'm afraid it's why her color has changed and her face is so swollen, but it does help prevent infections from her stress. If she gets through all this, she'll have made her bones for toughness!

I haven't turned the light on all day. Penelope rested all day, mostly in her hiding spot and intermittently coming out to check out her tank, but this evening she has spent almost all her time picking through the gravel and over the rocks. Very busy! I did drop a couple of pellets into the tank......