How Far Would You Go To Save A Pet?

Just before my older son's sixth birthday, we bought two guppies and set them up in a three gallon tank.  It's just about the tiniest fish tank I've seen.  The woman working the fish department at PetSmart warned me that smaller tanks are typically more work, but given these are our first pets ever, I wanted the commitment to be a small one.  Just dipping a toe in the water, so to speak.

Within six weeks, the yellow-tailed guppy (named Apple Juice by my 3 year old) developed a hole in its tail and became sluggish.  I'd been following directions on their care so I was perplexed.

 

I noticed the hole on Saturday morning and immediately went online to search for guppy ailments.  Based on various descriptions and the condition of the tank, I diagnosed it as tail/fin rot rather than ammonia burn, which can present similarly.  I called PetSmart and asked what I could do.  They recommended antibiotics, so I dashed over and bought a package.  I also bought some rapid water corrector and test strips to facilitate close and quick monitoring of the water.  Ca-ching.  $47.  This is on top of the $60 or so that I paid for the tank, gravel, a net, decorations, filters, food, and fish.  Chump change for those who have big tanks, but not an inconsequential expenditure for two tiny guppies.

I cleaned the tank and gravel, replaced the water, dispensed the medication and went on about my business.  I was not hopeful.  Having had some experience with carnival goldfish as a kid, I knew how delicate they can be.  I explained to my kids that Apple Juice is sick and he might not survive and though they were sad, they took it amazingly well.  For three days, I treated the fish, checked the water, fed them, and watched.

The most surprising thing about this experience is not that Apple Juice actually survived (swimming around energetically after day 3 of treatment) - though that was really surprising.  What surprised me the most was the way the blue-tailed guppy (named Root Beer by my 6 year old) constantly tried to keep Apple Juice moving.  For those who think fish don't have a sense of friendship, I've got evidence that proves otherwise.  Root Beer was never more than an inch away from Apple Juice the whole time, touching "noses", keeping his friend moving.

This experience left me wondering: 
How far would I go to save a pet - even a guppy?  How does one conduct a cost/benefit analysis on pet-related expenditures when emotions are involved?  Is having pets worth the lesson kids eventually learn about death? 

How far would you go?