Things You'll Need
- Pencil
- Sheet of drawing paper
- Sharp scissors
- Piece of 100 percent cotton flannel
- 6-inch-long pieces of thin string, 4
- Fishing bobbers
- 4-inch pieces of thin string, 2
Instructions
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1
Draw a rough sketch of the affected goldfish's shape, paying very careful attention to the position and number of fins. Make the drawing life size and as accurate as possible.
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2
Cut out the outline of the goldfish you have just drawn and place it on a piece of 100 percent cotton flannel.
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3
Cut out a piece of 100 percent cotton flannel in the shape of the goldfish outline. Cut the piece large enough so it can fold over the back of your fish.
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4
Examine your living goldfish very carefully and use this image, together with the drawing, to cut out sections of the flannel that coincide with the position of the fish's fins.
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5
Cut out a section that coincides with the position of the vent of the fish.
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6
Use the tip of the scissors to make a small hole in each of the four corners of the piece of flannel.
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7
Thread a 6-inch piece of string through each hole and tie a knot in the string to secure each piece to the flannel.
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8
Tie a small fish bobber to the free end of each of the four pieces of string.
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9
Use the tip of the scissors to make a small hole on the right hand side of the flannel, at a point approximately one-quarter down the length of this side. Make a second small hole, approximately three-quarters down the length of this side.
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10
Repeat this process on the left hand side of piece of flannel.
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11
Rinse your hands to remove any traces of soap or hand cream, which is detrimental to the water and the populations of beneficial bacteria.
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12
Wet the flannel sling.
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13
Retrieve your goldfish from the bottom of the aquarium, either with an aquarium net, or with your hand.
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14
Place the goldfish carefully into the sling and request an assistant to fold the right and left sides over the back of the fish.
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15
Request the assistant to thread a 4-inch piece of string through the holes closest to the fish's head and to tie a knot. The assistant needs to thread a 4-inch-long piece of string through the holes toward the piece of flannel as well.
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16
Gently release the fish in the aquarium. The weight of the fish will allow it to sink into the water, but the fishing bobbers will keep it afloat.
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