MERCURY NEWS (San Jose, California) 12 July 08 Goldfish, turtle make for an odd couple (Linda Goldston)
Every morning when Lou Gambelin heads to a spare bedroom to feed the family pets, Leroy the turtle and Buddy the goldfish swim together to a corner of their tank.
Buddy usually grabs some of the turtle food before Leroy can get it all, but the red-eared turtle doesn't seem to mind. They've been friends for three years.
"Since Leroy didn't eat him, they just hang out together in the tank," said Lou's wife, Madeline, who wrote to me about the unusual friends.
It seems Leroy ate all the other little fish the Redwood City couple tried putting in his tank. He left Buddy alone and now the goldfish is as big as Leroy - they both are about eight inches long - and they seem to enjoy each other's company, Madeline said. Buddy was a little guy, only about an inch long, when he was put into the tank.
I've seen stories and photos about unusual animal friends, but Madeline's story is the first one I've received about a turtle and a goldfish peacefully sharing a fish tank.
"One of our grandsons won Buddy at a parish festival in June 2005 by tossing a ping pong ball into a bowl," Madeline said. "The family brought him to our home and put him in the tank with Leroy. Leroy is now 27 years old, and Buddy is 3."
One of the Gambelins' sons bought Leroy when he was in high school, and the son is now turning 40, so the turtle has done well.
Both Leroy and Buddy will swim over to watch when Lou or Madeline come into their room and they especially seem to enjoy it when the couple's dog walks up to the tank, she said.
"They have a good life and are good friends," Madeline said. "It is amazing Buddy wasn't eaten in a few days."
Goldfish, turtle make for an odd couple