Inheriting an aquarium--should I offer to pay?

[carfreemama]

I'm just wondering...

Friends are moving cross-country and I asked if they wanted me to take their aquarium. They said yes, they were looking for a home for it.

It's a 10-gallon tank and comes with a few fish and some food.

Should I offer to pay? They could use the money, but we've also been very generous with them over the years (paying for things, suppers at our house a lot, etc).

If I offer them money, how much? I sort of don't feel like it, but I also feel like maybe I should offer.

[mamadelbosque]

umm.. no. 10 gallon tanks can be had for like $5-10 easy. I'm guessing the fish are like guppies/mollies/angel fish/tetras - ie basic, normal run-of-the-mill tropical fish... (cant' keep too much else in a 10, tbh). The whole setup is worth, maybe $10 used. If they don't want to move, they're almost certainly either giving it away, or else dumping the fish and putting the whole thing up (empty of fish!!) on craigslist for $5 or freecyle.

[carfreemama]

Oh, okay, mamadelbosque. I guess I thought it was a little more exotic. It feels weird taking something without giving anything, but I guess I'm giving them a good home.

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Carfree -- that is very sweet of you to think about offering to pay but I second what the above poster said. Fish tanks are not expensive and they are probably glad you are taking it off their hands and saving the lives of their fish.

[Logan's Mom]

I agree...no cash is necessary. If you want to give them something, how about a hand with packing or moving. Or invite them over for a meal on one of those days as they will probably be tired and not interested in cooking. Also, all of their stuff could be packed so they won't be able to cook.

Just a thought if you wanted to offer some sort of gesture, but none is necessary, in my opinion.

[carfreemama]

Logan's mom, that's a good suggestion. We did do all that..I took my friend's dd out for the day with my dd before she left. Unfortunately, it's a little sad. The mom (who I am not friendly with) has headed off with her dd ahead of her ex (the dad, who is my friend) under less-than-wonderful circumstances. They'll be okay, but we're in a position of just trying to support our friend (the dad) until he leaves to join them in their new city. So yeah, we did a lot of babysitting, (if you can call it that, this is my goddaughter) before his dd left and will try to be there for him until he goes. It gives me a good idea, though, about a goodbye present or something...maybe from the fishies.