That's how someone else explained it to me as well. When I say "Change in chlorine" I meant "she started again with tap water so there was addition of chlorine." and "I don't think she considered the chlorine." We had super chlorinated tap water in that city.
>You and your roommate should probably look up fish care
She was my roommate more than a decade ago and I don't know her anymore but yea, of course she should have known better because she was keeping fish. They were also just fish from a carnival/fair so she didn't exactly PLAN on keeping fish. She also went to the store and added a bottom feeder to the goldfish. Which was part of the point. Many (most?) people don't know what the hell they are doing when they start/maintain a fish tank. This is common.
I had absolutely, and I mean absolutely, nothing to do with the fish tank. I wouldn't touch it, it was hers. She was keeping the fish not me. She had the fish before we met. I also had no idea whatsoever she was changing the fish tank water or that you weren't supposed to do that. I wasn't her babysitter. I wasn't (an am not) responsible for her mistakes.
I am not going to look up fish care on google because there is no way I'd ever keep a fish tank. I was simply speaking of my experience with a former roommate's mistakes, I don't need a lecture on fish care.
I think she just neglected the tank for so long she felt starting over with fresh water would be easier not knowing the consequences. The fish lived for years before this incident.