what to do with dying fish......

rhymon78

Hello all,

First post in AGES, and its a negative one I'm afraid.

I have a Platy that I noticed had a lump on its top/side fairly noticeable, the scales are poking out slightly where the lump is. He is one of a trio, there is a pair that get on fine and both harassed this one, so no doubt the stress has weakened him and he's got some bacterial infection or something.

So yesterday I get home from work and he's swimming around in circles on the substrate, on his side/upside down, then rests for a while then he was circling around higher up in the tank, then back on the substrate.

this morning he was upside down in the one spot and hasn't moved all day, he's upside down and only occasionally moving one fin on his side, looks like he can't move at all. his gills are still going, could be fast or might just be normal its hard to tell.

I am pretty sure he is going to die, and to be honest I was hoping it would of happened by now but the little dude is holding onto life for some reason.

What do I do?? I do not have a QT or hospital tank so putting it in such is a no go. I also am no dispatcher of fish, or any animals to be honest, I have read different methods of putting a fish out of its misery, which this thing must be in. I have heard of using clove oil, or putting it in the freezer in a bag of tank water, or chopping its head off and destroying the brain........ all things I don't WANT to do.

What is your advice on this subject. I kind of want nature to take its course, but I also don't want the thing surviving for a week upside down and starving to death.

I will attach a photo.

All the other fish are fine.

cheers
Simon

Chesherca

*hugs* I'm sorry Sims. . . Its so hard to watch a sick fish. I don't know what else to tell you, but it doesn't look like it'll be long now, either way. Maybe you could put him into a large tupperware-type container, so that he can get to the surface a bit more easily, and be out of the main tank? I don't know how much better his quality of life will be, though. It's really hard to end a fish's misery, but sometimes it's the best thing. . . *cries*

rhymon78

Hey Jes,

After your pm yesterday I was looking at euthanasia for fish and the freezer method was mentioned but was deemed an inhumane way to dispatch the fish, although it was also said fish under 2 inches was acceptable? just don't know what to do, at the moment I am just leaving it. but the poor thing is just lying there, same spot since last night. its still trying to move around but can't go anywhere. urgh. I hadn't really thought about this part. Ive had 2 other fish die, one I never found it just disappeared, and the other was dead when I found it so easy, just took it out. but this thing.... I think its something to do with the swim bladder, so it might not be dying quickly, it just can't swim, and could possibly go on for days... hope not. I just can't face cutting it, or hitting it with something.

Chesherca

I dunno, dude. . . to me, freezing is more humane than letting him go on like that. The things I've read about freezing was that as the water cools, they kind of go to sleep, because of the temperature drop, which makes sense, though the time leading up to the sleep part I imagine is pretty stressful, regardless. I suppose the cleanest way would be with a knife, but I don't think I could do that, either. I know what you're saying. There really IS no way to face death kindly. . . poor little guy, I hope he doesn't keep on like this for much longer. I'm so sad for him. And you. . . good luck, hon. *hugs*

marshallsea

Do him a favor and put him in the freezer.

Olympia

I wouldn't put him in the freezer. Drop him in icy cold water instead. It's faster.

rhymon78

I have been doing some reading and the dropping into freezing water seems the best method. either way the poor fish is suffering and isn't getting better. I can't believe its still alive though. tough little bugger.

have you actually done this freezing shock method Olympia? how did you do it if so

cheers

marshallsea

A bowl of ice water and put him in.

fish monger

Well, the quicker the better. Otherwise, if you decide to let nature take its course, try to make sure the other fish aren't picking at him. If they start, that might be your cue to either do the deed or float him in a container in your tank.

Romad

I use the clove oil and vodka method. It's quick and seems to be peaceful.

For Platy numbers, I've found that one male to three females works best in my tank. That way no females get singled out and chased relentlessly by the males.

Sorry about your fish :(