Sick Firemouth - Need advise

[Hawkman2000]

Yesterday

Happened pretty sudden. One eye is locked looking up and the other down. Continuously tumbling sideways. Really beat up from banging on rocks.

Isolated him in net. Did 20% water change. Dosed tank with salt, melafix and pimafix, and put the UV sterilizer in.

Today

No change. More calm though. Wondering if I should put him out of his misery.

 

[jonclark96]

No idea of the problem. I'd treat for a few more days before euthanizing. Maybe things with get better.

 

[hollyfish2000]

I tend to euthanize if they look miserable. Yeah, I know I'm a weirdo.

 

[Andrew]

Try some epsom salts. 1 teaspoon per ten gallons.

 

[Hawkman2000]

Still no change. I think he might be blind. If his eyes aren't moving tomorrow I will put him out of his misery.

BTW, what is the best way to euthanize a fish. If it was a 5 pound trout I would just whack his head with a hammer, but I don't think I could bring my self to do that to the little guy.

 

[jonclark96]

I usually put them in the freezer.


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[hollyfish2000]

Clove oil is by far the most humane and quickest way. You can pick it up at whole foods, and maybe some homeopathic sections in CVS. Put the fish in a small dish or cup with tank water and start dropping in the clove oil. They will quickly roll over anesthesized. You can add more after that, and then put in the freezer to be sure. I think putting in the freezer without the clove oil is inhumane (sorry Jon)

 

[Avatar]

Actually

Freezing to death is generally regarded as rather painless. Once past the shivering stage it's really easy to surrender and just fall into a sleep from which one does not awake. This is not conjecture - have been near the "threshold" more than once and can honestly say it's really quite seductive.

 

[mchambers]

Have you ever ingested clove oil?

 

[Avatar]

Been there

Only in modest amounts in conjunction with other botanical extracts for parasites. And yes it worked.

 

[dogofwar]

I'd imagine even more so for cold-blooded creatures (like fish).

Matt

Freezing to death is generally regarded as rather painless. Once past the shivering stage it's really easy to surrender and just fall into a sleep from which one does not awake. This is not conjecture - have been near the "threshold" more than once and can honestly say it's really quite seductive.

 

[jonclark96]

Feeling a bit better now...

 

[Hawkman2000]

Just put him in a bag with tank water, then in the freezer.

First time I've had to euthanize, this sucks.

 

[Dan]

Id treat him with some antibiotics first , marcel makes some good stuff but also the api stuff has worked wonders for my cichlids and even on a few of my girlfriends finicky discus. I would start treatment asap if you don't want to euthanize.