Angel Fish Got Stuck!

[kellykettle]

hi, just found my prize Angel wedged behind a rock and it has badly damaged on side of it's body. looks like scales have come off and has large patch of white "skin" instead of stripes. Any suggestions for treatment - it is in a communal tank. Thanks

Oh dear, it's now floating horizontally on the surface. i think it's probably the end for this angel. is it ethical to flush it whilst still living or should one wait for it to die first?

 

[Sparnon]

You can either euthanize (humanely kill) this fish by freezing it, or you can wait to see if it recovers.
It's likely the fish is in shock and in a lot of pain. You really should make sure that your fish cannot get stuck by placing rocks so that they are not propped up against anything and aren't close to the glass. Fish tend to use a rock propped up against the glass as a bolt-hole when something vibrates, or there's a loud noise or they can see movement outside the tank. They zoom between the rock and the glass and get themselves wedged. If you make sure they have safe bolt holes, and make sure that any rocks are in the middle of the tank away from the glass, then you won't have this problem. Ideally you should really use rounded stones, not only do they look more realistic in a tank, they're safer for the fish and provide less surface area for algae.

If your fish is still alive and you want to put it to sleep, then get a clear plastic bag and fill it one third with tank water, then tie the top up and put it in your freezer. Go back and check it every 10-20 minutes, and take it out when it's slushy with ice, but not yet frozen hard. Take the bag out the freezer, and carefully net your fish. Place the fish in the bag, re-tie it, and put it back in the freezer. It's pain will ease, the fish will fall asleep, and then it will die.

Best of luck to you and your fish.

 

[kellykettle]

You can either euthanize (humanely kill) this fish by freezing it, or you can wait to see if it recovers.
It's likely the fish is in shock and in a lot of pain. You really should make sure that your fish cannot get stuck by placing rocks so that they are not propped up against anything and aren't close to the glass. Fish tend to use a rock propped up against the glass as a bolt-hole when something vibrates, or there's a loud noise or they can see movement outside the tank. They zoom between the rock and the glass and get themselves wedged. If you make sure they have safe bolt holes, and make sure that any rocks are in the middle of the tank away from the glass, then you won't have this problem. Ideally you should really use rounded stones, not only do they look more realistic in a tank, they're safer for the fish and provide less surface area for algae.

If your fish is still alive and you want to put it to sleep, then get a clear plastic bag and fill it one third with tank water, then tie the top up and put it in your freezer. Go back and check it every 10-20 minutes, and take it out when it's slushy with ice, but not yet frozen hard. Take the bag out the freezer, and carefully net your fish. Place the fish in the bag, re-tie it, and put it back in the freezer. It's pain will ease, the fish will fall asleep, and then it will die.

Best of luck to you and your fish.

Thank you for your advice - i didn't know about this way of humanely killing the fish and will do this as he is still floating horizontally this morning. You are right about the rock too - I will take it out. Thank you for taking the time to reply.

 

[WILDER]

See if he recovers first, give him a chance.
If he unable to keep his balance he could of damaged his swim bladder.
If he's lost his scales you might need to add some melafix to the tank.

Never flush a fish its a very cruel death for a fish.
There clove oil.
Or you can use this method, get a bucket of very cold water and add ice cubes till the water freezing cold.
Place the fish in the bucket of freezing cold water it should take about 30 seconds, leave the fish in the water a while
to make sure its passed on.,

 

[Sparnon]

Or you can use this method, get a bucket of very cold water and add ice cubes till the water freezing cold.
Place the fish in the bucket of freezing cold water it should take about 30 seconds, leave the fish in the water a while
to make sure its passed on.,

Usually the fish will die from an instant fatal shock, but if it doesn't, like you say it will only take a matter of seconds.

I've been told that this method is "inhumane". I've looked and looked and can't for the life of me find any information sources to back up this assertion, but there we go. Take it or leave it. If you're really concerned then clove oil is probably going to be your best friend.

 

[WILDER]

Written by steelhealr.


This is what I choose to do with my fish and my comments are only placed here as opinion. This is a heated topic. I choose based on my knowledge from my training:

Oil of cloves is a topical anethestic and was used in the past to treat toothaches. Lidocaine (like at the dentist's office is a topical anesthetic as well). When we operate on people we really want to achieve 2 things, analgesia and anesthesia, that is, relief of pain and unconsciousness. IMO, when a fish is immersed in oil of cloves, it is essentially 'topically anesthetized', paralyzed, but, I am NOT convinced that the fish is unconscious.....none of us will really know for sure. We don't know if the oil of cloves causes stinging to the mucus membranes, eyes, etc on initial contact nor if the fish is motionless, painless but aware.

Extreme cold is an anesthetic. When applied to skin, you can actually cut the skin and feel no pain. Cold also can cause rapid unconsciousness. In fact, hypothermia is reported to cause a state of euphoria and clouding of consciousness. Fish, at least most of the types that we keep (tropical), are extremely small and rapid immersion in extreme cold water, in my opinion, causes rapid pain relief and rapid unconsciousness. I have never seen any of my fish shows signs of what I consider suffering. They stop moving immediately and appear lifeless. Some have stated that since fish are ectothermic, this doesn't apply....perhaps in cold water fish I would agree.

I choose to euthanize my fish this way, rather than oil of cloves. One must either make an educated decision for themselves, or, choose what is currently accepted by the masses as what is humane.

Added: although I would never use blunt force to euthanize my fish, nor advocate it, one fact is for sure: death is instantaneous

SH


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Go Nano!