Another Sick Dg

[This Old Spouse]

Four males dead in a month, now my female is lying on her side and breathing heavily. I know she's going to die, but I'm thinking it's best to put her down. What's the best way? I hate this!!!

 

[fluttermoth]

There's the clove oil method; Put the fish in a litre of tank water. In a small bottle, mix at least 25 or 30 drops of clove oil with a little of the water and shake until it forms an emulsion.

Then you just add it to the fishes container; the fish will become unconscious within 20 seconds and will be dead within a minute. I'd just leave it there for half an hour or so, just to make 100% sure.

Obviously if the fish is bigger, you need to multiply the amounts, but 25/30 drops per litre is the lethal dose.

Last time I posted about this, someone recommended putting the fish in the freezer once it was already unconscious from the clove oil and that's probably not a bad idea

Or, if you're tougher than me, a good whack on the head with a brick is quick and painless (for the fish anyway)

I'm so sorry for your little fishy

 

[This Old Spouse]

Well, she was dead within half an hour of posting this, so no worries I guess. But I will keep this "recipe" on hand for the next one. And unfortunately, there will always be a next one. Wish I could go the whack-on-the-head route. It crossed my mind, but I just couldn't do it!

Thanks for the advice.

 

[scaeriefaerie666]

i had to use a similar method where you only put 4 or 5 drops of clove oil mixed with water, and slowly introduce it to the tank over about 20 mins and when the fish is unconcious but breathing you add a dash of vodka, and it kills them instantly and painlessly. If you just overload them with Clove oil it may still be painful because it happens so fast. I'm sorry for your loss, it's so horrible when it happens
xxx

 

[This Old Spouse]

Just an update: the last of my beautiful dwarf gouramis is in the big lake in the sky. He'd been going downhill for a few days, just like all the rest.

Any suggestions for a similar sized and similar beautiful fish? They were also very peaceful, which I prefer.

This just really makes me angry.

 

[OTIS]

Although I hate to do so, smacking them on the ground while in the net is the fastest way I have found. May be dissorienting for the fish, but only for a second and then it is definitely gone.

If you don't know how hard to hit it, over do it, because if it's worth doing, it's worth over-doing.

-OTIS

 

[annaw123]

if you want another very colourful fish that only grows so a few inches, i'd definitely recomend Bolivian Rams! I have a group of 3 and they are absolutely beautiful, and lovely to watch! Sorry for your fishy loss though

 

[This Old Spouse]

Bolivian Rams are cichlids, right? Would they get along with my other fish?

And, what about discus? I think they're really beautiful, too, but don't know anything about them.

 

[fluttermoth]

Bolivian rams are chiclids, but quite peaceful; they'd get on fine with all your other fish.

Discus are very sensitive and take a lot of looking after; I'd steer clear of them; they wouldn't be happy with your other fish anyway; the tiger barbs would be far too boisterous for them.

I think you should get more tiger barbs; they should be in larger groups than four; more like ten.

 

[This Old Spouse]

Thanks for that ... it helps to know who will get along with whom.

I do plan on getting more of nearly everything; tetras, tiger barbs, mollies and corys (cories?). The list I'm compiling for my not-so-local LFS is growing almost daily. The last on the list will be the fish I'll get to replace the DGs, so I'd like something with a bit of size and lots of color. Maybe the Bolivian rams will do the trick.

 

[fluttermoth]

Thanks for that ... it helps to know who will get along with whom.

I do plan on getting more of nearly everything; tetras, tiger barbs, mollies and corys (cories?). The list I'm compiling for my not-so-local LFS is growing almost daily. The last on the list will be the fish I'll get to replace the DGs, so I'd like something with a bit of size and lots of color. Maybe the Bolivian rams will do the trick.

I'm never sure whether it's 'corys' or 'cories' either!

Bolivian rams are not as brightly coloured as the 'normal' ram, but they are much hardier and are wondeful little characters; I'm sure you'd really enjoy having them

 

[This Old Spouse]

How many should I put in my 55 gal?
Is that a German blue ram as your avatar?

 

[fluttermoth]

They do like to have their own little territories so two or three in a 55g would be about right.

It is a German blue ram in my avatar (though I just call them 'rams' lol), but not one of mine; I can't get a decent pic of mine!

 

[This Old Spouse]

I understand about trying to get a decent photo! I've been trying to get one of my deformed Von Rio tetra for weeks, but can't seem to do it.

 

[woody88]

As a last resort, if I have a fish that is dying then I quickly take him out of the tank, grab his tail fin and smack his head against the corner of the tank and then do it again straight after. I know it sounds sick and cruel but I find this way very quick and effective and most importantly painless. It's more painful for me doing it. Thankfully I rarely lose fish so luckily I very rarely have to do it.

I'm going to hell for being a sadistic fish murderer!..................but a nice one tho! Lol