Bloo
~ I learn something new ~ ~~~~ every day ~~~~
I haven't read through this whole thread, but will give my 2 p.
"At What Point Do You Ask For Help, for a sick fish?" is your main question?
My personal answer: As soon as you don't know what you're dealing with.
In my personal case (the one with the Angel fish which Tolak gave as an example) I was at first under the impression that the small mark it has above it's eye (not *nearly* as prominent as in that photo) was the result of some fighting. I had a third Angel in the tank and all three of them were fighting a lot over the past few weeks. The third Angel has now been removed and it was really only a few days before I posted that photo (and when the lesion didn't heal with Melafix) that I realised I'm dealing with something else. And within a few days it became apparent that the "lesion" changed shape and a couple more popped up.
And came to ask advice. But only after I did my own research and couldn't find an answer.
Now though my cats are insured, I can't insure my fish. And when I was told that it would cost £70 JUST for a consultation - that's excluding tests, slides, scrapes etc. and treatment I really had to think carefully.
I don't have £120 + (at least) lying around to spend right this very moment.
Not that I don't value a living being's life and an animal under my care. I insure everything I own (car, house, phone, life, you name it) so that I don't have to fork out unforeseen amounts of money at the drop of a hat - because I can't afford to. Now don't anyone dare tell me that I shouldn't keep animals for that reason.
I provide the best quality of everything I can - and that includes care.
I've kept fish for over 30 years and have worked in animal welfare & veterinary nursing for very many.
But I have choices to make when I have odds to weigh up.
"At What Point Do You Ask For Help, for a sick fish?" is your main question?
My personal answer: As soon as you don't know what you're dealing with.
In my personal case (the one with the Angel fish which Tolak gave as an example) I was at first under the impression that the small mark it has above it's eye (not *nearly* as prominent as in that photo) was the result of some fighting. I had a third Angel in the tank and all three of them were fighting a lot over the past few weeks. The third Angel has now been removed and it was really only a few days before I posted that photo (and when the lesion didn't heal with Melafix) that I realised I'm dealing with something else. And within a few days it became apparent that the "lesion" changed shape and a couple more popped up.
And came to ask advice. But only after I did my own research and couldn't find an answer.
Now though my cats are insured, I can't insure my fish. And when I was told that it would cost £70 JUST for a consultation - that's excluding tests, slides, scrapes etc. and treatment I really had to think carefully.
I don't have £120 + (at least) lying around to spend right this very moment.
Not that I don't value a living being's life and an animal under my care. I insure everything I own (car, house, phone, life, you name it) so that I don't have to fork out unforeseen amounts of money at the drop of a hat - because I can't afford to. Now don't anyone dare tell me that I shouldn't keep animals for that reason.
I provide the best quality of everything I can - and that includes care.
I've kept fish for over 30 years and have worked in animal welfare & veterinary nursing for very many.
But I have choices to make when I have odds to weigh up.
oh and em, HAPPY BIRTHDAY XD Glad you shared 
