Euthanasia

[AngelOfDeath]

hello. My goldfish, (two fantails) are riddled with ich and seam to be getting worse, they are clearly very uncomfortable/in pain despite my efforts to treat them (white spot formula + salt) (They literally just lie at the bottom and top, not moving at all unless i make them, gills very slow) you would think they were dead if you looked

Should i just humanely dispose of them?

Which are the most humane methods?

 

[CFC]

The most humane way to euthanise fish is to put them in a bucket of tankwater and add clove oil to the water, it acts as an anesthetic and sends them into a permament sleap, if you cant get clove oil then a hard knock on the head with a heavy object is instant but not as pleasent for you.

Have you raised the temperature in the tank and added extra aeration? What brand of medication are you using?

 

[AngelOfDeath]

I havent raised the temp so as i dont have another heater, i am using 'Interpret Anti White Spot plus, i will add clove oil, believe me, these fish are not likely to recover

 

[AngelOfDeath]

i've just bought some clove oil, how much do i need to add, its a 5 gall tank. thanks

 

[CFC]

Dont treat them in the tank, do it in a bucket so you dont contaminate the tank with the oil.

Just add it a couple of drops at a time until they appear to fall asleap, and then add that much again to make sure, within an hour they will be dead.

 

[bluetrane2028]

I'd rather buy an extra heater than the clove oil

Also, you stated that the tank is 5 gallons.

That is way too small for two goldfish... it's too small for one!

Do some water changes, raise the temps a little, and get a bigger tank!

 

[AngelOfDeath]

yes yes, i am well aware of the tank size, its 7 not 5 i was wrong, although i am aware they need a 20 gall minimum, I aquired the fish from a realy bad owner and thus i couldnt accomidate them, i know it was irresonsible yes but i had no choice

Ive decided to give the fish longer as i decided to feed and do a 65% water change, and now they are swiming around, also on one fish the white spots have gone (although i am aware they have hatched and released thousands of parasites) I'm thinking if i can get them to recover i am going to ring every pet shop i can and see if they will take them,

When/if the white spot is cured, is there a chance the fish can contaminate others if i give them to a pet shop?

 

[bluetrane2028]

Sorry if you felt attacked about the tank size... I'm pushing it with my group of Convicts also (most are small, I'm trying to grow them enough to see which four I want to keep, the rest will go to the LFS). I also saved those Convicts from an irresponsible owner, and applaud your efforts. Keep at it with the water changes, you will have to do it every day until they're back to normal.

You might do well to buy a permanent hospital tank. 10 us gallons is a good size for dosing most medications, plus then the parasites can't hide in the gravel. I don't know what prices are over there, but I know I could get that setup for less than $35. When you're done with it, that size should also be fairly easy to put into storage.

If you observe them to be ich free for a week, they shouldn't be a risk for the LFS anymore.

 

[AngelOfDeath]

things are generally more expensive in Britain =(, (I guess its why we have a strong economy) I am planning to buy a 10 gall, with a 50 watt heater and around a 200l/h filter for my guppy fry when they are born, hopefully my goldfish will be healed and taken back to the store by then. For now, i will keep them in this 7 gall together until they recover, but just in case, i have the clove oil and understand that i need to add 12 drops per gallon

btw, I took these goldfish as they were being kept in a 1 gall bowl together, with VERY infrequent water changes

thanks for the advice

 

[AngelOfDeath]

its done guys.

I feel bad as i have taken their lives, but i know it was for the best

thanks for the helps

 

[Faythee]

By your signature and username I really hope you re-think your abilities in fishkeeping

 

[WILDER]

If you acted weeks ago on our advice it wouldn't have come down to this.
I'm rather angry that the fish had to suffer because you wasnt willing to rehome the goldifsh in the first place.
R.I.P.