What A Day....

[jaarus]

Today has been good and today has been very sad indeed.

On the plus side, I came home and noticed that tank number two (stocked on Saturday) had six new additions in my new guppy tank - making a total of 10 babies so far
Still not sure who the mummies are as the ones that looked very pregnant still do. The one that look a little big pregnant still do.
But all appear healthy so all good in this tank.

But
I was feeding tank number one (large community tank) and noticed that Noobi (my stunning veil tailed black marble angelfish) didnt do his emphatic greeting he usually does. I eventually found him in the plants - I assumed he had taken a bad moment to have a nap.
After the feeding frenzy was over and he still hadnt emerged... I knew something was up.
Very sorry state of a fish - he was now about 50% silver due to scale loss with raggidy fins, clouded eyes and barely alive.

I knew he was the least confident of the angels but he had always avoided trouble and seemed to find his own areas and seemed perfectly happy.
Obviously something happened today (he was fit as a fiddle last night) and the stress was just too much.

I removed him and spent a good hour willing him to get better in the hospital tank. But although he tried he was past the point of no return, swimming along the walls upside down etc. My wife couldnt watch any longer so I put him out of his misery in a quick and decisive action - it had to be done.

I will miss that little fella.

Just done a 50% water change and cleaned out the filters etc in case he contaminated the water before he went.
As I type this I am looking at my new baby guppies.
Life has a funny way of things.

 

[thegnu]

strewth, i didnt know a fish could go down hill so quickly. how did you put him down

 

[PRW1988]

Probably hot water.... But I hope u added olive oil to the water first as it tends to make it painless for the fish... That, or blunt force trama

 

[jaarus]

I know I was shocked beyond belief that he went from his chirpy self to....well a terrible mess, a shadow of himself in just a day - it was truly horrible to watch him suffering like that

The method I used is blunt force (Put him into a carrier bag swung extremely hard onto the worktop) - I know it sounds horrific (and it does) but its totally instant.
At least he isn't suffering anymore.

The other 'humane' methods to me all sound a little "hopeful" - I am sure there is evidence somewhere that its painless for the fish and they slip away gently but I cant personally do it - a friend who keeps fish used clove oil once and said it was horrible - he wasnt sure if he had used too much or too little but it started flapping about and he then started to doubt whether it was terminal in the first place.
He felt guilty for ages.

I wait until I am certain there is no hope and then end it - instantly.

 

[thegnu]

thats similar to how i would do it

edit; sorry for your loss

 

[Maximus]

Another way i hear is to
put it in a tray of water then
in the freezer.

Sorry about the loss mate

 

[jaarus]

Thanks everyone for your comments

 

[rob newland]

Aww thats sad .
Do ya know what did it to the angelfish?
The way I have done it is using an overdose of fish tranquilizer salt (my dad uses it to treat koi), that way they just slip into a sleep they don't wake up from.
Sorry for your loss .
Rob

 

[cheesy feet]

Probably hot water.... But I hope u added olive oil to the water first as it tends to make it painless for the fish...

Another way i hear is to
put it in a tray of water then
in the freezer.

I would title these ways "How to kill a fish slowly and painfully"...Hot water would probably melt their slime coat then kill them,putting them in a freezer would make them slowly freeze going dopy in the process...
Sorry for your loss ,i don't mean to sound over the top here but i've had fish which have been like that and i would of just left him (in the hospital tank)to be medicate the water and see what happens.Even though some fish look near to death they are pretty hardy!