I put her in a hospital tank for a month %26amp; her external wounds healed. After that she wouldn't eat anything good for her. All she eats is sinking algae wafers (the stuff for plecos). Its been 8 months.
She was moved to a less aggressive tank in the house and is surprisingly docile, kinda the opposite of how the species is supposed to act. She spends her day in a 6" flower pot and refuses to come out more than 3 inches.
She will not eat flake food or come up to the surface. All she'll eat is sinking food, and usually vegetarian foods. Sometimes I have to hand feed her on a feeding prong to get her to eat.
She lacks the dexterity to point her head downward and she can only turn counterclockwise. I suspect a spinal injury. She seems mentally retarded %26amp; uncompetitive, but if I hand feed her, will likely live
When is it ethical to euthanize a pet fish? Its not sick, but it wouldn't survive in the wild.?
I would no more euthanize a dim-witted pet than I would a child with Down's Syndrome. If this fish is your girlfriend's favorite, this is more reason to allow it to continue to live. Giving this fish the special care and attention she needs gives a very good impression of your dedication to the hobby and she's lucky to have you as an owner.
Reply:You know, I never did get an answer to your question at cichlid-forum either. I hope he makes it. Report It
Reply:i'm sooo sorry to hear about your fish...
i think that your fish is indeed sick, and i completely understand about the battle between her and your dog. although i do think that euthanasia is controversial, it is okay given the circinstances, but i might think of another option if i were you...
maybe you can find a vet in your area that might actually adopt her as a pet or something... that way they can properly take care of her considering that they are pros with pet and that's what their careers are all about...
i do see that you did do your best to take care of her, and for that you are blessed and a truly nice person... if there are no more possible ideas that you or anyone else can come up with, then i guess you have no choice, but to euthanize your fish... may god bless you both and good luck...
Reply:most likely he doesnt have parasites unless they are internal? you can maybe get him to eat medicated food? You can force feed but that just seems cruel.
try melafix and pimaix at the same time for 7 days and see that make a difference.
If it had external parasites you would have seen it by now.
Maybe try to treat it in a tank all by itself. these meds used together have never let me down.
loss of appetite and loss of color and also wounds from fighting can definately lead to a backterial infection. some fish do not show visual signs on the body.
Reply:i think i am going to side with the girlfriend. i have a baby bird feeder syringe thingy that might be what you need -- i soften wafers in it so they are easier for fish to eat.
if the fish can upright itself and swim some then its hard to say that it is really in need of euthanizing.
its hard to say how much psychological trauma a fish can have and remember. i would just think of it as a special needs fish.
it is doubtful any of your fish could survive in the wild -- even the green terror.
i have only euthanized fish when they were gasping their last breath on the bottom of the tank and when they are overly aggressive.
Reply:A few things come to mind here. One is that she didn't just hole up and die on her own, so she's still go the will to live and survive. That she's also recovered from the wounds as well is another positive result. I might suppose she did suffer some kind of damage to the brain in that fight which might stem her aggression also.
The flowerpot is now her home. Even in an less aggresive tank, this just may be giving her the only sense of security as well. I am not directly familiar with this species, but I don't see anything to be overly concerned with actually. If she were floating or had 0 balance at all, I am fairly sure she probably would have passed on her own by now, and that other fish are not getting aggressive on her also, that is another good sign. Many fish will become aggressive or attack other fish they sense weak or sick or other unusual problems occuring.
On the food, don't get too concerned with that as well. One thing I always like to point out in food answers is that fish do not use food in the same manner as you and I. They do not need an internal heat source from calories, and if she is getting some food, she's fine with that. Fish can go many days even sometimes in the weeks without food, and rarely die off from starvation.
I think it's great you are being attentive to the fish, but I don't think it's suffering myself. I'll try to do some more research on this species and see if anything described here should be a cause of concern.
FOLLOW UP:
I've got your question referenced over in cichlid-forum now. I just don't know this species off the top of my head, so I'm trying to get some cichlid experts to look at this case for you.
Reply:I appreciate your dilemma and think you are a very responsible owner but I would completely agree with the comments made by Jon V and think your fish should be allowed to live peacefully. Good luck.
Reply:If I still had my aquariums and I had one fish that was not was 'quite right' after having survived a battle with more aggressive fish that beat up on her. It sounds to me even though she may have some disabilities, she is fighting to hang on to life and to me that says she still wants to live.
If the issue of feeding her is your only problem, I would still give her the attention she needs. Since this is your g/f's favorite fish, I would let your Istlanum live in her own in little world, as long as she is safe from the other fish. If the sinking algae wafers were not giving her enough nutrition, she would have already been a floater, but she seems to be doing fine except that she is no longer aggressive.
And even though she may not be in perfect health, she is clinging to life, so I would continue as you have been doing and let her find her own way, as long as she has the will. She probably does not want to come out since she has been through one traumatic attack and I honestly can nor say that I blame her. But if she has managed to live for eight months, I would say she is one lucky survivor with a strong will. And there is no sense in causing any extra grief with your g/f. I would say your fish's chances of survival are probably still good. I wouldn't euthanize her because she is in a less aggressive tank and hiding out, as long as she still continues to eat.
Even though you suspect that she may have a spinal injury, as long as you do think that she is not suffering in any way, let her live her life in a flower pot, if she is doing okay and if she seems to do okay being in that environment. I think she still has the willpower to want to live.
This is always a problem when you have an aggressive tank.
You always take the chance that some of the older and more aggressive fish in the tank are always going to object to a new resident. However, I still think she deserves a chance to continue her life.
Despite the fact that things turned out totally differently than what you had hoped for and especially since the other fish beat her up pretty badly, you took the time and effort to put her in a hospital tank and 'nurse' her back to health, as much as she is going to heal, so let her enjoy the life she is living.
Just my opinion and the very best of luck with your fish. :-)
Reply:I know this may sound strange, but I would let her live, because I think the good outweighs the bad here. If she still wants to eat and she doesn't seem to be in any pain, then let her live. I am mainly saying that it shouldn't be anyone elses decision but hers whether she lives, or dies.
Reply:I don't know how fish can tell us they are in pain, and the fact that she is hiding all the time and cannot turn but one direction seems to indicate that she hurts and is protecting herself the best she can. Does your gf like this particular fish, or just this type of fish? If your gf is sympathizing with this fish because she is injured, you might want to explain to her how fish cannot communicate their ills to us, and to allow the fish to suffer is not kind or responsible. If she likes that type of fish, maybe you can order another one from the pet store and let this one pass on. I don't think after all this time you would be labeled a fish killer, do you?
Reply:i dont think you should let her suffer. being a vegetable is no sort of life, even for a fish.
Reply:If you don't want to take care of the fish then you should take it back to a pet store. Most of the larger chain pet stores won't take back fish, but the smaller mom and pop ones are normally more than happy to help you.
Reply:This is kind of a humorous situation, considering we humans eat fish... and then get attached to them as pets also. If your girlfriend really likes the fish, feed it sinking food that it will eat and let it die naturally for her sake.
If she can bear to part with it, let your friend kill it quickly and feed it to his bird, at least in that case its death serves some small purpose.
Reply:In this scenario it may be in your best interest to euthanize the fish.
The method is really up to you, whether you choose to go with a mason jar in the freezer or a hammer to the head.
skates
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