Help!

AdoraBelle Dearheart said:

Clove oil is a humane way to euthanise him. You just mix some with warm water, add it to a container with water from his tank (use a container you can bin afterwards, you don't want clove oil near your tanks or equipment). Then move him into that container with the clove oil in it. Swimming in the clove oil mixture will gradually sedate him, and then you add in more clove oil/warm water to overdose him and put him down. It's the same sort of method that a vet would use to put down a mammal, sedation then overdose, so they don't suffer. I have used this method, and it does work and seems peaceful.
You can get clove oil from most chemists, pharmacies, or some health stores, since it's often used by people for toothache.

Alternatively, I've also folded a piece of paper towel, placed the guppy on that and folded the paper towel over them then hit the head hard with a heavy object. Not fun or easy to do, but it is instantaneous, which to me seems kinder than a drawn out, painful death gasping. I prefer clove oil, but I used the other method when I didn't have any, it was late at night and the fish was clearly suffering and beyond saving.

I know nothing about a baking soda method either, but I'd be wary of the idea. Baking soda is very alkaline, and I assume it would hurt the fish.

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I love the way you described how to do it. Some just pour the oil in and throw the fish in at full dose. They freak out! Slowly adding the oil is the key.

Sadly, he just passed away. Poor little guy. He will be missed

Deanasue said:

I love the way you described how to do it. Some just pour the oil in and throw the fish in at full dose. They freak out! Slowly adding the oil is the key.

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Thank you I learned the method by watching a youtuber use it, and it did seem peaceful, and made sense to sedate the fish before overdosing them, as that has been my experience with having to say goodbye to pets that have needed that final vet visit. I've seen the kingofdiy use clove oil for sedation only too, to perform an operation on his arawana, so I knew that fish could be sedated that way and recover. It would have never occurred to me to just put them in full dose, that sounds horrible

I've only had to use each method once though. The guppy was the first, and since piercing the brain was the suggested most humane method, but this seems impossible on a fish as small as a guppy, and way too personal to be done, I decided that fast was better than allowing her to suffer But it wasn't easy, and I fully understand anyone who doesn't feel able to do it. Then I made sure I had clove oil on hand.

The second was an elderly goldfish, recently. It had lived in the pond and managed well despite huge tumours for years, but then it started to float, and insects were landing on it, so I decided to let it go peacefully. It took a long time of gradually increasing the quantity of clove oil to be sure it was sedated properly, but I wanted to be sure it was asleep and wouldn't panic, and it seemed to go calmly. I sincerely hope I never have to use either method again though.

corylover5 said:

Sadly, he just passed away. Poor little guy. He will be missed

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I'm so sorry hon. He was a really beautiful boy.

thanks

I burried him. RIP little friend

So, sorry to hear that you lost him...
I wasn´t around for a few days. So, didn´t check this forum neither. The way he swam could also be a result of a stroke. Yes, fish can also get a stroke.

So sorry your fish died. He was really beautiful. My heart aches for you reading this thread. It's so sad. Hope your other fish all ok.

AilyNC said:

So sorry your fish died. He was really beautiful. My heart aches for you reading this thread. It's so sad. Hope your other fish all ok.

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thanks. I hope they are all ok too.

emeraldking said:

So, sorry to hear that you lost him...
I wasn´t around for a few days. So, didn´t check this forum neither. The way he swam could also be a result of a stroke. Yes, fish can also get a stroke.

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that's interesting. I didn't know fish could get strokes. Is there any way to prevent that from happening to any of my other fish?

Something's wrong with my female dalmatian molly. She suddenly started swimming at the top and spiraling in loops exactly like my guppy. Same symptoms as the guppy but her tail isn't drooping. Water parameters are 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 8 nitrate. Please help! She's being moved to an Epsom salt bath now.

@AdoraBelle Dearheart @Colin_T @emeraldking @Deanasue please help

She looks normal but she's acting like my guppy

corylover5 said:

Sadly, he just passed away. Poor little guy. He will be missed

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I’m so sorry.

The molly is acting a little better after the salt bath. She is still swimming kind of weird though.

Please anyone help. She is spinning in huge circles now and isn't swimming normally at all. She's just flipping herself over and over. Please help. I can't stand to lose another fish.