LionMom
Fishaholic
I'm so sorry for you and your little guy. 
I Think Its Time.......:( Edit - He's Gone :(
- Thread starter Spishkey
- Start date
keenonfish
Fish Addict
Surely the CO2 / alcasaltza method is nothing short of asphyxiation and potentially quite cruel?
Surely freezing vodka would be the best of both worlds as it will remain liquid in any home freezer?
Surely freezing vodka would be the best of both worlds as it will remain liquid in any home freezer?
Devorax
Fish Crazy
Having never tried it, but going by the reasonably glowing recommendations on this site, the clove oil method seems to be the fairest. I have read several threads today (in case I ever have to do this) and the clove oil method seems to be the fairest. If the testimonies are true, the fish involved literally falls asleep, under no panic or stress, and never wakes up.
Having said that, the cold water (I didn't even use icy water!!) method seems just as instant. I have done water changes on a sick tank of fish, and although I used dechlorinator, the colder water going in caused 4 rasboras to literally just belly up instantly and never move again (I was as green in this hobby as a 2 inch thick algae coated tank at the time). So, although I have read some rather alarming reports from people on the ice water method, in my VERY limited experience, it seems a valid way of handling this problem.
I did wonder though, car anti-freeze will lower the temp of water quite a way below 0c, and remain liquid, and is quite toxic too to humans, so surely it would be incredibly lethal to smaller fish? Any experts have any comment on that?
To the OP, I would feel personally that it is better to do something however unpleasant it may be sooner rather than wait for an acceptable method to come along only for it to be too late, it would save the poor fish some degree of suffering in the long term.
Like I said, these are just my thoughts, not authoratitive advice.
EDIT: Before anyone jumps all over me about my comment regarding the rasbora incident, firstly I was (and am) NOT proud of it, and secondly the water wasn't especially cold, it was a 40% water change with the heater on and the water was approx 28c in the tank, and approx 15c going in. Yes I now know the water going in should have matched the tank, but like I said I was incredibly naive when this happened and I now regret it.
Having said that, the cold water (I didn't even use icy water!!) method seems just as instant. I have done water changes on a sick tank of fish, and although I used dechlorinator, the colder water going in caused 4 rasboras to literally just belly up instantly and never move again (I was as green in this hobby as a 2 inch thick algae coated tank at the time). So, although I have read some rather alarming reports from people on the ice water method, in my VERY limited experience, it seems a valid way of handling this problem.
I did wonder though, car anti-freeze will lower the temp of water quite a way below 0c, and remain liquid, and is quite toxic too to humans, so surely it would be incredibly lethal to smaller fish? Any experts have any comment on that?
To the OP, I would feel personally that it is better to do something however unpleasant it may be sooner rather than wait for an acceptable method to come along only for it to be too late, it would save the poor fish some degree of suffering in the long term.
Like I said, these are just my thoughts, not authoratitive advice.
EDIT: Before anyone jumps all over me about my comment regarding the rasbora incident, firstly I was (and am) NOT proud of it, and secondly the water wasn't especially cold, it was a 40% water change with the heater on and the water was approx 28c in the tank, and approx 15c going in. Yes I now know the water going in should have matched the tank, but like I said I was incredibly naive when this happened and I now regret it.
Spishkey
Spishkeys Turtle Rescue
thought i better update this morning. i went to go with the ice water method but chickened out after reading the thread and comments. i got so wound up i went to bed, deciding to let mother nature make the desicion for me. cruel? possibly, but the cowards way out.
got up this morning - he's swimming round! not perfect but better than yesterday. i dont know what to think??
got up this morning - he's swimming round! not perfect but better than yesterday. i dont know what to think??
Devorax
Fish Crazy
Sounds like a case of Sod's Law.....hope he gets better real soon back to perfect health.
Spishkey
Spishkeys Turtle Rescue
he'll never get better, he has some sort of unidentified lump inside him, there is another thread about it somewhere, its just a matter of realising when the time is right?
i guess i have some time today to search around for clove oil though?
i guess i have some time today to search around for clove oil though?
Dont read this if you are upset about the processes involved in culling a pet betta. This is purely advice from experience/readings, nothing more
Spishkey.... it's a bummer. Don't start thinking that your witness of a fish spiraling downward in the water is a fish that is going to survive after such obvious signs of problems.
Try to get clove oil.... it is not "cruel" to let nature take it's course, but you can certainly end the inevitable suffering. Hanging on and watching worse things happen isn't healthy nor reasonable.
If you can get clove oil, it is simple (more so than depicted in this thread). I have used this method a couple of times. A few diluted drops into a small container - cover with a cloth. After a few minutes the fish is 'numbed'. progressively add more drops until 'knocked out'. After this, be very liberal with the clove oil to reach a fatal dose. Cover the container between, as fish are calmed when not placed in direct light. process takes no more than 10 minutes and is the 'easiest'. Nothing violent..... *warning, the betta may twitch upon initial introduction of clove oil, this is due to nerve reactions and the betta losing control of bodily functions.... no pain*
Nothing more than flushing needs to be done. As far as I'm concerned, the fish is NOT coming back to life and a fully paralyzed and sedated fish will slowly die with the chlorine content MANY MANY hours before coming to any sort of 'consciousness'.
I would imagine that slowly adding alcohol (drips) may have a similar effect. ..... no experience, but it seems plausible.
Spishkey.... it's a bummer. Don't start thinking that your witness of a fish spiraling downward in the water is a fish that is going to survive after such obvious signs of problems.
Try to get clove oil.... it is not "cruel" to let nature take it's course, but you can certainly end the inevitable suffering. Hanging on and watching worse things happen isn't healthy nor reasonable.
If you can get clove oil, it is simple (more so than depicted in this thread). I have used this method a couple of times. A few diluted drops into a small container - cover with a cloth. After a few minutes the fish is 'numbed'. progressively add more drops until 'knocked out'. After this, be very liberal with the clove oil to reach a fatal dose. Cover the container between, as fish are calmed when not placed in direct light. process takes no more than 10 minutes and is the 'easiest'. Nothing violent..... *warning, the betta may twitch upon initial introduction of clove oil, this is due to nerve reactions and the betta losing control of bodily functions.... no pain*
Nothing more than flushing needs to be done. As far as I'm concerned, the fish is NOT coming back to life and a fully paralyzed and sedated fish will slowly die with the chlorine content MANY MANY hours before coming to any sort of 'consciousness'.
I would imagine that slowly adding alcohol (drips) may have a similar effect. ..... no experience, but it seems plausible.
sorry for your loss...you did what was best as hard as it may be to accept.
cheers!
cheers!
love4aquatic
Fish Addict
Spish you tried everything you could and in the end this was what was best for him sorry for your loss
sorry for your loss..
also wont extra hot wate rend it quickly?
tibby25731
Fish Herder
Hope you are OKSpishkey
Spishkeys Turtle Rescue
feeling rather down today. in total i lost three fish yesterday it was a bad day for my hobby.
have just took down Fish's tank, i wont be getting another betta for a while, maybe after we move i'll feel up to it.
i still feel so very guilty
it was a bad day for my hobby.have just took down Fish's tank, i wont be getting another betta for a while, maybe after we move i'll feel up to it.
i still feel so very guilty
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