Our beta fish Bubbles, is sick and not swimming. eh just lays on the bottom of the tank. We think it would be easier to just let him go into peace but we want a quick and painless way. Does anybody knwo one?
Thank-you
2006-12-27 05:24:45 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
Take bubbles to a fish store, betas travel well in plastic bags. The person at the fish store should be able to diagnose the problem and save bubbles or take care of the delicate situation of euthanizing bubbles. Sorry, I know fish are addictive and each has their own little personalities which we get attached to. Good Luck and God Bless.
2006-12-27 05:31:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all, it is important to note that that is not particularly strange behavior for a beta. When their water temps are cooler, they are particularly inactive. They prefer water temps in the high 70's to 80F. Betas are found in small puddles and such in the wild, so they are not highly active swimmers. Make SURE you know your fish is sick before you decide to euthanize. They truly are very inactive when kept in a typical fish bowl with no heater.
If you are absolutely certain that your fish is sick and needs euthanized, clove oil is the most humane method possible. You just put some clove oil in a small container and put the fish in it. It is very fast. Some people will say things like put it in the freezer and such, but it truly is not the most humane way of going about things. Have you ever seen how water expands when it freezes? If not, put a closed bottle of water in the freezer and see how it pushes out the bottom of the bottle when it freezes. Imagine that inside the fish. Clove oil is your most humane method.
In all honesty, I would move the fish to a bowl where he can have some sort of a small heater and get his temp (SLOWLY raised) to around 78F and see if that does not perk him up first. Laying on the bottom of the tank is pretty typical.
2006-12-27 05:35:09 · answer #2 · answered by Rain S 3 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Okay, DO NOT put this fish down!!
There simply isn't enough info here to know if your fish is incurably sick.
Is he eating?
Is he swimming at ALL? And if so, does he swim funny, like with his tail hanging down?
What is the water temp?
Is he in a bowl, or a filtered/cycled tank?
If he's in a bowl, do you keep his water fresh/ change it completely once a week?
What is is your hardness, pH and nitrate level coming from your water source (presumably, your tap)?
If he's in a cycled tank, what are your water parameters?
Test ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, pH, and hardness.
Edit your post with all the info I just asked for so we can truly help you.
Bettas do sleep on the bottom (scared the HELL out of me the first time I saw a betta do it!!!), and one poster is correct that if the tank temp is low, they will do a lot of sleeping. But, tho he might be lethargic, he should definately be eating if this is your only problem. If the tank temp is below his range, PLEASE raise the temp SLOWLY!!! No more than 2 degrees an hour! You don't want to stress him more than he is already.
If he is swimming as I described, his problem is SwimBladder Disorder, and this IS treatable! Do still check all your water parameters, tho. Fast him for about a week, and then feed him a pea. Use a frozen one. Microwave it enough to thaw and soften in, remove the shell, and crumble it. Even tho he's a carnivore, he should be hungry enough to eat it. Sometimes a week of fasting isn't enough. I had a female who had to be fasted for 3 weeks before her SBD would clear. If the above doesn't have him better, AND all your tank parameters are right, fast him another week and try another pea. If he simply won't east the pea, you can try freeze-dried daphnia. I have had luck with that as well.
If it's not water temp or SBD, then you have a water quality problem. Check all the parameters, even if he IS in a bowl or other unfiltered/uncycled container. Your (dechlorinated) tap water could be too hard for him, contain too many nitrates, or the pH could be too high or too low.
Bettas like soft water with a neutral pH.
If it's not temp or SBD, there should be other symptoms you can tell us about as well.
As to euthanizing a fish that is NOT curable, I agree about the clove oil.
2006-12-27 07:32:45 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Keep in mind bettas can often recover from this state. Clean water, and temps in the low 80s may be all he needs. It's also possible he has swim bladder disorder which doesn't really harm a betta other than the fact they spend all their time on the bottom. (Or the top.) I've had elderly betta live for another 6 months with this disorder.
The easiest way is to just use a brick, or other heavy object. Of course it's not for the squeamish. (Grew up on a farm.)
0)Wet a small towel, and lay out on the counter.
1)Remove betta and place on towel.
2)Fold towel gently, and remove to a hard surface
3)Hit betta as hard as possible with a heavy object
4)Throw towel away.
Alternate methods:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/faustus/nicoldaquaria/euthanasia.htm
2006-12-27 08:42:19 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
ALL OF THE ANSWERS ARE NUTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Take the Betta out of the tank, do a water change! make sure his water tempt is around 75-79 degrees, get some mela fix and use per directions!
YOU SHOULD NEVER FLUSH A FISH!
look at the problem first-
how many water changes do you do?
I do weekly water changes- I have an air bubblier, and a small heater in there... DO NOT FLUSH!
try to solve the problem first!
http://www.geocities.com/asianangeldee/
2006-12-27 06:50:54 · answer #5 · answered by BubbleGumBoobs! 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Freezing is the most humane way to euthanize a fish in my opinion. Fish are cold-blooded, meaning they depend upon the ambient temperature to keep their bodies warm. When they are exposed to temperatures that are low, their metabolism, heart rate, and etc. slow down. The freezing process will bring the fish's vitals down slowly, until it sleeps, and then it will freeze. The fish will be unconscious, and most likely dead before any 'expanding' occurs.
2006-12-27 06:43:14 · answer #6 · answered by ~Rush~ 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Contrary to belief, flushing actually prolongs a fish's suffering. They lay in crap and pee for hours before suffocating to death. Call the petstore for advice.
2006-12-27 05:35:32 · answer #7 · answered by dolly 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
I don't know a way, but i'd say he's well on his way already.
You could always go with the fishing him out and flushing him down the toilet. He won't have any pain, most likely. But how do you tell that a betta fish is in pain is the real question.
2006-12-27 05:29:07 · answer #8 · answered by ranchgirl 3 · 0⤊ 5⤋
Flush him, or change the water to a cooler temperature. That's usually the first cause of death in Betta's, no one realizes that they are TROPICAL fish, anything below 75 degrees should work...but poor Bubbles...you know there are diffrent types of medicine for fish. Sorry it's gotta go to this...=[
2006-12-27 05:29:25 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 6⤋
Maybe you should try to cure him instead of kill him?
2006-12-27 05:28:54 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋