Our beloved fish has a weird condition; does anyone know what this, how to fix it, or is this euthanasia time?

Question

My fancy goldfish has been upside down and listed to the left for 2 weeks now. She might have injured herself by lying next to the pump. Her rt. side seems to be collapsing; looks like her ribs are starting to stick out of her skin. The fins in the rt. are useless.She cannot right herself. She is still eating, although often ejects the food and it takes me 20 minutes to make sure she keeps enough down. This fish is 4 years old with personality plus. She is adopted, and lived through years of fish hell before coming to us. She has been such a plucky little thing, but I don't know if she is suffering or not. She can't direct herself around the tank anymore because she only has fins on one side, so she just kind of stays in one place upside down all the time. Does anyone know how/if this can be fixed, or should I euthanize?

Answer 1

is she a lionhead? bubble eye? if she is, they just tend to do that. its nothing serious unless you see red stuff on their gills. that is not good, better get rid of it if u see red stuff. its contagious to other fishies. the bouyancy problem should be fine unless she is not moving nor breathing lol.

Answer 2

Well, I've never heard of ribs sticking out of their skin or sides of the fish collapsing, but other than that, the only thing I can think of is a swim bladder problem, which is hardly ever fatal.

The swim bladder is the organ that most fish have that controls how they sink and float. If something goes with their swim bladder, they either sink to the bottom or float up top.

The best remedy is to fast them for a few days, as swim bladder problems usually arise from being overfed. If fasting for at least several days (I'd say up to a week should be okay) doesn't work, try feeding him a bit of the inside of a cooked pea (peel it so he doesn't get any skin). Peas are a natural fish laxative, and seems to do the trick in some cases.

Also, if a goldfish is properly cared for, he can live 10 years or more, so it's unlikely that he's at the end of his life.

and P.S.- As a side note after reading these other answers, flushing a fish will NOT put it out of its misery painlessly. When a fish gets down there to the sewer, he is STILL ALIVE. You can imagine what it's like for him to navigate through all the muck for possibly hours before the filth kills him.

Answer 3

It sounds bad. Water is the culprit. Sounds like toxins. Take a good look at your decorations, if you have holy rock, sandstone, or driftwood remove it, they all leach toxins. Colored gravel and ceramic decorations (even if they sold it to you in the aquarium department) will leach toxins as well. Change water 50% today (make sure same temp water is coming in) then skip a day and chang 25%. Skip a day change 25%. Or just do a 100% if you can. Fin rot is caused by stress. Collapsing body and uncontrolled swimming is caused by liver break down. The fish may not be able to be saved. I'm sorry. Get some MEDI GOLD from www.goldfishconnection and ask Rick to send it quickly. Warm your water and add additional airstones (83 degrees) for at least a week. Also try a table spoon of epsom salt in the tank after the water change.

Answer 4

I'm SO sorry, but this sounds like a classic case of swim bladder disease. It's best to put poor fishy out of her misery sooner rather than later.

While swim bladder disease can sometimes be treated, secondary hemorrhaging (rt side collapsing) cannot, and that's why I say euthanize rather than treat with peas.

When I have no choice but to euthanize my fish, I use ice water. The cold itself is not the fastest method, but it's humane since the freezing temperature is instantly numbing. To be sure, I usually use a plastic cup and keep it in the freezer for an hour.

Putting a fish in the freezer and waiting for the water to freeze is NOT humane. The water has to be icy first, or it will not instantly numb. I only put the cup in the freezer to prevent thawing and warming until I am certain beyond a doubt the fish is dead.

Four years is not a bad record for a pet fish. She's lucky to have had you.

Answer 5

The same thing has happened to some of my goldfish and I don't think it can be remedied. I also don't think you can euthaniza a fish. You could try asking someone at the pet store but none of my fish lived very long after they started doing that.

Answer 6

I hate to say it dear, but it really sounds like this fish is suffering. Fish are pretty delicate once they get ill, and deteriorate rapidly. I'm really surprised it has made it this long.

I wish I could tell you a more positive prognosis, but I think it's on the way to fishy heaven.

Best of luck.

Answer 7

4 to 5 years is a good life for a gold fish in an aquarium. You must have done a good job of taking care of it. Most aquarium goldfish do not live near that long. I have a place of business where I sell gold fish for ponds so I know a little about them. I'm sorry to say that it may just be time to say goodbye. Sorry to tell you that.

Answer 8

I'm a big fish lover, but i'd say it's hopeless for your fish..It no doubt will die soon because it can't breath properly..I've had this problem before with fish and they might live for another month or two, but will die soon..good luck

Answer 9

I can't tell you whether it is time to euthanize or not, that's totally up to you. But please take a look at this site to learn the most humane way to do it and make sure to read the bottom where it list the inhumane ways, http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-most-humane-way-to-euthanize-a-fish.htm

Answer 10

go to the goldfish aquarium board site, it will explain this better than I can and I believe they also explain how to euthanize

Answer 11

I do not know if this can be corrected...sounds like she is really sick and may be dying. Call a pet store, or a vet and see.

I don't think there is such a thing as euthanasia for fish. I think you just flush them. It's better than letting her suffer to death.