When will my fish die? what should I do?

Question

My gold fish has been lying on it's side on the bottom of the dank just moping around since last night. he tries to move, but then falls back to the bottom. he sometimes turns upside down. his guills are barely moving. he's 6 years old. we watched him last night and thought he would die within the hour. i went to bed and today still the same.

is he suffering?

should i flush him or just let him be?

i cried, is that normal?

how long will it take for him to die?

Answer 1

From Wikepedia:

Goldfish can live a long and healthy life if cared for properly. Feeder goldfish have been known to be purchased from petstores to begin the bacteria process for a newly setup tank; however, they survive and grow to be nice looking fish. I have seen many feeders turn into some of the nicest, longest living goldfish yet.

Fact: The oldest living Goldfish to date was a goldfish named Tish owned by Hilda and Gordon Hand of Thirsk, N. Yorkshire, England. Tish lived for 43 years after being won at a fairground in 1956.

Goldfish can have lifespans up to 20+ years if they are fed a varied diet and housed in exceptional water conditions. They need to be in tanks that are not overcrowded. They need sufficient swimming room and do best if they are kept with their own types.

From 8 in the Corner:

It is normal to mourn a pet that is sick and/or dieing. Goldfish can live in that condition for a long time. It is probably a swim bladder or digestive problem. Does he eat? If so, try giving him some cooked peas with the shell removed. If not, try a salt bath with a teaspoon of salt per gallon of water. If this does not help, add another teaspoon per gallon. Still no help? Consult Magicman!

Do not flush a fish to kill it, there is nothing but stinking slimy waste down in the sewer pipes. Your fish would just lay there and suffer while it suffocated in the sh*t.

If you feel you must euthanize it, get some oil of cloves (a toothache remedy), place him in a cup of water and add 6-8 drops of the clove oil. It will put him in a deep sleep. Then place the cup into the freezer for a few hours. It will die a painless death.

Answer 2

It's not uncommon for a goldfish to live 10years or more so yours is reasonably young.
Your fish's illness is more than likely treatable, here's a list of common goldfish ailments:
http://www.bristol-aquarists.org.uk/goldfish/info/diseases.htm
You should also check the water quality of the tank he's in, goldfish produce alot of waste & poor water quality is the main cause of most fish illness. It sounds like it could be a swimbladder problem which is easily treated with solution from the petshop.It could also be a gas or bloating problem from eating the same food everyday, you need to give him a varied diet,not just flake food, your local petshop should have a wide range of alternatives.If it is bloating, starving him for a day or two could also help. Don't give up on him just yet.

Answer 3

I totally agree with 8 in the Corner, your fish is suffering from either constipation or a swim bladder infection. As 8 said, if he will eat feed him some fiber, such as a softened hulled pea or two or even some small bited of spinach or other leafy greens.

If he won't eat I would suggest you treat him with a good antibiotic. Furanace or Furan-2 would be my first choices, but Maracyn TC may also work. Just treat as the package directs. As soon as he will eat, try the fiber and also feed some antibiotic food that is available from any decent pet store.

Best of luck with him and feel free to email me if I can help.

Thanks for the reference 8 in the Corner!

MM

Answer 4

6-8 years is the average lifespan of most gold fish so being that you had him for this long says you took good care of him. It could be sick but more likely that just its time to go.

Answer 5

normal to cry over a dying pet! especially after six years!!!

unfortunately, the fish is probably on its way out if it is not able to swim...not sure what is wrong with him.

sorry!

Answer 6

take him out and put him in the freezer more humane