A Dying Fish

[Jeff_S]

I have a rather large angel fish which is near death, just lying on the bottom. Is there a quick and painless way to put him out of his misery rather than watch him suffer any longer?

 

[SPC]

Jeff, I have always found that slamming thenm head first on concrete is pretty quick. They will only quiver for a few seconds and then its over.
Steve

 

[carver]

Steve: Your suggestion is heartless, insensitive and---just might work!! Except the concrete in Wisconsin is mostly covered with snow.

 

[SPC]

Carver, the kitchen floor would probably work just as well

.
Steve

 

[BROKER]

Do you know what is wrong with it?

 

[Terry B]

Why aren't you asking how to save it? Why not tell us the symptoms, water parameters, history and what you have tried?
Terry B

 

[Roach]

Well I know when we used to go fishing my dad would always hit the fish with a small bat a couple times. Seriously though I thought I read somewhere that you are supposed to take a knife and cut them right at the top of the spine or something. It's supposed to be quick.

 

[Jeff_S]

I have tried to save it. It is the same symptoms which have been killing my fish one at a time. I believe the disease is Mycobacteriosis. I have provided treatment but as mentioned at the following web site a cure is doubtful. It has been killing off about one fish a month for about 6 months now. I am not sure which fish this disease originated with but it is slowly progressing thru my whole tank. Please if you have any success with treatment of this disease let me know.

Thanks

http://saltaquarium.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amdareef.com%2Fmc_mycobacteriosis.htm

Cure

Cure of this disease has been doubtful, at best. Some positive results have been reported from the use of tuberculin drugs, such as Isoniazid (in the past), and perhaps Kanamycin or Baytril currently. Unfortunately though, once symptoms become apparent, there typically is no reversal and therefore no cure as the appearance of visible symptoms seem to indicate a point of no return. Due to the fact that this disease appears to be highly contagious given the proper conditions, the cause of action recommended is to destroy the affected specimen.

 

[LiveRockr]

I usually put the fish in a small container of water and freeze it..when it is frozen, I smash it and bury it.

 

[Anemone]

Jeff,

Have you conducted a necropsy (or had one done) to confirm the presence of granulomas and lesions that seem to be a hallmark of this disease?

Also, from the treatment section, it sounds like when symptoms become obvious, it's pretty much untreatable, but you should be able to isolate and treat the rest of your fish so you won't be losing a fish a month.

I'd think the freezer euthanasia method would be best - the smashing the fish method sounds dubious when dealing with an infectious condition that can be contracted by humans.

Kevin

 

[SPC]

Posted by Kevin:
I'd think the freezer euthanasia method would be best - the smashing the fish method sounds dubious when dealing with an infectious condition that can be contracted by humans.

Oh man, I didn't realize that we were dealing with some kind of dangerous pathogen here

I am not even sure if the freezing method is a good idea now. Where does one dispose of the body to insure that no human comes in contact with this? Can a human become infected by touching the skin, gills or bodily fluids of the fish?
Steve

 

[Christyf5]

I think the best way is to put them in a bowl with alka selzer. The CO2 just puts them right out and finishes them off quickly. The freezer method just prolongs their death (unless you have a -80C freezer) and I would imagine it would be quite painful IMO

Christy

 

[smokie]

I read that putting them in a bowl and then placing them in a freezer doesnt hurt them at all.
They swim around and as it gets colder it slows their metabolism down and finally they just goto sleep.

 

[Anemone]

From the above referenced link:

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Aquarist Beware

It is worthy of mention here that great care should taken when handling a suspected case of mycobacteriosis, especially when cuts or breaks in the skin of the handler, are present. This is because of the fact that although rare, the bacteria has to potential of infecting human tissue, causing a localized infection commonly on the elbow or knee, which unless properly treated for does not heal over extended periods of time.

I know of at least five personal acquaintances who have been infected by Mycobacteriosis. In four of the five cases, diagnosis was not made for a long time, prolonging the infection. Only after the administration of proper medications over an extended period of treatment were these people cured. Of the fifth case, I was personally able to observe the wound early on. Upon recommendation to the attending physician to culture for mycobacterium, it turned out positive (marinum, to be exact). Cure was accelerated by prompt diagnosis, surgical excision of the affected area, and a treatment of sulfamethoxazole, then changing to Minocycline, for a period of 5 to 6 months, since (proportionately) more people are affected by mycobacteriosis than any of the other fish pathogens which can affect humans, one can generalize that it then is the most commonly encountered fish disease affecting humans. So, if you ever have an open sore or lesion which does not seem to heal.

<hr></blockquote>

Kevin