To be worried about a fish?!

[Dollygirl2008]

I know that sounds strange, but bear with me.

We have 3 fish - tiny little things, smaller than a goldfish (they are my DD's pets!). However, on Monday, I thought one of them was dead - floating on the top, so I went to get the little net to hook it out and it suddenly swam off, but in a very "drunk" fashion. Since then, it swims to the bottom and then floats up to the top on its side where it appears to be gasping for air and blinking. Not sure what to do - I hate the thought that its suffering. My friend told me to take a rolling pin to it but obviously I wouldn't do that.

I know I'm overreacting but like I say, I hate the thought that its suffering. The other two are fine.

Any advice?!?!?!?!?! (I eagerly await the responses.....)

[DesignedForLife]

My parents fish did that, I think it was some bladder thing that you can buy treatment for, possibly worth phoning a vet?

[Scarydinosaurs]

You get drops from the petshop to put in the water.

[Dollygirl2008]

Hi, thats great - thanks so much!

[shockthemonkey]

Ask about oxygen booster tablets too. You put fish into a kind of fishy hospital (small receptacle filled with water from tank to which you've added the fizzy tablets). Perks them up then they can go back in with their mates.

Did this in the past but the fish did not thrive for very long. Hope you have better results than I did

[misscph1973]

Definitely an ill fish. I don't think it's the swim bladder thing, they don't gasp for air, they just can't swim straight.

I rarely have any success treating my fish if they are ill. I am always upset when they die, but it does happen, they are only small creatures, and ithey are very harder to diagnose. I suggest youdo put an end to his misery, it's not nice, but it's the right thing to do, he's obviously in pain.

[MagicMojito]

We had the exact same thing. Get some frozen peas or Petit pois, run them under warm water then peel them. Sqush with a fork and then feed to the fish. Literally works overnight (at least in did with our old goldfish)

[Momamum]

In a mixing bowl, etc, some water from the tank + warm tap water that's stood for a while (so that the chemicals in the tap water dissipate). Swim bladder treatment + the teeniest pinch of bi-carb (which will sort out any possible constipation problems . Half cover the bowl with a towel so that it's in half light. Play Radio3, if there's something soothing on, in the background. NB Stravinsky not advised at this time. Make encouraging sounds if he craps "good boy/girl" etc. If you have children who need collecting from school later, get a friend to collect and deliver so that the little one is not alone.

Btw, hand on heart, I've done all these

[MyKingdomForBrie]

You're not over reacting at all! You're just a nice person.

[CinderellaFant]

I've had fish for years and I've never seen one blink! I didn't think they could?

[Theoretician]

Fish that get sick usually die. Hopefully quickly, but one I had lingered for longer than I could cope with, and it turns out there is a way to put them down. As I recall the procedure involved anesthetizing with clove oil and then putting them in a bowl of vodka which killed them.

[ProudAS]

Change half of the water every couple of days and don't feed the fish anything other than shelled peas for a few days.

[SabineUndine]

Cinders they don't exactly but they can tilt their eyes and it looks like blinking.

[ShtoppenDerFloppen]

I have 2 tanks (one fresh water and one salt water) and I will admit to being very upset when a fish is unwell. I have small quarantine/hospital tanks for both and do my best to get them better.

Here's hoping your little guy gets better.

[Rinoachicken]

If you do opt to euthanaise, please don't just flush it down the loo.

Out the fish in a jug or bowl and add clove oil to the water slowly over about half an hour. The fish will fall asleep and never wake up.

[LadyMaryofDownt0n]

Oh dear lord please don't just kill it, it's not euthanasia it's still murdering it! (Obv OP you prob wouldn't do this as you are really concerned about it)

Have you tried;
Changing the water
Water treatments
That silver drop stuff from the pet store
Taking it to the vet.

I though mine was a goner last week. I did the above & bought him a new friend and he's swimming like Michael phelps now.

[Shizzlestix]

It's hard to treat fish. If you have tried treatments, please be kind and euthanise by putting him in a bowl of his tank water and popping it in the freezer. It's the way the RSPCA recommend, he will literally go to sleep. Leave overnight. I was very sad to do this, but mine was past treatment. :(

[Glovebug]

I had a gold fish that would often float on its side. Small pinch of aquarium salt used to help him

[thequeenoftarts]

It's swimbladder, usually common in goldfish, either because they are greedy food gulpers and get bloat, or the water has just been changed and it's too cold, and needs warming up a lot.
Buy a swimbladder treatment in the pet shop and use as directed on the packaging. The peas did not work for me.
Wit 24 hrs mine were upright and swimming normally. If you are feeding flakes, change to sinking pellets

[PuppyMonkeyBaby]

If you have to euthanise, go with the oil of clove method another poster mentioned.

Don't freeze it, that's cruel (and, I don't believe endorsed by the RSPCA (the Australian RSPCA actually say not to do it)).