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If you have a fish pond, fish tank or are seeking advice about keeping tropical fish, you can find advice on our Fish forum.

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If you have a fish pond, fish tank or are seeking advice about keeping tropical fish, you can find advice on our Fish forum.

Fishnet

A dying fish... to flush or let it pass first?

26 replies

Nikki2ol6 · 13/12/2016 19:41

I believe one of my fish is dying. It lays on its side for a while then it's up swimming about again. I have placed it into a trap and it will lay on the bottom most of the time but if I go near the tank he will get up and move around. I have put some food in but he is not interested. If I put him back into the tank he will be attacked and killed as my fish are like that! I'm unsure if he will get any better or if he will die soon..... so my question is would you remove him and put him out of his misery? Or let nature take its course in the trap?

OP posts:

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Sophieeleanorxx · 13/12/2016 19:46

I had a fish like that when I was little he eventually died days or weeks after not sure. I think I would just put him out of his misery though as it's going to happen soon.

DearMrDilkington · 13/12/2016 19:48

My God, don't flush it!! That's cruel. Give him some peas, sounds like swim bladder.

Flumplet · 13/12/2016 20:04

Yes to the thawed garden peas - cut in to quarters and see how he gets on. Ours gets and iffy swim bladder from time to time and this little trick gets him back the right way up in no time at all.

Flumpsnlumpsnstuff · 13/12/2016 20:20

Garden peas ? Treat swim bladder please tell as we have lost a couple due to it.

DearMrDilkington · 13/12/2016 20:28

It doesn't treat swim bladder per say but it will make a difference to your fishes quality of life. Best way is to not feed the fish for a day or so and then feed a few boiled peas(obviously cooled down), make sure you deshell them though.

preciouspig · 13/12/2016 20:37

Please do not flush it!

Flumpsnlumpsnstuff · 13/12/2016 22:12

Thanks will try that

LotsoNumbers · 13/12/2016 22:18

Don't flush it down the toilet, alive or dead!

Nikki2ol6 · 15/12/2016 10:10

Well my little fish is still in the trap and he's much better! He's still not 100% so I'm not letting him out just yet as the other fish will see he's unwell and attack him

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xStefx · 15/12/2016 10:17

Aw poor fishy. I had no idea that garden peas can help.. that's mad :-) Aw please don't flush him till he is dead, at least he can die in peace then lol xx

Flumplet · 15/12/2016 17:43

Pleased fisho is doing better OP! Keep going with the peas. He'll likely pop like a trouper for a couple days but it definitely helps. The pea trick will come in handy in future - if he's got dodgy swim bladder it will likely recur in future - you can get some 'disease safe' formula that you can put in his water which might make him feel better too - should have said the other day - you can get it in pets at home for less than a tenner. Good job you didn't flush him eh!

Flumplet · 15/12/2016 17:44

** poop!! Poop like a trouper not pop. God that wouldn't be good.

froglou · 15/12/2016 18:06

Why on earth would you ever flush a fish, might be more convenient for you but with it's a slow painful death for the fish caused by chemical burns from chlorine in regular water, the massive drop temperature and suffocating in pollutants?
If you do ever need to euthanise a fish you can buy special chemicals or use clove oil which sedate the fish but you should always try to treat it first like you would with any other animal.

AuntMatilda · 15/12/2016 18:23

I agree with froglou what a horrendous thing to even consider doing op :( can't believe what I just read

Feenie · 15/12/2016 18:31

Ffs, what is the matter with you? Of course you shouldn't flush a fish that's still alive down the toilet. Jesus.

celeste84 · 15/12/2016 18:33

Its like you are on your death bed and they start put you in the bodybag and into coffin and lower you in the ground whilst you are still dying.

Nikki2ol6 · 25/12/2016 16:04

I left him in the trap, he began to get worse and suffered for days and days and just lay on his side and stopped eating and his skin began to peel. But of course we wouldn't want to put him out of his misery would we

OP posts:

Ledkr · 25/12/2016 16:14

Surely flushing it is ADDING to his misery not putting him out of it ?
Jesus, how cruel!

Reality16 · 25/12/2016 16:16

Flushing a half dead fish would put him out of his misery how

mudandmayhem01 · 25/12/2016 16:22

Look on a fishing website and there is a clear explanation of how to dispatch a fish humanely for food, I would apply the same to a pet fish if was clearly suffering.

HecAteAllTheXmasPud · 25/12/2016 16:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

dataandspot · 25/12/2016 16:28

All flushing does is mean you don't have to see the distress the fish is in.

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Nikki2ol6 · 25/12/2016 16:31

Because he is a tropical fish and the toilet water is very cold

OP posts:

froglou · 25/12/2016 20:05

Cold water untreated wouldn't kill a tropical fish instantly it would take several hours to several days. If you need to euthanise look for clove oil.

FabulouslyGlamourousFerret · 25/12/2016 20:43

Bloody hell Op, you sound a bit of a tit .... please don't do that to the poor bloody thing! Google humane euthanasia for fish

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