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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to murder a neon tetra

36 replies

reallytired · 10/11/2011 09:46

One of my neon tetras has a really bad case of fishrot. The poor thing can hardly swim. My son wants to treat it again for fishrot. I think the kindest thing would be to fish it out and hit it on the head with a hammer.

Can a neon tetra be treated with such advanced fish rot?

OP posts:
GalaxyWeaver · 10/11/2011 09:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bruxeur · 10/11/2011 10:12

You heartless arse. I can't believe you got a fish without thinking through the implications of looking after it for a long, rewarding life. This poor creature has given you weeks of love and attention, waiting for you to come home every night so you can take it for a cursory swim around the castle, putting it's wet little nose on your lap in a desperate search for attention.

I bet you got it from a backyard paddling pool breeder, didn't you? No responsible fish supplier would have let you have an energetic fish like this in your tiny second floor flat. It's like genocide, it really is.

I think you should talk to a no-fry fish rescue centre - NOT THE SFP - rather than killing one of your fin-babies. It's a disgrace.

VeryLittleGravitas · 10/11/2011 10:15

Clove oil if you need to dispatch it. Don't hit it with a hammer.

MyRealName · 10/11/2011 10:23

Grin bruxeur

I couldn't bring myself to do it , but sometimes it is the kindest thing, so would get someone else to do it. My parents have a big tank, tetras are usually hardy little things.

Maybe tell a white lie to your DS about it's fate?

MyRealName · 10/11/2011 10:24

*its.

DoesNotGiveAFig · 10/11/2011 10:25

We used to put ours in a tub and into the freezer.

Tangle · 10/11/2011 10:30

If you think the fish is suffering and the best advice is that further treatment is unlikely to cure it, I'd put it out of its misery.

How old is your DS? This could be a lesson in responsible pet ownership and the life cycle for him (DD was 4 and visiting PIL's when their oldest dog reached the point of excess suffering. We told her that sometimes when animals are in pain and can't be made better the kindest thing was to help them die nicely, and that was why the vet had come. She was upset for a few minutes while the vet gave the injection, then had a last cuddle with the dog and got very enthusiastic about helping to dig a grave and find some flowers to bury with her. Then again, it wasn't her first encounter with death so we were quite prepared to be fairly honest about the whats and whys)

Tangle · 10/11/2011 10:30

(ps - bruxeur :o)

GrimmaTheNome · 10/11/2011 10:35

Its a long time since we had a tropical tank - is the rot contagious? If so, it may be better for the other fish if you PTS this one.

redfairy · 10/11/2011 10:39

I put my sick goldfish into the freezer as I read this was a painless way to die. (I had tried lots of recommended cures for swim bladder but he wasnt getting better) I wasn't quite so prepared for the look of 'OH!' on his little orange face squashed up against the plastic bag when I took him out to dispose of him; and I did worry that he might defrost and still be flipping around in the wheelie bin.

HeidiKat · 10/11/2011 10:41

Just flush it down the toilet, it will be happier in the sea have you not seen finding nemo?

larakitten · 10/11/2011 10:42

Clove oil and a little vodka/gin to break up the oil (not for the fish to have a final drink Confused). Its basically an overdose of anaesthetic. Clove oil can be obtained from any chemist, and as for the gin....I assume that as you are on MN you will have a ready supply.....Grin

VeryLittleGravitas · 10/11/2011 10:44

Please use clove oil rather then any of the other methods outlined. It's a living thing FFS.

VeryLittleGravitas · 10/11/2011 10:45

Oil firstto anaesthetise the fish, then Vodka or gin to kill it.

Hopstheduck · 10/11/2011 10:49

I've done the freezer thing. Was sadly miss sold a fish as freshwater when it should have been in brackish water, it got very sick and had to be dispatched.

VeryLittleGravitas · 10/11/2011 10:55

Freezing a fish without anaesthesia causes unnecessary pain and distress. You can get Eugenol/Clove oil from any chemist for a couple of quid. Instructions for use in the links I gave.

Original poster
reallytired · 10/11/2011 11:01

Thanks for the links. The little guy is still alive. I am finding it hard to bring myself to kill him. I think the idea of freezing a fish is horrible. I imagine the pain of having all your cells burst. I think the hammer idea is kinder than freezing. At least it would be quick.

My husband makes the point that we don't care how the cod in our fish and chips died. I will do the clove oil thing. Do you think Whiskey would work instead of Vodka?

OP posts:
bruxeur · 10/11/2011 11:20

Only if it's single malt. Who'd want to drown in blended whisky?

MackerelOfFact · 10/11/2011 11:53

You could save yourself the trouble and get yourselves a couple of dwarf albino african clawed frogs.

stickyLFDTfingers · 10/11/2011 11:58

Grin MackerelofFact - how far up the food chain are you planning to go?

I second/third/fourth/whatever the clove oil route. And explain to DS how if an animal is in pain and not going to recover, then we have a duty to do something about it.

reelingintheyears · 10/11/2011 12:17

Imagining a similar thread in the Dog house! Hmm

MackerelOfFact · 10/11/2011 12:38

Well, Sticky, the crocodile arrives tomorrow!

hiddenhome · 10/11/2011 12:38

Make sure you mix the clove oil into the water and that the fish is unconscious before adding the alcohol.

stickyLFDTfingers · 10/11/2011 13:20

Mackerel I think that's an AIBU thread just waiting to happen!

GrimmaTheNome · 10/11/2011 13:26

Imagining a similar thread in the Dog house!

similar thread in dog house would be
OP 'my dog is very sick. can it be treated?'
A: take it to the vet/mine had this and ....
OP: Vet says it can't be treated Sad What should I do?
A: Sad If he's still eating and happy in himself, keep him comfortable. Otherwise - the best thing really is to go to the vet and have him PTS.
OP Sad sniff. yes you're right
A: Sad so sorry. Un-MNy [hugs]

This is how they go. Really. Don't give a doghouse a bad name and hang it!