Help please is my fish ok

Just need some help or advise my angel was fine until this morning he has been face down mouth to gravel for hrs and I don't no what to do to help him he's getting weaker and is floating around the tank unable to gain any control he hasn't eaten for a couple of days ive done a water change and all my other fish are very happy he's the oldest had him 5 yrs I'm always taking great care with my tank and fish but I'm not very clued up when they get ill as touch wood my tank has been very healthy so far is he going to make it any advise would be much appreciated thanks Sophie

Hi Sophie,

Sorry to hear about your fish. 5 years is quite a reasonable age for angels, and although some do live twice that long, it's quite possible that, sadly, your fish is simply suffering the ravages of time.
The fact that the symptons came on suddenly and none of the other fish are affected, I'm inclined to suspect something along the lines of a stroke or heart attack.

Under these circumstances there's not a lot that you can do for him, other thaan make him comfortable, by keeping lighting dim and ideally isolating him from the other fish, to prevent them picking at him. If you haven't got a seperate tank to house him in, partition the tank on a temporary basis with glass, plastic, or similar devider.

Sometimes fish can make remarkable recoveries from these sorts of conditions, but more often it is terminal. If in a couple of days he has neither died nor improved, I'd probably think about puting him out of his misery.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

Rob

Sorry to hear about your angel. You must be quite attached after 5 years. Please let us know the outcome. I hope It's a happy one.

Thanks for the advise I've dimmed the light and just keep checking on him yes he's lovely hes so big & bold he lights up the tank swimming around I just hope he recovers he's stunning and oddly swims over to the glass when you look in normally as if he's saying hello hehe I will miss him if his time is up but hopefully he will recover I'll let you both no thanks again Sophie

Hi Sophie, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you. As a side note have you checked your water conditions, just to put your mind at rest that you have done all that is possable for your lad.
Lisa

Ghipsi wrote:Hi Sophie, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you. As a side note have you checked your water conditions, just to put your mind at rest that you have done all that is possable for your lad.
Lisa

Hi lisa thank you yes I have , everything is fine tank wise but he's worse this morning he's floating at the top on his side I thought he'd gone but he's still moving and trying to swim

I realy feel for you

He's still alive swimming on his side floating on the top of the water he's eating but can't swim at all just floating around the tank it's been nrly a week shall I end it 4 him don't no what to do

Sophie1471 wrote:He's still alive swimming on his side floating on the top of the water he's eating but can't swim at all just floating around the tank it's been nrly a week shall I end it 4 him don't no what to do

Sorry to hear that. I had an angel that did the same thing. He eventually stopped eating, but this floating lasted for weeks. I didn't put him out of his misery, but then that was before I realized fish have feelings too. I would say yes, it's the kindest thing you can do for him, but ultimately, the decision is yours.

I agree, it is so stressful for them when they can't swim properly, sad but it would be kinder.

Just put it out of his misery, most of the time, once a fish has lost control over his swimming and drifts etc in the water current than there's no going back i'm afraid.

Thankyou every one I was trying to hold out and see if he would recover but he's not I
Going to put him out of his misery but how should I do it as I've never had to do this before

Don't flush it down the loo as it doesn't kill the fish straight away.
I get a carrier bag ready, net the fish out and put it inside the bag and whack it with a frying pan, it's over in a milli second, the fish doesn't suffer at all and the best bit is...All the guts etc stay inside the carrier bag!
Chuck it in the bin and the jobs a good 'en!
Sounds rough but the fish doesn't know a thing about it,
Mark.

whack it with a frying pan...All the guts etc stay inside the carrier bag! Chuck it in the bin

Whilst this approach sounds brutal, it is quick and effective....

...but the more squemish members of the forum won't like it one bit!

An alternative approach is clove oil (available as a product called Koi Kalm) a few drops in water are an effective anesthetic, but a big overdose is a good way of putting a fish down painlessly and without stress.
Mix the clove oil in some tank water first as it doesn't disolve easily, then catch the fish and pop it in. they usually stop breathing within a couple of minutes, and show no signs of stress before hand. Leave in the container for an hour or so to make sure they are dead, and not just comotose.

I cant hit him i cant even look at blood as i faint so think that would knock me out too ,I have clove oil I'll do that Thankyou very much appreciated thanks again everyone

Did you manage to do the deed? How are you feeling?