Topic: euthanizing a betta?

[CatWomanDiana]

I have no trouble staying by my cats when that last needle is inserted - but someone else does the insertion.  I think if it gets to that, I'm going to put Purple in a small hex tank and take him to the aquarium shop - both to confirm that nothing else can be done as well as to have someone with experience do the deed.  Thrashing I don't need to see again...

[Cholly]

I'm not ashamed to admit it, I bawl like a baby afterwards if they've been with me a while, but I don't hesitate. Hesitation only causes them unnecessary pain. I use the hammer method for fish, cradle them in my arms while the vet gives the injection for furkids. Furkids really tear me up, but I wouldn't feel right if I wasn't there for them.

[CatWomanDiana]

I'm not ashamed to admit it, I bawl like a baby afterwards if they've been with me a while, but I don't hesitate. Hesitation only causes them unnecessary pain. I use the hammer method for fish, cradle them in my arms while the vet gives the injection for furkids. Furkids really tear me up, but I wouldn't feel right if I wasn't there for them.

Yeah.  I have  a fish place close, so it would be a short drive.  At this point, while he is swollen, scales are sticking out (which would be logical if swollen beyond their capacity), and he spends time at the bottom tucked between his "rock" (plastic hollow thing with holes that would resemble a boulder if solid) and the side of the tank to stay upright - but he still swims with vigor, and still demands food whenever I look in his direction - so I'm giving the Maracyn plus a try.  And still giving him peas.  In fact, he's gotten more aggressive about getting food - he used to hide a lot, now he's right there and jumping for food.

I have to be here at work "on call" this weekend, so I'm going to bring up a lot of water and do some serious 100% water changes with tank cleaning and all.

dg

[wendyjo]

That's too bad.  It's a hard decision to make and a hard thing to do.  Have you read thru this entire thread?

[Kaylithin]

I used this article- http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-most-humane-way-to-euthanize-a-fish.htm
it really worked well. Very peaceful. I used the first method they talk about.

[CatWomanDiana]

That's too bad.  It's a hard decision to make and a hard thing to do.  Have you read thru this entire thread?

Yeah - and a few google searches and phone calls.

Since he's still active when food is a possibility, and eating as usual, I'm not giving up on him yet.

dg

[parrotforlife]

uk, all sounds morbid to me. especially cutting it head off? I just let him die a natural death

[CH]

I just let him die a natural death
---
Sometimes that's not the right thing to do.

[clarissah]

I'm no fish expert, and i happened upon this post and I'm quite shocked and horrified actually. I've lost many fish in my time but I've always just let them die. Usually when I notice that they're not doing so well, they die within a day. At what point do you decide the animal is suffering and needs to be euthanized? I had a pleco once that one day just started not moving around much and the next day was covered in a green moss like substance (this was in my early fish keeping days). I freaked out and took him out of the tank and put him in his own tank for meds. He didn't look happy but he wasn't trashing around or anything. He died the next day but I guess that would have been a case for euthanasia although I don't think I could ever do it.

I understand the "Don't flush your live fish down the toilet" - what do you guys do with the fish when they're dead? I flush mine. But that point about putting whatever disease out there is a good point.