Killing a fish...

For some reason, I'll blame it on the kid bugging me, I initially missed the part about putting him out of his misery, after I re-read it I felt like an idiot and edited my post...

 

Thanks everyone for the well wishes, like I said it wasn't fun but had to do it. He didn't even flip around when I fished him out, so he was beyond healing IMO.

That is what happened the first time and he was fine, lived for several weeks afterwards. I wanted to use your approach, but realized that there were only 3 things I could do:

1. Leave the powerhead off overnight. I immediately ruled this one out because it accounts for over half of the flow in my tank... not an option IMO.

2. Leave everything alone and see what happens. This was ruled out because every time I turned the MJ on he was hugging it within 5 min. So the chances were that he would have gotten sucked to it quickly and died, then lay there for 6 hours where the cleanup crew couldn't get to him and rot in the tank. The chances were so slim I felt it was definitely not worth the risk.

3. Fish him out. After watching him all night long I felt this was the best option. I felt like I had a Hospice tank going, had to make a decision.

 

I think you did the right thing, I had a fish suffering from popeye to the point where it wouldn't move at all yet was still alive. I had the hardest time disposing of him, my man laughs at me but I get so attached to my fish!

As far as your foxface goes, maybe he wasn't so bright since he kept going back to what almost killed him, darwinism in action maybe?

So are you going to replace him, if so, with what?

 

Fish are pets too, we get attached to them just as easily as dogs, cats, whatever.

Sorry for your loss, that really sucks.

 

I thought it might have been natural selection, thinning out the weakest in the herd! I compared it to a friend as a fish that you dangle a worm in front of... if he can see you, he doesn't eat it! This guy went toward the MJ like he saw the light or something. A replacement will happen sometime, but I'm in no hurry. I will probably get a lawnmower blenny next.

Thanks again for the kind words everyone!

 

sorry to hear that man... same exact thing happend to me and my foxface.
1st time he got stuck to maxijet attachment for the overflow box (which has claim a huge number of my snail), he had a mark for week and a half but eat and was good
2rd time he got stuck (same side as the last time) to the korela 4. he was fine for about 2 weeks
3rd time was a the charm, he got stuck to my final korela and didnt make it.

it blows he was super kool, so i feel your pain k+

 

He was really cool, followed me around the tank, stayed close enough to me while my hand was in the tank to make me nervous as heck! If my tang goes I might give up... thanks

 

So sorry for your loss.

 

Speaking of being so close, I had a close encounter the other day, he actually brushed his dorsal fins up against my finger. That was scary!

 

Sorry to hear what happened. Sometimes we have to do whatever necessary to reduce their pain. I am sure you did the right thing. Next time, hopefully not, if you are in similar situation, use F/W livebearer breeding trap. Remove inner content to give fish little room and who know, fish may pull thru w/o being sucked up by PH and/or being bullied by tankmates. Some fish has shown me on numerous occassions that they can pull thru when given little extra help from us. Feel better fellow member.