Tropical Fish Forums

[Ballgame]

Updated on page 2

I have a 11 year old Piranha. He is a big part of my life and I have gone through a lot with him. I don't mean "put down" because I am a mean person, but he is in trouble.
Yesterday he freaked out and swam into the glass and immediately lost his equilibrium. Lost the food in his stomach and couldn't swim. Now he freak out if you get close to the tank and usually swims into the glass but this time was different...this time it was life altering.
Now my dilemma is how long to I let him sit on the bottom of the tank to suffer? I love him too much to do this to him yet I can't let him stave to death. I have a message to my vet but I really don't know what they can do.
So my question is what can I do if there is no cure and I refuse to let him suffer by staving to death. And even if I could force some food into his mouth what kinda of live is that for a Piranha?

Once again I'm asking because he means a lot to me and I don't want him to suffer. And please don't be mean and say flush him or anything like that. I came here for help.

Thanks
John

[rainbow_69_96]

Well the most painless way to put down a fish is to get a zip lock baggie put some witer in it and put your fish in it then you have to put it in the freezer. Once it is in the freezer his hearbeat will go down slowly and his heartbeat will eventually stop. Sorry but I don't know how long this will take but I hope I have helped. good luck!

[Sahara22588]

If there absolutely is no alternative to this problem, the easiest way to put him down would be to freeze him. Put him in a ziploc baggie with some water (you'll prolly have to double or triple bag him) and put him upright in your freezer. As the temperature of his water drops his metabolism will slow down until his heart stops. Then, you can bury him or do what you want.

Sorry about your piranha. It always is depressing to lose a pet.

Byez!
_________________
Duncan, ? 1992-July 13 2005.
-May he rest in peace forever.

[Ballgame]

thanks rainbow and Sahara. Its sad and although I'm 31 years old it still awful. I hate the fact that I saw it happen. If this can't be fixed(and I don't think it can) I want it to be painless and fast. I will not let him suffer longer than he has too. His name is Conan, named after Conan O'Brien.
Thanks for the replies! It means a lot.

[lularib]

Please, see my two posts here, specially the second one:

http://www.aquahobby.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=24593&highlight=

[LaraG]

I feel very sad for you and your piranha. Are you sure he doesn't have a curable disease? Sorry, I'm not meaning to be insensitive if you already know the answer to this question. If you're not sure you could try posting in the disease forum for advise. Good luck, although I guess that isn't an appropriate thing to say, I really have no idea how long piranha's are supposed live.

[sciaccaj20]

I was told by the LFS to boil some water and drop the fish into it. They said that the fish will pass within seconds. They also said to put a net over it, so the fish can't jump out.

Not sure if this is the best method, depending on the size of the fish. I have never used this method, but this is what I was told.

Sorry to hear about your fish.

[Sahara22588]

Don't boil it. If anything, that would be a very painful way to end a fish's life even if it is a quick death. It's better to end it without any pain even if it takes awhile than to have a violent end just to have it over quickly.

Ballgame; no matter how old you get, it will still be painful to lose a pet, especially one you've had for a long time. Best wishes.

Byez!
_________________
Duncan, ? 1992-July 13 2005.
-May he rest in peace forever.

[LunarFlame]

NO freezing. That is actually one of the most painful ways to put down a fish. A better alternative is putting the fish in a container with an alka seltzer tablet. Either that or putting it in a container and slowly adding cloved oil.

NO FREEZING!
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[Ballgame]