Got to euthanise the goldfish …

[uk66fastback]

Seems the day of reckoning has come for our goldfish who is about 18-19. We got him and a mate when the kids were small from a school fete. They had a succession of tanks over the years (getting larger every time) and then one died about 10 years ago and the other has soldiered on since then on his own. I’ve done the best I can with the water quality over the years since I’m the only one who takes any interest, the kids have long flown the nest and mrsuk66 doesn’t bother really.

He’s been blind for a few years too, with debilitating cataracts. One eye is completely gone and the other has a swelling over it (not popeye), which doesn’t help his vision. I’ve thought he could maybe see a bit out of that eye.

But the dreaded swim bladder problem has now reared it’s ugly head and he’s been upside down on the bottom and struggling for a few days now (since the weekend). He was a mixture of upright and 180 degrees before that for a few days. I’ve tried starving him for three days and giving him peas if it is constipation but it hasn’t worked.I’ve also got some swim bladder stuff to try and help if it was a bacterial thing but neither are working. I don’t know whether to keep that going for a day or two more or just get the clove oil out and put him out of his misery. I don’t like seeing him like this obviously … he’s bloated up like a pine cone as well, not good.

Just needed to put it all down, really … I think I know what I’ve got to do.

[85Carrera]

That’s a good innings for a goldfish.

Are you sure it’s the same one and that it hasn’t been swapped at some point previously so as to avoid you being upset at its demise?

[otolith]

They can be very long lived, but that is still a good innings in a tank. It sounds like you are making the right call, and have the right tools.

[Narcisus]

Clove Oil .... I've used the method a few times have a google. I suppose decapitation with a sharp knife would also be quick but I never had the heart or stomach to do that ...

[uk66fastback]

All done. Took under 30 mins. Buried him in the front garden. What a sad day.

[BoggoStump]

You looked after him really well and sounds like you made the right decision. I hope it was a peaceful end for him.

[Mexican cuties]

do you add the clove oil to the water? - and is it quite quick, we lost 4 of our 21 year old fish from the pond almost in one sitting, all levels now as they should be, was still upsetting, they was tiny when we had them, massive when we had to fish them out.

[MXRod]

Put it in water, and in freezer , that I was told to do by a vet .

[otolith]

Don't use freezing, it's not humane, especially not for coldwater species such as goldfish.

[take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey]

85Carrera said:

That’s a good innings for a goldfish.

Are you sure it’s the same one and that it hasn’t been swapped at some point previously so as to avoid you being upset at its demise?

God I was SO upset when mine died as a kid

[Narcisus]

Mexican cuties said:

do you add the clove oil to the water? - and is it quite quick, we lost 4 of our 21 year old fish from the pond almost in one sitting, all levels now as they should be, was still upsetting, they was tiny when we had them, massive when we had to fish them out.

Have a google on how to do it but if done properly they just seem to go to sleep ... Well I hope anyway ..