I NEED fast responses.

[Kaz]

My fish is constipated. Has been for the past week.

Not a big issue for you guys. But he will not eat any of the peas I give him and I feel I am prolonging his death. I tried to euthanize today but his will to live suddenly increased and he sped around the tank and hid.

So my question is now what do I do? He has caused quite a large amount of trouble but if there is a way he can live I'd go with that.

He might not even be constipated but that's the best I can figure.

[Deleted User]

Hi Kaz

I don't know how true this is but I have been told that frozen Daphina can work as a cure for constipation in fish. I use it with all my fish and never had a problem.:ssmile:

[Red]

keep an eye of him, and when he dies take him out right away and keepy trying to feed him peas.
I would say squeze him, but that may turn out bad.

[MonkeyPox]

What makes you think its constipated? How long have you been trying to feed him peas?

[Kaz]

He sits in the corner, he doesn't eat, he doesn't poop, his fins are clamped.

I've been trying for a little while now and evn though acouple times I got them to land on his mouth, he is afraid of them and swims away quite quickly. The Cories like them though.

Sorry for the urgency of the title but I plan on trying euthinasuia again tonight if I don't think I can heal him.

Is being hard to catch good sign?

[Red]

Yeah and no. I would just let it be Kaz and watch carefully, let nature take its coarse. And it sounds like it is very stressed.

[Kaz]

What is the best way for euthanizing? Freezing?

(I think it ate most of the fry since he was the most aggressive, Could that in addition to tetramin be why he is constipated?)

[MonkeyPox]

Do you have a quarantine tank you could put him in? there are a couple of diseases that show similar symptoms.

[Red]

What is the best way for euthanizing? Freezing?

Why are you acting so fast to kill it?:sconfused:

[Kaz]

I don't really think I can save him. He has been like this for a week and at this point I'm just making him suffer.


He is also the root of half of my problems.

[Red]

Ok, do you want, but if he hasen't died now, I don't think he will die later..

[Wild Turkey]

Dont kill it yet kaz, just wait it out player. As mentioned, the symptoms can be indicative of a zillion things, not just bloat. Honestly, it doesnt sound like bloat to me but if he had access to fry that will make it more likely.

You are skinning the peas right? Do that. Also try blanching (boiling) them and or dicing them up into pieces. If the other fish get some its all good.

If it is bloat, and he isnt having problems swimming he should be fine in a few days, no need to euth yet.

"Freezing" is a little vague but yes its the best option for your average keeper imo. I drop the fish into cold, dechlored water and then put it in the freezer. I leave until the water is icy (thought sometimes i do forget, and end up with a frozen fish)

Clove oil works well and is said be just as humane or more. Never used it though.

[Kaz]

Ok, do you want, but if he hasen't died now, I don't think he will die later..

How do you suggest I heal this fish?

(I'm sure if anybody else on here had this problem It would only be a minor annoyance that could be solved within the hour. I'm just so inept.:scry: )

What do you think it is turk? I used a book for my diagnoses.

[Northernguy]

I would give it another day and see how it looks.
Are there any external signs of anything?
If it ate a bunch of fry it will be somewhat constipated.I just run the frozen peas under really hot water,skin 'em and squish 'em,and drop 'em in!
It may die or it may pass them.The fact that he is strong enough to run from you is a good sign.

[MonkeyPox]

I'm sure there's a Monty Python reference in here somewhere...

[ShadoWolf800]

Yea. Try squishing the peas, and give if another day. But I've heard the most humane way to euthinize a fish is to cut its spine right behind its head. Never done it though.

[Gayle]

Add some garlic juice to those peas! He may eat them then!!

[Kaz]

But I've heard the most humane way to euthinize a fish is to cut its spine right behind its head. Never done it though.

No thanks.

[Northernguy]

Yea. But I've heard the most humane way to euthinize a fish is to cut its spine right behind its head. Never done it though.
Maybe when you are about to clean a fish to eat it but this is a pet,isn't it?

[ShadoWolf800]

Yea. I'd rather freeze him. But hopfully he'll get better soon....

[thrakuarium]

I have a juvie platy that exhibited clamped fins at one point. I couldn't spot anything to tip me off on her problem, but I knew she didn't feel good. I got a small container put tank water in it and pimafix.I was going with my gut feeling of a mild bacterial reaction. It was probably double strength or close to it considering the amount of water was around 16 ounces. I put her it this water for about an hour to hour and a half for two days, netting her back into the community tank each time. This way I treated her without medicating an otherwise healthy tank. She and the rest of the tank are just fine now. You might give this a shot if you can catch your fish and are sure no one else is acting sick.

[Northernguy]

That could also stress the fish right out because its not an easy catch!
I'm not arguing just a point.I realize your fish is still alive!

[Kaz]

That could also stress the fish right out because its not an easy catch!
I'm not arguing just a point.I realize your fish is still alive!

Aren't you in the same timezone as me Northernguy? It is late!

Normally I'm talking to the Australians at this point.

[thrakuarium]

Yep I understand those concerns and I am only presenting this option as an alternative to what may be an unneccessary euthing and only due to the length of time this fish has acted ill. I watched mine for several days as well before I acted.

note: If I had a QT tank available at that time that is where she would have gone

[Northernguy]

Straight North of you a few hundred miles! lol
I am usually up till later but not tonight!
Have a good one and good luck with your fish!:22:

[Jaster]

I think a little bit of garlic juice in their food some pimafix and/or melafix (just in case there is something more going on) will solve all your problems. This happens all the time and it doesn't need to be a death sentence.
I get like that after every holiday where my mom cooks... I over eat, get bloated to hell, can't move, don't want to move... Too bad we can't give fish Tums or Pepto!! :hmm3grin2orange:

[Kaz]

I think a little bit of garlic juice in their food some pimafix and/or melafix (just in case there is something more going on) will solve all your problems. This happens all the time and it doesn't need to be a death sentence.
I get like that after every holiday where my mom cooks... I over eat, get bloated to hell, can't move, don't want to move... Too bad we can't give fish Tums or Pepto!! :hmm3grin2orange:

Jaster this is what I was so annoyed at, Constipation is a minor problem yet I can't do anything about it. I know smaug would tell his fish to pass the fry and they would yet i was looking at the euthansia option. (I'm just lucky it wasn't TB, especially with my luck lately.)

Anyway, He moved on his own free will today (without being scared) to get food. I was excited. He looked just awful yesterday, worse he's been, was leaning on the glass. Yet today he ate.

He's a huge jerk but if he pulls through, I will love him and then I will get 2 more females for him.

Alright, the urgency of this case is now gone (the opertunity for euth has been passed, much like the things my fish ate haven't.) I think I overreacted anyway. If a moderater drops by feel free to change the name to something like "constipated platy", you don't have to though.

On a lesser note, I'm glad it's constipation because of all the puns I can make.

[Northernguy]

Beats the other way! Its not an expensive fish but it is still a pet!thumbs2:

[Wild Turkey]

I dont recommend a Gung-ho approach with meds. Dosing pimafix and melafix to the tank when no fish in the tank is showing warrant for it, will just stress out the fish that are fine, and make the chances of the sick fish surviving less. Neither med will cure or help with bloat.

[Jaster]

Neither med will cure or help with bloat.

My bad... I though they did help...

*goes to re-read bottles...* :hmm3grin2orange:

[Wild Turkey]

Its np, I re-read my labels a lot as well:hmm3grin2orange:

[Fraoch]

For fish that are salt-tolerant, you can put them in a solution of Epsom Salts to ease constipation. Epsom Salts are apparently a very powerful laxative...