Hey guys. My Maurice has not eaten since the last time I wrote to you which has been well over 2 weeks. He is swimming around like normal but he is having more tantrum attacks. He looks awful because of his Hole in the head disease. I know he is at the point of no return but I don't know what I should do. I know I should him but he is not lying down at the bottom of the tank and he still follows me everywhere I go. Why is he still alive. He is killing me!! Thank you AGAIN for all of your time.

When the dry season arrives in the tropics, many fish go without food for weeks upon weeks. That is why you'll find fish in captivity can do the same.

It's very difficult to know what to suggest. Are you keeping the water in tip top condition? Is the condition getting any better, staying the same, or getting worse ? is the fish breathing heavily? And finally, have you medicated the tank at all

I have been keeping up with the water changes, there are no meds in his tank anymore he is getting worse by the day and wouldn't you know I just went home and just now he is lying at the bottom of his tank. I hate to say it but I think it is time. I hate to see him suffer. Now what do I do? Very sad momma!

I think you have two choices. You either get professional advice on whether the fish can be saved, or you use your own discretion and decide whether it will be kinder to put the fish out of its misery. Personally, I think that euthanasia would be the best thing. The fish does sound in a bad way and I suppose you could try medication but would it work? It sounds too late to me.

if you need any advice, just ask

I agree with you! We have had 3 different medication treatments and it didn't do a thing. This is the first time I have seen him at the bottom of his tank. Could you please tell me the easiest way, for the both of us, to put him down. It amazes me still that a friggin fish can mean so much to you. This sucks. (Sorry I am a little upset) Thank you for all of your help!

Clove oil is an anesthetic that is often used to numb the gums on teething babies. you can also use it to euthanize fish. What you do is render the fish unconscious first with a couple of drops of clove oil. Once the fish is asleep, you add some more drops which then gives the fish an overdose of the anesthetic which in turn kills it. it can take up to an hour before the fish is completely dead. However, it is unconscious for the whole time which makes this method the most humane way of killing fish in my opinion.

People often recommend putting fish in the freezer to kill them. I can't see how this is humane personally. The Japanese actually keep fish alive out of water for long periods of time using cold treatment. I wouldn't recommend using this treatment to kill your fish.

If you've got somebody who is used to killing fish than they could probably do it very quickly and relatively humanely.

clove oil is definitely the best method for people who you really are not confident about killing fish any other way.

Thank you so much! I (we) appriciate all of your advice.

you're welcome:)

really sorry to hear about your fish:(

Well can you give me another suggestion because there is not a store in my little itty bitty town that sells clover oil and the health food store happens to be closed today! Thanks

how big is the fish? many anglers cosh their fish, and if done properly, the fish is dispatched very quickly. However, it is not easy to do it on small fish without ending up with a horrible mess. there are loads of ways you can kill a fish, break its neck, chop its head off, whack it really hard, drop a rock on it, not really nice. I've mention this before, fisherman often kill fish by putting them in iced extremely cold water. The only reason they do this is because they taste better when eventually consumed, I don't think it's anything to do with humanely killing them.

I've given you a few suggestions, if you can't use clove oil and you want to put the fish out of its misery quickly, you are going to have to bite the bullet and do it the horrible way. If it was a fish I had caught for the table, I wouldn't have a problem really. When it is a pet, it's much harder so I sympathise with you.I have been there several times

There is no reason to feel sorry for me because Maurice doesn't want to die. I know you all probably think that I am crazy. When I got home he was swimming around like normal. I gave him another water change and moved all of his decorations around because I like to watch him put them back were he thinks they belong and he did. His whole head is grey from the disease but,except for eating, he acts normal. I don't know why he was at the bottom of the tank yesterday afternoon but I can't bring myself to do anything until he stays at the bottom. I am sorry for being so wishy washy. Thank you again for your patients.