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September 28th, 2008
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| | Moderator
| Using clove oil.. formula please :-(
Awhile back in August, I had posted a thread, asking advice on my female betta, Darling. I asked if anyone thought she was full of eggs or did her tummy look like she had a tumor. while I didnt get many replies to that thread I went and bought maracyn and tried that, and then switched to maracyn 2. After a long while of medications her tummy never changed and in fact grew to many lumps and bumps and it was then that I realized her stomach is full of tumors and they were growing fast. Now Darling hangs out at the bottom of the tank because she is so heavy now. She does go to the surface to eat and will sit inside a candle stick near the surface at times. She is eating, but I see that it is hard for her to stay at the top of the surface for long. The size of her stomach makes me think that she has to be in pain. At the thought of euthanizing her, which is very hard for me to do, I have hoped beyond hope that that what she had were parasites. I cannot stay in denail any longer for her sake.
My question to those who have had to euthanize their fish is this. I plan on using the clove oil to put her to sleep. Can someone give me the formula that will make this as painless as possible for her? She really is a sweetheart and has been a part of my Betta family for well over a year now but I just cannot let her suffer any longer.
Please advice me on the formula for using the clove oil. 
I have added a photo of Darling so that you can see the severity of the situation...
Thank you, ~ kate | 
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September 28th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| I really have no idea about the clove oil... But I'm so sorry you have to go through this.  | |
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September 28th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| aww kate im so sorry about darling...she does look even bigger tho ...I feel for you both and this is what I found on the clove oil...
1. Add tank water to a measuring cup or mixing bowl. Measure the amount of tank water you add to the cup or bowl and make a note of it. Place the fish in the container. If the fish is in a clear cup place a dark towel around the cup to calm the fish.
2. Fill a small, clean jar or bottle with tank water, leaving some room at the top. This might be a baby food jar or pill bottle. Put 1 drop of clove oil in the jar or bottle, cap and shake vigorously. The clove oil must emulsify, turning the water milky white.
Gently pour about 1/4 of this emulsified mixture into the fish's container. The fish will begin listing as it starts to fall asleep. Let the fish be for about 10 minutes. The fish should be resting on the bottom by then. It will look dead, but if you watch closely its gills will be breathing once every few seconds. If after 10 minutes the fish is still rising off the bottom swimming intermittently, retrieve the jar or bottle of emulsified clove oil, re-shake, and add the same dose to the fish's container. Wait again.
3. Once the fish is asleep on the bottom, add 20-25% white grain alcohol. For example, if the fish is in 8oz (240ml) of water, add 2oz (60ml) of vodka. Let the fish stay there for at least 20 minutes.
4. Check the fish carefully after 20 minutes for any gill movement. If there is no gill movement over a 60 second period, the fish has expired.
goodluck and many hugs! | |
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September 28th, 2008
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| | Fish Mentor
| If you do not have clove oil, put ground cloves in a cup of water, stir it, then microwave it until hot. Let it stand until the cloves sink to the bottom and use the clove water. It might take more then the clove oil to work, but it works trust me. If you are unsure of the dosage, just go ahead and put to much in. If you want to skip the alcohol just put in more cloves/clove oil.
Other then that Shawnie hit the nail on the head. | |
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September 28th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| Kate, I'm really sorry that she is so sick and you need to put her to sleep. | |
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September 28th, 2008
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| | Moderator
| Thank you all so much for your help and support...
I am typing this through my tears, as it all brings the reality of what I must do to light. I love Darling.. and she has been such a wonderful little girl and just does not deserve to continue to have to live like this.. ( no fish deserves this).
Thank you Shawnie for your research and formula for me. I really appreciate this. You have the amount and what I need to do in order and this will really help me now.
Slug... thanks for the suggestion on using the ground cloves. I'm going down to the health food store soon and should find the pure clove oil there. If not.. I will keep your suggestion open and work with that and will be back for more questions on this if I need to use the ground clove.
thank you Darlene, Jdhef and Allie for your support...
I will keep you posted and hopefully if need be, I can come back for more information in case something goes wrong.. 
thank you.... thank you for all your help.... | |
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September 28th, 2008
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| | Moderator
| I'm so sorry the little girl is so horribly sick. You've done all you can for her, and I'm sure she'll be grateful for a chance to sleep.
Last edited by sirdarksol; September 28th, 2008 at 11:33 AM.
Reason: fixing my own stupidity | |
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September 28th, 2008
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| | Moderator
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Allie  | Thanks for the link Allie, I have just bookmarked it after reading it through. | |
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September 28th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| I'm so sorry Kate. I know how hard it is to know that there's nothing you can do for one of your babies. But you did all you could, and now letting her go is the best thing for her. Stay strong, we're all supporting you. | |
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September 28th, 2008
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| | Moderator
| Kate, I'm really sorry for the tough decision you have to make. Know you have our support and sympathy. | |
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September 28th, 2008
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| | Fish Helper
| I'm sooo very sorry foryou and your little girl | |
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September 28th, 2008
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| | Fish Helper
| oh, kate, i'm so sorry for this situation. poor little girl. i know you gave her the best life she could have had, and i know how tough this must be for you. | |
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September 28th, 2008
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| | Fish Mentor
| Kate, I am really sorry you have to go through this... | |
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September 28th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| oh gosh, i'm so sorry your baby is to that point....
poor little girl...and poor mom.
we're here for you 
i can't help you on the specifics, cuz i make Rick do this when necessary, but i know how terribly sad it is when you decide this must be done. hugs for you and your baby | |
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September 28th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| Kate,
I'm so sorry. When it's done, you'll know your precious Darling found her peace in the most humane way possible. Thinking of you and wishing you strength and peace. | |
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September 28th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| I'm so sorry you have to do this. I did it awhile ago so know how horribly upsetting it is.
I used the method Shawnie posted, and it was very easy for my betta who just immediately became unconcious, showing no distress at all.
You can get pure oil of clove at the pharmacy.
Your girlie is very lucky to have someone who cares enough to give her a gentle ending. Most fish don't get this. | |
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September 28th, 2008
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| | Fish Addict
| I am so sorry you have to make such a hard decision. | |
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September 28th, 2008
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| | Moderator
| Thanking all of you for all the wonderful caring support you have given me and Darling. You are all truly a community of friends to me.
I used the method that Shawnie posted and I followed the directions to the letter in the link that Allie posted.
I have kept a journal of it for future references if its ever needed again. I can say that it was quick and Darling was unconscious soon after adding the clove oil/water mixture. It startled me at first when she seemed to resist the clove oil, Im not sure about that but thank God it didnt last more than 3 seconds before she fell to the bottom and settled down into slumber. She is no longer in the pain that I am sure she was in...
My poor little girl is now at peace...
Thank you all.... I mean this with all my heart... 's to you all for your help and support,
~ kate
Last edited by capekate; September 28th, 2008 at 06:52 PM.
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September 28th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| kate
your an amazing fish owner and a wonderful caring lady..takes alot of responsibility to do this and shes resting now .....rip darlin! pinch rafikki for me while you are up there  | |
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September 28th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| Hi Kate,
I just saw your thread and I am so sorry for you. I have had to put a few of my bettas to sleep and it is never an easy thing to do. Sometimes you just have to think about what is right for the fish. You did the right think and euthanizing her was your final act of kindness. You are a wonderful mommy to all of your fishies, and I hope that you feel better soon. | |
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September 28th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| Hi Kate,
Its so hard to lose our little friends. You did the right thing helping her to go. My deepest sympathies. | |
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September 28th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| RIP Darling. She is in better place and no longer in pain like you said. It is a wonderful thing you did for her. | |
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September 28th, 2008
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| | Fish Addict
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September 28th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| I hear that most fish will freak out when you put clove oil in their water, just because they can tell it's something different.
I'm so sorry she had to go, but you were so brave to let her and not make her suffer. She can swim with my Rodya and Jimi up in fishy heaven now  | |
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September 28th, 2008
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| | Fish Helper
| I'm so sorry. You are such a brave gal to be able to do that. We've had to put a few fish down (never a betta though) and I can't even bear to be in the room when it happens.
Rip,Darling and to Kate. | |
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September 28th, 2008
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| | Moderator
| Thank you...
Thank you so much... all of you are wonderful fish keepers who have gone through the same thing I just did and also have done the right thing for your little loved ones. This is the first time I have had to go through this loss, as I have not lost any of my Betta's up to now. So it is new to me, and from going through this.. I know better what you all have gone through with your own loses.
Darling is in a better place... and no longer suffering. I let her go when I knew that it was the only thing that could help her now. Once she had a hard time swimming to the surface and staying there, I knew that I couldnt prolong her suffering.
I will bury her tomorrow in a warm and sunny spot in the garden and I will always remember her swimming around freely and joyfully and not how she was at the end. She will meet her new Betta friends in a place that is just for them.. and I am sure your Betta babies will be there to greet her.
Thank you kindly for all your support and comforting words.
I hope you all have a wonderful evening...
g'nite, ~ kate | |
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September 28th, 2008
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| | Fish Helper
| I hate to read how sick your Darling is. Decideing to euthanise is hard. We had to do it several months ago and it was tearful for me. I am sorry. | |
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September 28th, 2008
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| | Moderator
| My heart sank reading these last few posts. Kate, you gave her a wonderful life, sometimes the final act of love is putting our pets down, no mater how hard it is for us.
Swim free little Darling, you'll live forever in our hearts at Fish Lore | |
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September 28th, 2008
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| | Fish Mentor
| Swim free in fishy heaven little Darling. | |
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