jaleinwa

I have been treating my angelfish for what I believe is a swim bladder disorder for several weeks now. I've tried every treatment that I could find suggested on this forum, online or by my LFS. I've seen no improvement. She is basically just laying on the bottom of the tank on her side. Every now and she'll swim but always falls back on her side. The thing is she is still eating and will swim away at any attempt to catch her. Can anyone offer any advice? Can I just allow her to live like this or should I think of euthanizing her because she may be suffering? Any help would be greatly appreciated? I have no idea where to go from here.

sirdarksol

That's rough. I'm sorry your fish is sick.

This is a tough decision for anybody to make. Some people will say "euthanize the fish," others will say "give it more of a chance to heal," and still others will say "nobody can make that decision for you." I'm in the last camp.

I will tell you this: No creature enjoys being invalid like this, so she is suffering to some extent.
I also know that swim bladder problems are difficult to heal.

That you're asking this may mean that you realize that she's suffering but are loathe to take another creature's life without being sure you're choosing the right path. I'm like that. When any of my pets have been at the point that quality of life is a concern, I've opted to wait far to long to euthanize them. It's easy to see in hindsight, but really difficult to accept while you're looking directly at it.

aecw

I agree with everything sirdarksol said. It's incredibly hard to think that your pet is suffering and just as hard not knowing if you are making the best decision for this little life. Quality of life is a very important concept in my life concerning my pets and my children and we have had to make some challenging decisions with this in mind and my advice for you is follow your heart and do what you feel you need to do. And don't let "maybe I could of..." ever haunt you - not a good way to live!

davidB

Personally, I have decided that i will put my fish to sleep when they will no longer eat. Until then, I feel like they have a fighting chance. Since nobody knows exactly how fish perceive pain, it's hard to say if they are suffering, and animals have an extremely intense will to live.

jaleinwa

I think the fact that is still eating and seems to have the will to live is what is making it so hard. Thank you all so much for the responses. I guess I have a decision to make.

Barbrella

Euthanization is always horrible and we always think we did it too soon, or too late. With fish it's especially hard because we have to do with our own hands as opposed to having a vet do it for us.

As has been said, no one really knows in what way fish suffer and in nature, a fish like this wouldn't never live any length of time. I know someone with a Jewel cichlid who is just like your angel, and has lived this way for a year. His owner feels his life has quality,(I'm not so sure) but this is something personal for each of us to decide.

Sometimes I think these things are much harder for us than for them.

Whatever you decide to do will be out of compassion and caring and no one can really say for sure what would be wrong or right.

Sorry not to be of more help.

Shawnie

aww poor lil thing....I hope she gets better!!

Have you tested your water parimeters? laying sideways and lathargic is sometimes ammonia as well..and water changes with some prime will fix her right up if thats the case....