Should I Euthanise My Cichlid?

I came to my tank today to find that my female marble peacock (who was carrying fry) was getting beaten up and attacked by all my other cichlids. She was near the top and all the cichlids were biting at her fins and both her eyes were destroyed!! I quickly moved her to my fry tank where she spat out all the un developed fry where they got eaten by the bigger fry. Anyway about an hour later she has chilled out abit and is stating to improve (I think anyway) but what sort of quality of life does she have. She is now blind in both eyes and has all ripped fins. Will she survive in a cichlid tank now she is blind? What should I do!! Please help!!

 

she will not survive in an aggressive community ever again, breeding is also unlikely as a male won't accept her. I know what I would do, question is, do you have the mettle to give it a quick death? or a you softie with an extra tank willing to a put sub-par fish on solo display?

 

I would euthanize her with the clove oil method. She isn't going to have a too high quality life after being blinded. She can also be in a tank by herself, but you will need to do extra work to make sure she can eat.

 

I don't really have any spare tanks for her to go in but one of her eyes might still have hope. It has been punctured but it still looks somewhat normal. Is there a way to tell if fish are blind because there could still be hope for the one eye. The other one is completely demolished and I can't even make out that it is an eye. Any ideas what could have caused all the other fish to gang up on her so I can prevent it in the future

 

You can try scaring her visually i.e sudden movements at her to see if she reacts to tell if she is completely blind. Chichlids are aggressive fish, and things like this aren't exactly rare, so I think uts just natures way.

 

they probably wanted to eat her babies, also I would not be optimistic abt the other eye. likely it can sense light and movement but no detail. useless.

a wet paper towel with the fish sandwiched inside a ziploc combined with a dry freezer. instant death and very cheap. clove oil is used for euthanization when you want to make yourself better about the deed

 

Blind fish actually usually fare quite well once they get used to their surroundings, and her fins will heal eventually. I would give her a chance. You probably won't be able to put her back in the cichlid tank though, if they've attacked her once they are likely to do it again.

 

Could she go in a community tank?

 

ye it could go ok in a community tank but even peaceful fish like tetras can harass a fish they know is in distress or weak, and aesthetically it won't "fit" anywhere really anymore. your choice is binary. if you can't find a nice home for it, then your choice is obvious. either way you should not prolong its misery.

 

I think the right thing to do would be to end her suffering. I have read online that a quick hard blow to the head is one if the most painless methods. Is this true?

 

Honestly, I don't know about the quick hard blow to the head but are some humane ways to euthanize a fish. Hopefully this helps.

 

Ask yourself, would you like to be killed by an alien if you were blind? Or would you like to be given a chance?
And just in case you would like to be killed, give the cichlid a chance! You don't even know if she is suffering or not. Try to get her back on her feet.
And I seriously doubt a blow to the head is painless. Do you think it is painless to get hit in the head? It is almost like people telling that slitting a cow´s throat is humane.
Killing is not humane, let the fish have a chance.

 

If you feel it necessary to euthanize the fish, either clove oil or spike the brain (slightly behind the eye). I prefer the latter as it is cheaper and the fish will not suffer anymore. Both methods are humane and if done correctly kill the fish painlessly.

Do not freeze a fish to death, as it does cause them pain.

 

Ask yourself, would you like to be killed by an alien if you were blind? Or would you like to be given a chance?
And just in case you would like to be killed, give the cichlid a chance! You don't even know if she is suffering or not. Try to get her back on her feet.
And I seriously doubt a blow to the head is painless. Do you think it is painless to get hit in the head? It is almost like people telling that slitting a cow´s throat is humane.
Killing is not humane, let the fish have a chance.

I guess you're right. I don't know if she is suffering. She still seems to be able to keep herself straight in the water but the problem is that she can't go in the cichlid tank again and I have no idea how to care for a blind fish and how to get it to feed. Also I wasn't saying a hit to the head was the best way to dispatch of a fish I was just asking

 

Also I wasn't saying a hit to the head was the best way to dispatch of a fish I was just asking

Clove oil or brain spiking/pithing.

 

Try feeding her normally and maybe splash the water a bit when you feed her so she can feel the vibrations. Her other senses will become much stronger than normal since she can't see. Blind fish usually adapt very well and after awhile it could even be hard to tell that she is blind (If you ignore the lack of eyes)

 

If you don't mind the added effort you could always train to hand feed or use pinsetts.

 

Ok I will try my best to get her back on her feet. So there is definitely no chance she can go back in the cichlid tank if she get back to full health?

 

The choice is really up to you. You could wait until tomorrow since she is safe in the fry tank. Try to fee her and see what happens. The feeding issue would be the biggest concern because as stated, you have a community tank she could go in if she could resume a semI normal life. It may take her a few days to eat after what she has been through. If you don't mind, could you give me details on your cichlid tank. Are they all peacocks? What size? How many? What temperature do you keep the tank at?

 

If it doesn't look like she's suffering I'd give her a second chance.

 

So there is definitely no chance she can go back in the cichlid tank if she get back to full health?

You could possibly try it if/when she is 100% healthy, but you would have to monitor the cichlids very closely for any signs of aggression at first and take extra care to make sure she gets enough to eat.

 

The choice is really up to you. You could wait until tomorrow since she is safe in the fry tank. Try to fee her and see what happens. The feeding issue would be the biggest concern because as stated, you have a community tank she could go in if she could resume a semI normal life. It may take her a few days to eat after what she has been through. If you don't mind, could you give me details on your cichlid tank. Are they all peacocks? What size? How many? What temperature do you keep the tank at?

The tank is 4ft long 2ft wide and 2ft tall. I have a male peacock (the father of her fry) and another peacock. Two blue zebras, two red zebras, a small yellow lab, 4 clown loaches, two plecos one common and one bristelnose, two purple spotted gobys, and 3 auratus cichlids one male and two female. Hope this helps

Hopefully because she is blind she doesn't eat any of the fry as she is in the fry tank with all the fry

 

Ask yourself, would you like to be killed by an alien if you were blind? Or would you like to be given a chance?
And just in case you would like to be killed, give the cichlid a chance! You don't even know if she is suffering or not. Try to get her back on her feet.
And I seriously doubt a blow to the head is painless. Do you think it is painless to get hit in the head? It is almost like people telling that slitting a cow´s throat is humane.
Killing is not humane, let the fish have a chance.

Agreed!!

 

I use to be a bleeding heart, I still am to a point, but the fish you are talking about will never be right again! Ask yourself if you want to end up with a tank full of junk looking fish, or do you want to move on and use your time taking care of your good fish. I've done exactly what your doing, and saved a fish that will never be even close to ok, And it doesn't have a good outcome. I would end it's suffering. The way you do it is up to you. I would put it in a plastic bag and thump it against the floor, it's quick and it happens so fast the fish won't know it.

 

I use to be a bleeding heart, I still am to a point, but the fish you are talking about will never be right again! Ask yourself if you want to end up with a tank full of junk looking fish, or do you want to move on and use your time taking care of your good fish. I've done exactly what your doing, and saved a fish that will never be even close to ok, And it doesn't have a good outcome. I would end it's suffering. The way you do it is up to you. I would put it in a plastic bag and thump it against the floor, it's quick and it happens so fast the fish won't know it.

They aren't " junk fish."

 

I use to be a bleeding heart, I still am to a point, but the fish you are talking about will never be right again! Ask yourself if you want to end up with a tank full of junk looking fish, or do you want to move on and use your time taking care of your good fish.

There's more important things than the appearance of a fish. This isn't just a decoration - it's a life. Personally I think that the cichlid should be given a chance, especially since it can still swim properly.

 

Yes she can still swim almost perfectly and all the fins are in a state where they will definitely heal

 

I don't think she will do anything tonight. So you have a 120 gallon tank it is by no means overstocked. Most of your cichlids are Mbunas. You have an interesting mix in the tank. I wish I could help but that mix does not apply to any of the aggression reduction tactics that we use. I hope someone else can give you some ideas.

 

Do you think she's blind? Because if she is ,she could possible live in your Fry tank?! She would not be able to see any of the Fry. Just an idea.

 

Caring for a blind goldfish - Aquarium Forum
This link might help you out ^^^

 

Ask yourself, would you like to be killed by an alien if you were blind? Or would you like to be given a chance?
And just in case you would like to be killed, give the cichlid a chance! You don't even know if she is suffering or not. Try to get her back on her feet.
And I seriously doubt a blow to the head is painless. Do you think it is painless to get hit in the head? It is almost like people telling that slitting a cow´s throat is humane.
Killing is not humane, let the fish have a chance.

killing is humane, by mere definition. humans love to kill cuz we love to eat meat, and if they don't they pay others to do it for them because they are squeamish. so, please unless you are vegan try to reserve judgements, save that for the animals you keep, and if you are vegan "shame" on you because keeping animals in glass boxes is not humane apparently.
all of my pets seem to know I am their god, fish and mammal, and mercy is given by means of life and death, I don't waste resources on the futility of extending human compassion to non-humans, unless its' a special pet I happen to love. also only Halal butcher's slit throats. western practies use a piston driven bolt right in the brain, very fast, instant death.
by now if this fish wasn't close to my heart it wouldve already been popsicle. :/ I think OP has gotten all the advice he needs at this point. now the choice is his.

 

Also she is very thin after holding fry for about a week so hopefully she is hungry and will be eating by tomorrow. Hopefully she will feel better after a good feed

 

Also she is very thin after holding fry for about a week so hopefully she is hungry and will be eating by tomorrow. Hopefully she will feel better after a good feed

Yes, hoping she feels better soon!!

 

killing is humane, by mere definition. humans love to kill cuz we love to eat meat, and if they don't they pay others to do it for them because they are squeamish. so, please unless you are vegan try to reserve judgements, save that for the animals you keep, and if you are vegan "shame" on you because keeping animals in glass boxes is not humane apparently.
all of my pets seem to know I am their god, fish and mammal, and mercy is given by means of life and death, I don't waste resources on the futility of extending human compassion to non-humans, unless its' a special pet I happen to love. also only Halal butcher's slit throats. western practies use a piston driven bolt right in the brain, very fast, instant death.
by now if this fish wasn't close to my heart it wouldve already been popsicle. :/ I think OP has gotten all the advice he needs at this point. now the choice is his.

Really? Because I looked up the definition of humane and found the following:
"having or showing compassion or benevolence."
None of your "arguments" make sense. The vegan part is borderline stupid, what does that have to do with the discussion? Is it alright to kill someone because it was painless? Would you like if I shoot you in the head? No? Why? It is painless!
I can discuss this with you in private messages because I would not like to derail the thread, altough to be honest I would prefer not to talk with someone like you.
The OP can do whatever he wants with his fish, you can do whatever you want to do with your fish, I just stated my opinion.

 

It is possible to keep a one eyed cichlid in a tank with other cichlids. You just have to provide time and space for her to heal properly and you have to be able to really watch to make sure the other fish aren't going to kill her, if you ever put her back in with them.

I have a yellow lab that was actually born with one eye. I couldn't bring myself to euthanize him, he was in my fry tank for a long time, then he was in a community tank for awhile after that. Now that I have had a tank break, I put him in with the other cichlids. He is doing okay, but likes to hide behind my sponge filter when the other cichlids come to close to him. He also likes to stay towards the top of the tank, with his eye down at them, he eats just fine and can get away just fine. Granted, it's been less than a week that he has been in there, but so far, so good.

By the way...he's the only cichlid that I've named....His name is One-eyed Willy

 

killing is humane, by mere definition. humans love to kill cuz we love to eat meat, and if they don't they pay others to do it for them because they are squeamish. so, please unless you are vegan try to reserve judgements, save that for the animals you keep, and if you are vegan "shame" on you because keeping animals in glass boxes is not humane apparently.
all of my pets seem to know I am their god, fish and mammal, and mercy is given by means of life and death, I don't waste resources on the futility of extending human compassion to non-humans, unless its' a special pet I happen to love. also only Halal butcher's slit throats. western practies use a piston driven bolt right in the brain, very fast, instant death.
by now if this fish wasn't close to my heart it wouldve already been popsicle. :/ I think OP has gotten all the advice he needs at this point. now the choice is his.

Really? Because I looked up the definition of humane and found the following:
"having or showing compassion or benevolence."
None of your "arguments" make sense. The vegan part is borderline stupid, what does that have to do with the discussion? Is it alright to kill someone because it was painless? Would you like if I shoot you in the head? No? Why? It is painless!
I can discuss this with you in private messages because I would not like to derail the thread, altough to be honest I would prefer not to talk with someone like you.
The OP can do whatever he wants with his fish, you can do whatever you want to do with your fish, I just stated my opinion.

Well said!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Unfortunately my cichlid has gone blind in both eyes. I had a one eyed cichlid about a year ago before he passed away. He had his eye eaten of by a Chinese algae eater when he was young but he still lived a happy and healthy life. De did the same thing as yours does. He stayed at the top looking down at the other cichlids

 

That stinks!

 

There is this Mexican tetra that lives in caves and is born blind. They act like any other fish. Just like blind people can adapt to their new conditions I believe fish can too.
It is up to you. Personally I would give her some time.

 

Yeah that's before I realised how aggressive Chinese algae eaters can be