SpidersWeb Posted February 7, 2008 Report Share Posted February 7, 2008 Unfortunately my clown knife (~12cm long) has turned in to an S shape. He *can* straighten up but does so only to swim and its very rare. Was hoping it was temporary but its been two weeks now. He's eating happily, no problems with other fish in the tank. Being fed 99% prawns from the freezer, kept at around 26C, looks healthy except for the bends Any ideas? My guess is we'd need to put him down, but hoping somebody here has some ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted February 7, 2008 Report Share Posted February 7, 2008 He has come out of the closet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilknieval69 Posted February 7, 2008 Report Share Posted February 7, 2008 Why put him down if hes still eating fine, acting happy and generally is alright..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted February 7, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2008 Why put him down if hes still eating fine, acting happy and generally is alright..... Because he looks rediculous, nobody wants to see a metre long clown knife thats in a constant S shape. He's also less energetic which I imagine is because its much harder for him to swim now. Looking at him just makes me feel sad and thats not really why I have fish. Looking on other forums it seems that it is likely a physical injury and unlikely to fix itself. If anybody wants him they're welcome, but over the next few weeks I'll have to put him to sleep somehow (clove oil?). Really sad about it but I can't fix him. In the wild he'd get eaten and it'd be done with. Lesson being that young clown knives are delicate, and structures where they might get stuck should be avoided at all times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted February 7, 2008 Report Share Posted February 7, 2008 Someone on MFK has a hunchback bichir. Its perfectly healthy and happy (other than the bent spine). I wouldn't put it down unless its having trouble swimming or eating. pic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted February 7, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2008 Its not hunched, its bent. Its also causing him to keep his mouth slightly open. Simiilar to this example: http://www.3reef.com/forums/attachments/fish-disease/3389d1076381371-fish-bent-please-help-img00005.jpg If it was just some small fish I'd let it live, but its going to grow to a metre long here, thats too much money and investment to put in to what will become an eyesore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tHEcONCH Posted February 7, 2008 Report Share Posted February 7, 2008 Sounds like a free-to-a-good-home situation to me. Anyone here want a Knife fish? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted February 7, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2008 Yeah for sure, anyone who wants one I'd happily give him away. Currently eats defrosted prawns and bloodworms. Not aggressive unless a large fish is near his gave and you see the mouth open as he gently pushes them out. Used to get excited and swim out at feeding time, now because its harder to swim he does this less. Might be an interesting fish eater for breeders with unwanted stock too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted February 14, 2008 Report Share Posted February 14, 2008 feed it some live fish put some extra current in the water maybe it will excercise its muscles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted February 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2008 To put it lightly, its f****d. I'm going with bent spine. Not suprisingly nobody at all is interested in taking him on, so I've passed on orders (with instructions) to have him put out of his misery/uncomfortable situation. Using the instant method of a wack on the head. Its the quickest and least stressful option. Being my pet there is no way I could do it, hence why I've passed detailed instructions on to somebody else to do it (who isnt gushy over animals). If he wasn't going to get bigger I'd keep him, but a fish that grows to over a metre long and already has a bent spine this early, growing him out is a BAD idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted February 14, 2008 Report Share Posted February 14, 2008 if you ship it to auckland, ill have him free Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted February 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2008 Don't really want to send, I work 8-5 in the city. Too awkward for me to bag him up and drop off at the couriers. If you can work out someway to get somebody to pick him up then I've got no problems with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted February 14, 2008 Report Share Posted February 14, 2008 really dont know how to do that its ok, i just wanted to ffer a house for him ill call him quazimodo tell you what give me your work address. ill see how much it will cost to get him picked up providing you have him bagged and in a poly box? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted February 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2008 Sweet I'll PM you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted February 14, 2008 Report Share Posted February 14, 2008 Using the instant method of a wack on the head. Its the quickest and least stressful option. Slight OT; its not the least stressful [or quickest] option for the fish, and for the person doing it! Clove oil is the best way to put a fish down, there's a good article on it here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted February 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2008 Have tried clove oil in the past. It takes ages, and stinks. A quick whack and there isn't time for any stress or pain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted February 15, 2008 Report Share Posted February 15, 2008 Perhaps it wasn't a strong enough concentration? I'd probably rather be slowly gassed to death by carbon monoxide than have my head smacked in by a giant hammer! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tHEcONCH Posted February 15, 2008 Report Share Posted February 15, 2008 Just clever its head off with a big knife! (This method is not recomended for spastics) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted February 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2008 Just clever its head off with a big knife! (This method is not recomended for spastics)Yes, totally agree, spastics should use razor wire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
georgeous Posted February 15, 2008 Report Share Posted February 15, 2008 I had to euthanase(sp?) a tetra recently (it had TB i was told). In the net, walked outside and swung the net handle/frame parallel to the down part of the concrete steps. lil fish went flying out the net and landed 4 feet away :lol: I am convinced it didn't fell a thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted February 15, 2008 Report Share Posted February 15, 2008 IF i had tetras and stuff, or gold fish to put down isimply net it up and place in jardinii tank.... the jardinii is also know n as dr death Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted February 15, 2008 Report Share Posted February 15, 2008 im kidding dont get offended guys well, im kidding cos i dont keep those kinda fish but if i did , i probably ont be kiddin so technically i have never done that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted February 15, 2008 Report Share Posted February 15, 2008 good name for a jardini mine is barrie mundi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted February 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 I used to keep a Jaguar Cichlid. Biggest thing I miss about him was an easy way to get rid of smaller fish that had deformaties. Paticularly weak platties etc that I couldn't have breeding. Fish being eaten by fish is OK with me provided the fish is swallowed and gone in one go. Which is much nicer than the 500 other ways they could die in the wild. Anyway some bad news henward, clown knife was with my parents, when I went back there last night they had already put him to 'sleep' as it were. No suffering, just a quick wack over the bench, gone in a second. To be honest probably for the best, it did not look comfortable at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danilada Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 Sorry to hear Jono Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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