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One of my zebra danios is missing a tail and I'm puzzled as to why. I know there is basically nothing I can do about it. All he can do is lay on the bottom and breathe. The inhabitants of my 90g in which he is in is:

8 zebra danios(including dying one)
1 BN pleco
3 cardinal tetras (7 died)

I'm guessing the only thing that could have done it was my BN. He probably attacked the danio in the night because he is nocturnal and the danio wasn't expecting it or was asleep. I don't know why.... I have a ton of algae on my tank... plenty food for the BN. Should I kill the danio myself to end its suffering? If so, how?

If the fish is suffering I would, could he have lost his tail, by getting caught in the filter.

How to put a fish out of it's misery, well I use sleeping tablets bought from the chemist, I use half of one tablet, it calms them down, then sends them to sleep then they die, it dosn't take to long about 20 to 40 minutes on how ill the fish is, I find this method works best for me.

What do you mean, a chemist?????? a sleeping pill????? Do you mean like a regular sleep aid for humans?

The danio probably lost his tail from the rest of the nippy danios or the tetras. I highly doubt the bn would do this. I keep danios in my tank and the dominant danio can be very nippy. I would put the fish in a hospital tank or some similar and allow the tail to grow back.

The tail can grow back??? didn't know that... if I put him in with my 10 gallon with my betta, would he bother him???

Last edited by fishnewbie at 07-Oct-2004 20:27

Put him in the hospital tank with prime water conditions and add some Melafix and Pimafix at the same time! (Don't worry, they work with each other) It should repair the damage and get rid of all infections at the wound. I hope your Danio gets well soon. I think it is sad how some horrible things can happen to inoccent fishies in the deep blue sea...

the most humane form of euthenasia is decapitation, sharp, fast, and painless,

why bombarding your fish with medications?
losing a fin is not a shock. it will grow back, just like hair does.

i think it's best to isolate the damaged fish, and let it heal on itself, and observe the dominant danio for more stunts like that. the dominant ones usually play rough, but that's over the line.

Unless I saw other fish actually nipping at the danios tail, I wouldn't think that another fish did it. I've been keeping danios with a BN for a long time and never had anything like that happen.

Ive found that the quickest way to end a fish's suffering is to mix a 50% solution of vodka and water, it takes only 5 minutes. It just basicaly puts them asleep, without pain

i'm not sure you're right. the alcohol might do incredible damage to their skin. remember, that our skin is much tougher, having to hold inside all that water, and so is much hardier to all sorts of chemicals. for example, rubbing yourself with salt won't do anything too bad for you, but it will kill your fish in a matter of minutes.

OH well he died after a weed of lying on the bottom... lot of suffering....