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I realized the importance of a hospital/quarantine tank today. Will get one tomorrow. Five gallon I guess. Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow. Been meaning to set one up, too busy, doin other things, life, paying attention to the big tanks... some mornings you get up and for some reason someone died overnight, feel bad, say a prayer, burial at sea, life goes on. Today I had a sick fish, not near death, but sick enough he needed to be removed for the safety of the community, bacterial fin rot, bad case, broadbased antibacterial med required holiday, stores closed, nowhere to put him, need a hospital tank holiday, stores closed, worried about him, worried about the whole tank. Don't want to kill him! Don't want the community to get sick. Put him in a jar w/tank water and diluted tranquilizer. Stupid, but I was desperate. He was miserable. Tomorrow he'll be dead. Tomorrow I'll get a hospital tank.

THE HOSPITAL TANK IS IMPORTANT

I learned the same thing in much the same way. After almost killing an entire tank full of guppies, I also realized the need for a quarantine tank and proper quarantine procedures. They're hard lessons, but worth learning...preferably not the hard way, but those are the ones that stick with you the most.

A ten gallon makes a better hospital tank - especially if you have more than one patient. Almost all medications are dosed based on ten gallon increments.

Good luck and I hope your fish get better.

Ah, the hospital tank. I've lost 5 fish and counting due to my lack of a hospital tank. I've finally got one, and what a miracle it is. I'm not one of those people who see fish as something that can or can not live for a while, I hate it, much as you must, when I do anything to harm them in the slightest. Just do everything you can for your fish, in the end, I'm sure it would be grateful that you cared, whether it survived or not, and besides, think about all your other fish!

by the way....Jake was right about the 10 gal. thing. Excellent idea my boy, simply excellent.

-Tankster

Ten it is. Thanks!

Sorry to hear about your fish...did it happen to make it through the night?

A 10g is a great idea if you have the space. I don't keep a hospital tank setup but I have a few small tanks available, air pumps & stone, corner filters, etc should the need arise.

Just curious where you live that everything was closed for the holiday. Around here Wal-Mart, PetSmart, and two small lfs were all open.

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

A ten gallon makes a better hospital tank - especially if you have more than one patient. Almost all medications are dosed based on ten gallon increments.

I'm actually a firm believer in getting the smallest possible hospital tank that you can. Why? Well, you want to keep your fish as still and calm as possible so they can concentrate all their energy on healing. For most fish, a 10g is slightly too big to accomplish this, I use a 5.5G and have done for all my fish right up to a sick medium size angelfish. The small tank made them feel secure, safe and made 100% water changes far easier.

100% water changes you say? Yes, these are very important for the health of your fish when most common fish diseases can actually be cured by perfect water conditions alone. Finrot can be cured in all but the most serious cases by using clean, ammonia free water, so can ich, fungus, etc. It is important to change 100% of the water at least 2xweekly. The hassle of calculating medication dosages is nothign compared to doing a 100% change in a 10g tank.

Dont use a filter in a hospital tank, it is a waste and must be disposed of after every sick fish has been in the tank. You also must get a net dedicated for use in the tank.

hmm - I think that about covers it.


edited for spelling

[span class="edited"][Edited by tiny_clanger 2004-09-08 06:07][/span]

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I like to think that whoever designed marine life was thinking of it as basically an entertainment medium. That would explain some of the things down there, some of the unearthly biological contraptions

You're right Theresa, I could have made it to a Walmart. We live in Camino in the Sierras, above Placerville, California. Only one lfs and it was closed but I could have made it to a Walmart. Tried to avoid these details. I'm a live-in caregiver for a quadriplegic whose been very bad sick and haven't been able leave him the past three daze. 'Nuff said.

My rummy was gasping upsidedown this morning and I'm sorry I didn't put him out of his misery last night. Wondered wondered wondered wondered wondered what would be the easiest for him. Someone suggested quick killing him but I couldn't bring myself do that! You see, I don't want to be the one responsible for life or death, but when we take care of others we've got to do our best, not only to keep them healthy, but to aleviate their suffering. Won't go into the age-old moral dilema. But when I saw him struggling so desperately this morning, completely tail-less and obviously suffocating, I put the little jar in the freezer for a quicker, more pain free death. I cried for his precious little life. DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH THAT UNNECESSARY DEATH AND EXTRA SUFFERING AGAIN IF IT CAN BE AVOIDED. Point is [font color="#C00000"]if[/font] I already had that tank... maybe others can benefit from my experience.

Thanks tiny-clanger for your viewpoint on the size. Makes sense that a 5 would be easier to manage. I would think the sick fish would also not feel so overwhelmed.


[span class="edited"][Edited by June 2004-09-07 14:06][/span]

I hope you didn't take my post the wrong way and I apologize if it came across that way. In general I think holiday=stores closed and was actually surprised to find so many open. I was curious if that was the case everywhere.

You wrote a good post about the importance of having a hospital tank. I'm sorry you had to euthanize your fish, that's an awful thing to have to do

You may want to read this article about euthanasia. From what I learned reading that and from other posts here using alcohol (drinking) is a fast and very humane way to euthanize a fish

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

No offense taken, it was a logical question. Hope I didn't sound offended, was just a tad emotional this a.m.

Wow, wish I had that euthanasia info sooner. Been reading like crazy but missed that article! No way I could sever the head live if there's another option. Thought freezing wouldn't be that bad because of stories I've heard about people who have fallen in sub-zero water and nearly frozen to death and have come back to say it was a painless and peaceful experience, the shock I guess. It's good to know about the alka seltzer. I've also heard alcohol poisoning is a terrible way to go, sooo who knows... I think we'd all prefer to just go to sleep, that's why I tried diluted tranquilizer from the vet, but it didn't seem to faze him.

Hopefully it's a non-issue now. Got that hospital tank and a little stock of meds for emergencies. Red Cross sign is up and got my little white hat.

Tiny Clanger - I understand what you're saying, but depending on the amount of fish you have that need to be hospitalized, having multiple 5 gal-ish tanks isn't very convenient for most. Would not a 10 gal with a divider serve the same purpose?

Also, maybe it's different depending on your area, but I can get a 10 gal setup for cheaper than I can get a 5 gal setup. Mostly any 5 gal setup in my area is going to be an eclipse tank or eclipse knock-off, and will be more expensive than a 10 gal starter tank.

Ummmm just a thought. If my one foot oscar ever gets HITH is a 29 gal suitable for a hospital tank or will a 10 gal
be ok ? My friend has an empty 10 gal but I already have an empty 29 and 30.

The Amazon Nut...

Just guessing here, because I know nothing. But some thoughts come to mind. If the tank only measures 1' front to back and he can't turn around easily he may be stressed from the experience and worsen his condition. But then how long is the med treatment for HITH? If he only needs dousing of 20 min intervals and not a long hospital stay it could work. Plus it sure would be a lot easier to disassemble/clean after use. If he needed to reside in it for any length of time I would think the 29 would be a lot better for him.

Just to add another thought...

Many ppl don't have hospital / quarinteen tanks because of the cost... well, mine are 5 & 10 gallon plastic storage tubs .

Cheep, easy to store, easy to clean....