While I was out Thursday, the lights over the clownfish tank fell in.
I returned home to a tank with one dead clown, and the two remaining huddled in a corner. For whatever reason, the lamps (not turned 'on'), heated the water into the high nineties, maybe even higher.
We keep some larger water bottles filled and in the freezer, so after fishing the fixture out, I put several of these bottles in the tank and brought the temp back down.
Then I did a drastic water change, 60%, and trickled the new water in SLOWLY.
The surviving clowns are in "sleep" mode, -you know how they like to sleep up in a corner of the tank. Both of these fish remain, heads pointing up, in the back (top) of the tank behind the filter's return.
I'm assuming they suffered brain damage due to the lack of oxygen, or the excessive temperature. I've been monitoring them since, and no change. They are not eating, have no reaction to my movements near the tank, etc.
As they haven't shown any recovery, I'm assuming they will eventually starve to death. Rather than that, I'm starting to think I will have to euthanize them.
Anyone having experienced a similar situation, I would appreciate hearing back from you. Is there the chance of recovery before starvation?
If I must euthanize, what would be the most humane way?
THNX.
I returned home to a tank with one dead clown, and the two remaining huddled in a corner. For whatever reason, the lamps (not turned 'on'), heated the water into the high nineties, maybe even higher.
We keep some larger water bottles filled and in the freezer, so after fishing the fixture out, I put several of these bottles in the tank and brought the temp back down.
Then I did a drastic water change, 60%, and trickled the new water in SLOWLY.
The surviving clowns are in "sleep" mode, -you know how they like to sleep up in a corner of the tank. Both of these fish remain, heads pointing up, in the back (top) of the tank behind the filter's return.
I'm assuming they suffered brain damage due to the lack of oxygen, or the excessive temperature. I've been monitoring them since, and no change. They are not eating, have no reaction to my movements near the tank, etc.
As they haven't shown any recovery, I'm assuming they will eventually starve to death. Rather than that, I'm starting to think I will have to euthanize them.
Anyone having experienced a similar situation, I would appreciate hearing back from you. Is there the chance of recovery before starvation?
If I must euthanize, what would be the most humane way?
THNX.
Sorry I can't help answer any of your questions, but I know you must feel just awful.
