Sad day for me - not looking forward to going home..

[GinaD]

My Seabiscuit is dying.

For the first time in almost 4 years, this morning he wouldn't eat and was at the bottom of his tank. I almost stayed home from work realizing this is probably his last day, but I went in and drove home for lunch to check up on him. OMG - I almost started to cry - he was on his side with labored breathing. Water params are all fine and so are the other fish (yasa hashi goby and small scooter blennie).

Yesterday I noticed that although he ate, he looked like he was breathing just a bit heavy. Today it was much worse...

So I'm sitting here at work... stalling.

 

[APISTOBORELLI]

Sorry to hear Gina.

 

[ScooterNH]

Hope he pulls through. I lost my Scooter Blennie a few weeks ago after trying to get him recovered from what looked like lateral line. He perked up for a bit during the week or so process but ultimately stopped eating and got weaker and weaker. As he looked like he was just not going to make it, I felt helpless and kept trying to tell myself "he's only a fish - they don't last forever", but it sucked seeing him suffering and not knowing anything to do for him. (he was one of my first reef fish and I only had him for under two years).

So I feel for you. It sucks. You do the best you know how to, but sometimes they just go through "stuff" we can't or don't know how to "fix" despite our best intentions. Sounds like you had him for a pretty good long time. Some fish last a decade, others don't. I can't offer any sort of constructive advice other than a sincere wish he makes a huge recovery.
Good luck

 

[GinaD]

Thank you guys.
Just got home and now he's flat on his back. I'm SO sad! I don't know what to do.

 

[marco67]

Bummer Gina,
Sorry to hear that,
Do you know the natural life span of his species?
also great to hear of someone that cares so much for their animals.
Keep up the good work and please extend your care to your next lucky charge.

 

[GinaD]

Thanks, Marc - that's very nice of you to say.
I thought life expectancy was around 4 years for Reidi's.
I don't think I'll be getting any more seahorses. I get way too attached to them. Much more than my other tank friends.

 

[Greg Hiller]

Sorry to hear. I just lot the male H. redi that someone sold me about 6 months ago. It's funny, everyone used to say (back in the day that captive raised horses were not available) that seahorses only had a life span of about 1 year. I think that was a bunch of hooey, wild collected seahorses just didn't do well in captivity. My female turns 3 in a few months.

 

[GinaD]

Sorry to hear that Greg - how old was the male, do you know?

 

[Behrmon]

Bummer, sorry to hear it.

 

[Gina McReeferson]

Sorry to hear that Gina, it's so hard to lose one of our pets. You care for them everyday, get so attached to them, it's so tough when they die, especially when they've been with you for so long. I feel for you, I have a really tough time with that also.

 

[GinaD]

Thx, G.

 

[dg13]

I'm so sorry Gina. I know how you are feeling -it's awful.

 

[GinaD]

Thank you, Diane.
The waiting sucks so much! He's still hanging on, but barely - if I don't take a sleeping pill now, I'll be checking the tank every half hour til the sun comes up.

 

[jebar777]

sorry to hear gina.... i lost both of mine within days due to heat. so i know how ya feel

 

[ohsweetmadness]

Sorry Gina this part is never easy...

 

[Greg Hiller]

If it's obvious the fish is going to die I sugest putting it in a cup with some water and placing it in the freezer.

I don't know how old my male H. redi was when it died.

 

[GinaD]

Thanks everyone. Well he's gone. I think I'll bury him in my wildflower garden.

 

[joefitz]

So sorry Gina...that is such a distressing situation. That feeling of helplessness/powerlessness is frustrating, devastating and disappointing.

:-(

 

[Rays]

So sorry Gina, Unfortunately that's the pain we suffer for being animal lovers. I don't have reidi's, but have several northern erectus from a couple of collection trips to L.I.. They are all eating frozen, your welcome to a pair if you like.

 

[SaltCreep]

If it's obvious the fish is going to die I sugest putting it in a cup with some water and placing it in the freezer.

I don't know how old my male H. redi was when it died.

Yea I've done that.....a water filled baggie in the freezer.

Just cant bring myself to "whack" a fish to put him down quickly.

Funny thing is, when I worked at a LFS I had no problems "whackin" a sick fish.