Advanced Goldfish Tumor

Question
QUESTION: I have a small fish tank (2ft long x 1 ft deep x 1 ft high) I have two goldfish in it, a commit and a fantail.  I have had them for about five and a half years, so they are very much part of the family!  I have an undergravel filter and as out water contains no chemical (it is just filtered rain water) I just top that up as needed, or after using the little gravel vacuum - I never take more than a third of the water at any time.  I have never used any kind of conditioner or other additives.  The temperature fluctuates between about 60 and 70 degrees - as it is winter here at the moment it is currently 60.
The commit has been developing tumors for a long time now and up until now he (I don't really know if it is a boy but I have always called him he) has been fine, happy, eating well (oh I feed them fish flakes I get from the aquarium shop)he has always kind of been the leader of the two fish, the fantail tends to follow him around, he is always the first to come up to feed.  But last night for the first time ever, when I fed them, he didn't come up to get his food.  I waited for ages and moved the lid on the tank a number of times (which is his normal queue) but he just didn't respond.  He still swims a little bit but he is clearly lethargic and withdrawn, he is no better today and he does not interact with the fantail anymore.  I think his time is almost over but I fear that he is suffering.  Do you think that he would be suffering?  If so, what can I do?  I mean what is the kindest thing to do?  I don't want it to be any worse than it has to be.  The tumors are many now and the biggest one is very large, covering the entire right side of his face and eye.

ANSWER: Alison,

Sorry to hear your fish is having problems. A fish that can no longer recover from disease or injury must be Euthanized. The fastest and safest way is to use clove oil and vodka. Below are the directions:

First, anesthetize the fish with clove oil so that it is sleeping and unable to feel pain; then introduce a clear grain alcohol like vodka to ensure the fish will not wake up. Clove oil, or eugenol, is available at most drug stores and is sold as a toothache remedy. It has been used for years as a fish anesthetic for surgeries and tagging procedures. Clove oil will put a fish to sleep and ensure it feels no pain. THE FISH CAN WAKE UP FROM THIS SLEEP IF REMOVED FROM THE CLOVE BATH  The last step of adding the vodka will ensure the fish expires.

For fish up to 3 inches (7.6 cm) in length, some simple steps can be followed. Add some tank water to a measuring cup or mixing bowl. The amount of tank water added to the cup or bowl should be measured and a note of it made. The fish should then be placed in the container. If the fish is in a clear cup, a dark towel placed around the cup may calm the fish.

Next you should fill a small, clean jar or bottle with tank water, leaving some room at the top. A baby food jar or pill bottle can work well for this. Then add 1 drop of clove oil in the jar or bottle, cap it, and shake the jar vigorously. The clove oil should emulsify, turning the water milky white.

Pour 1/4 of this emulsified mixture into the fish's container. The fish will begin listing as it starts to fall asleep. The fish should be allowed to sit for about 10 minutes.

The fish should be resting on the bottom of the tank when it has fallen asleep. It will look dead, but if watched closely, its gills will be breathing once every few seconds. If after 10 minutes the fish is still rising off the bottom and swimming intermittently, you should retrieve the jar or bottle of emulsified clove oil, re-shake, and add the same dose to the fish's container. He should wait again for the fish to fall asleep.

Once the fish is asleep on the bottom, 20 to 25% white grain alcohol should be added. For example, if the fish is in 8 oz (240 ml) of water, 2 oz (60 ml) of vodka should be added. The fish should be allowed stay there for at least 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, the fish should be checked carefully for any gill movement. If there is no gill movement over a 60 second period, the fish has expired.

This is the way that I Euthanized my fish when the time comes. This is the most humane way to do it since it lures the fish into a deep sleep before you add the alcohol. If you have any questions regarding this please don't hesitate to ask me.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Jaymie,
I got your response last night and planned to get some clove oil today, however he has saved me the trouble and has expired through the night.  We will bury him today in the garden.
I was just wondering about the fantail - do they get lonely on their own?  I also noticed one of your other responses to someone about a 30 gallon tank being big enough for only 1 goldfish.  Being Australian I have no idea how big a gallon really is, but it sounds like a lot.  So now I am wondering what is really suitable for my little 2 ft x 1 ft x 1 ft tank?
We have had the fantail for about 5 years now and for a long time it seems to experience a "ballast" problem, where he floats to the surface and spends a lot of time upside down, but then he comes good again.  Do you know what might cause that?  If so, do you know how I could help him?
Should I be thinking about getting him a new friend?  Or do I have a sick tank and maybe shouldn't be introducing another fish to it?  Or maybe it is just too small?  Sorry for all the questions, but I have never found anyone before that knows (or cares) about fish, especially cold water fish.

Answer
Alison,

I am sorry to hear your fish passed. The reason we say to give goldfish such large tanks is because they are huge waste producers. They have no stomach so everything they eat comes right back out as ammonia. These fish can also get to a good size and need a lot of swimming room. I am thinking that the size of your tank is about 10 US gallons which is about 38 liters. Way too small for a goldfish. I would try upgrading the tank to a 30 to 40 gallon in order to house 2 goldfish. Until then it is very important to do water changes every week to remove the ammonia and nitrites from the water. Also, I would make sure the filter you are using now is for a tank larger than the one it is in. This will help filter the waste better. As for the upside down problem, that is easily treated and prevented. It is what's called swim bladder disease. It is usually caused by over feeding. The swim bladder is what keeps our fish buoyant and upright. The best way to treat is to fast the fish for 2 days. On the third day feed him a cooked shelled pea. Then fast again for 2 days. Depending on the size of the fish you can give him 2 peas. This will get rid of any food still in the fish and get him to swim correctly again. When feeding goldfish, feed the only what they can eat in a couple of minutes and only once a day. I fast all my fish once a week and feed peas once a week to help with this problem. I do not think that you have a sick tank if the fantail is doing well. They do like to have company as goldfish are sociable fish. I am not bothered by all the questions because that is what I am here for. If you have any more questions or concerns don't hesitate to ask.