At what point should I euthanize my fish?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
If you have marine salt laying around it can work, just add it until the concentration is about 3ppt (parts per thousand), it really just depends on how far gone the FM is. Many times its not only the wounds, but the stress inflicted by the encounter.
Firemouths and others of the Thorichthys genus are bluffers, not really aggressive, and will never be able to stand up to carpintus. I believe carpintus are generally too aggressive to be kept with any other cichlid, unless the tank is over 300 gallons.
 
Aquarium salt is basically simple sodium chloride, basic difference between aquarium salt and marine salt is marine salt has additional minerals not in freshwater aquarium salt, basic difference between aquarium salt and table salt is table salt can have iodine and anti-caking minerals added-- people disagree on whether the iodine or anti-caking agents will bother your fish. Some pretty respected aquarist sources say this is nonsense (example) (example2). As far as whether to use marine salt instead of simple sodium chloride, your water conditions may make a difference, since marine salt will add some hardness to your water.

The fin damage is something that can heal with some combination of clean water, and/or salt, and/or Melafix. Laying on its side is more worrisome, it's possibly just stress but also possible internal damage. As far as fish feeling pain, scientists go back and forth on this, one study concludes they can and then another comes along and says they don't, at least not in the same sense of suffering from pain as we would (article).
 
Well after all that I woke up this morning to find him dead, his injuries must have been worse than I thought because he only got injured 2 days ago.
 
Sounds like he had more injuries than just physical. Possibly some sort of bloat since you said he was just floating around
 
:( at least you tried your best cambrew , I hate that bit of the hobby
 
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