I thought this might be a helpful thread for those of us trying to decide what form of euthanasia to use when necessary. Please tell us about your experiences with various forms of euthanasia. Please include time until death (as near as you can tell) size and species of fish, illness (If known) as well as any other information you can think of.
Personally I have used the freezer method and the deep cold immersion method.
I used the freezer method on a 3 1/2 to 4 inch blue gourami...he had spinning disease. I didn't know much about euthanasia at the time and I had heard it was a quick painless death. Since then I have learned otherwise. I don't know how long it took for him to die but I'm sure it wasn't quick.
I have also used the deep cold immersion method. This method involves chilling water as much as you can...preferably until a thin ice crust forms on the top, and then quickly immersing the fish in the water. I used this method on a white cloud mountain minnow which was slightly less than 1" in length. I don't know what was wrong with him but he was not long for this world. The poor little guy went out like a light. I don't know if he was shocked into motionless but it appeared to be almost instantaneous unconciousness if not death. If I have to put down another small fish I believe I will use this method. Anything much larger and I would use blunt head trauma. The size issue with deep cold immersion is my personal reason for starting this thread. I want to see how large of a fish can be put out like a light. Please relate your experiences...I'm sorry to make you relive them they are never pleasant memories.
Personally I have used the freezer method and the deep cold immersion method.
I used the freezer method on a 3 1/2 to 4 inch blue gourami...he had spinning disease. I didn't know much about euthanasia at the time and I had heard it was a quick painless death. Since then I have learned otherwise. I don't know how long it took for him to die but I'm sure it wasn't quick.
I have also used the deep cold immersion method. This method involves chilling water as much as you can...preferably until a thin ice crust forms on the top, and then quickly immersing the fish in the water. I used this method on a white cloud mountain minnow which was slightly less than 1" in length. I don't know what was wrong with him but he was not long for this world. The poor little guy went out like a light. I don't know if he was shocked into motionless but it appeared to be almost instantaneous unconciousness if not death. If I have to put down another small fish I believe I will use this method. Anything much larger and I would use blunt head trauma. The size issue with deep cold immersion is my personal reason for starting this thread. I want to see how large of a fish can be put out like a light. Please relate your experiences...I'm sorry to make you relive them they are never pleasant memories.