Best Way To "kill" A Fish?

[tamara]

I need to put my pleco down, what's the best way to do it to a bristle nose pleco?

 

[Kay1123]

Well, unless someone else has a better answer.... last time I had to put down a fish I got a sandwich bag with a zipper on it and put water in it and then the fish and put it in the freezer.

It was the saddest thing I've ever had to do and I don't want to do it again but it was the best way I could think of.

 

[ArauraDiscus]

Well theres always clove oil. THe problem with freezing is the fish dies of a heart attack I belive, due to ice crystals in the blood. If my fish look bad I normally let them live until they feel that life is no longer an option. I've had at least 3 fish look like death was the only way out, but they recovered fully and lived happy lives, thats why I can never put a fish down, because ya just never know.

 

[*Fishkies*]

Well, unless someone else has a better answer.... last time I had to put down a fish I got a sandwich bag with a zipper on it and put water in it and then the fish and put it in the freezer.

It was the saddest thing I've ever had to do and I don't want to do it again but it was the best way I could think of.

The freezer method is suppossed to be done as follows, and it should not be done with fish larger then a betta. As the bigger the fish the longer and more painful it may be. Smaller fish are better for the freezing method.

Take some water from the tap, put it in a dish and fill the dish up enough so that the fish will be fully submersed when you put "it" in.
Leave the water in the freezer for about an hour. By now the top should be frozen, and the start of the sides should be starting to freeze. Break the top layer of ice and put the fish in. In less then a minute he should pass.

You can also use Clove Oil, to put down a fish. I believe most people prefer this method as it seems a little more humane.

Also last time I visited one of my LFS' I saw a product called Euthanise. It said it was a humane way of putting down fish. I could not find the ingredients for it, so cannot fully support the product. Anyone else heard of a product like that?

However the way you choose to put him down, Sorry for your loss.

By the way what exactly is wrong with the pleco???

 

[poopsydrew]

I agree that the ice cold water is the most humane way. That or decapitation or a quick club to the head. Doesnt sound nice but the object is to be quick and painlesss which it is. The clove oil method is used by many but if you look through the other posts it is not a proven or scientifically accpeted form of euthanasia. There is a belief that although the fish may be paralyzed, it is still alive for awhile and burns the gills. May I ask why you need to? I feel awful for you, but would feel even worse if there was something that could have been done and wasnt....Sorry for what your going through, this is never easy.

Drew

 

[Straydum]

whats your reason for doing so?

 

[Deep Freeze]

garbage disposal? Also, Straydum, what type of fish is your avatar?

 

[t1tanrush]

Pavement + large rock = instant death no pain.

 

[-germ-]

I'm noy sure on the availability of phenoxyethanol, although it is present in many medications.
This is commonly used to perform euthanasia in the scientific fields of fish research....
But i wouldn't use it without further research and without being able to get it in its undiluted form minus added medications.

 

[promithius]

garbage disposal? Also, Straydum, what type of fish is your avatar?

How the hell could you even consider a garbage disposal unit humane? Lets put you through a meat grinder alive and see how humane you think it is.

 

[RadaR]

Quickest thing is a whack on the head. I can understand why some people couldn't do it but IMO it's the best thing really.

Sorry to hear it tamara.

 

[platyfanatic]

Well if i were you id just let him/her die on its own.
Why do you need to put him/her down anyway?
It miht not even be ill.

 

[Aphotic Phoenix]

http/depts.washington.edu/iacuc/policies...euthanasia.html

If you don't want to read the whole thing one method is...
Put 1 Alka-Seltzer® tablet in 20L of water, or 2 in 10G

 

[poopsydrew]

How is everything tamara? May I please ask again what was wrong?

Drew

 

[Meds081603]

a large flat board and a large sharp knife. one quick chop to sever the head is instant painless death. I would prefer myself a quick and painless death so thats what I give the fish. Freezing to death is slow and painfull. Clove oil can work well if done properly but its still not as quick as a sharp blow to the head or decapitation.