chibi
Fish Herder
When I want to end the life of one of my fish or want to get rid of a dead body, I flush it down the toilet. I heard that the chlorine in the water will kill them pretty quickly. Is this true?
Euthanasia/ridding Of The Dead
- Thread starter chibi
- Start date
Nooooooooooooooo!
First, the chlorine does not necessarily kill the fish, certainly not in the concentration in drinking water. (If it was concentrated enough, the fish would suffer severe burns and when it did die would be in excruciating pain!) So you have now released a fish into the sewerage system, and there's no guarantee it won't die and it could get into the normal water courses and infect native fish if you disposed of it because of disease. Disposing of dead fish down the toilet can also introduce disease to wild fish.
In short don't do it!
There are many threads discussing various methods of eutanasia from using clove oil, to decapitation. I haven't had to use any method yet, but would err on the side of severing the spinal chord, killing the brain, in short, decapitation. For disposal, just wrap the fish in kitchen roll or paper, and put it in the bin, it's the cleanest way.
First, the chlorine does not necessarily kill the fish, certainly not in the concentration in drinking water. (If it was concentrated enough, the fish would suffer severe burns and when it did die would be in excruciating pain!) So you have now released a fish into the sewerage system, and there's no guarantee it won't die and it could get into the normal water courses and infect native fish if you disposed of it because of disease. Disposing of dead fish down the toilet can also introduce disease to wild fish.
In short don't do it!
There are many threads discussing various methods of eutanasia from using clove oil, to decapitation. I haven't had to use any method yet, but would err on the side of severing the spinal chord, killing the brain, in short, decapitation. For disposal, just wrap the fish in kitchen roll or paper, and put it in the bin, it's the cleanest way.
sparky_555
Fish Crazy
how would you get rid of a full size clown loach or oscar?
The same way, just in the bin?
The same way, just in the bin?
I'm just picturing the local aquarium trying to put a dead shark down the toilet! Sorry chibi i'm not trying to pick on you, it's a valid question until you know the answer, i then got the shark image in my head and it made me chuckle!
woogrl
New Member
What I have always heard to do is make a mixture of baking soda and water and put the fish in this mixture. Tha baking soda makes the fish go unconcious and then go on to fishy heaven. I believe this is the most humane way of ending the life of a fish. As for disposal small fish in the trash can large fish you could probably take to your local animal shelter and the creamate the bodies so there is no more waste. Always an option.
three-fingers
Fish Connoisseur
I've never had to kill a fish, and obviously the only reason i would ever try to is if it was in horrible pain with no hope of full recovery.
All the fish that i have had die of disease, being half eaten or of old age i give a proper burial in the garden. I even do it with my triops . I know its sad....but i just think the bin is a bit undignified.
I guess im just strange and sad that way
.
All the fish that i have had die of disease, being half eaten or of old age i give a proper burial in the garden. I even do it with my triops
. I know its sad....but i just think the bin is a bit undignified.I guess im just strange and sad that way
.
vancouver
- l l a m a s -
Doesn't baking soda just raise the ph? I thought thats how people raise the ph for african cichlids.
Cut the fishes head off.. easiest and quickest way. People often talk about using alcohol or putting in freezer or whatever.. but you cant deny that chopping somethings head off isnt going to kill it.
Cut the fishes head off.. easiest and quickest way. People often talk about using alcohol or putting in freezer or whatever.. but you cant deny that chopping somethings head off isnt going to kill it.
I do this with my pets too. Fish are just as much a pet as any other animal that gets buried proper. I don't see why people flush them, dead or not. My sister did so recently (she bought a common goldfish, accidentally exposed it to cold water and a ph difference of 7 versus 8, and it immediately died - probably a better way to go for it than in her one gallon bowl, however, shudder) with great enjoyment. It disgusted me.I've never had to kill a fish, and obviously the only reason i would ever try to is if it was in horrible pain with no hope of full recovery.
All the fish that i have had die of disease, being half eaten or of old age i give a proper burial in the garden. I even do it with my triops
I guess im just strange and sad that way
I prefer crushing of the skull...but this is a bit messy so with smaller fish i get some very cold water. As cold as I can get it without having an ice block. Then quickly immerse the fish in the water. With small fish they go out like a light. Larger fish decapitation or blunt trauma are the only acceptable methods in my mind. Unless you can get your hands on some vet stuff. It's never pleasant...This is a hotly debated topic btw. I think it really comes down to what makes you feel the best about what your doing. If you believe the fish felt as little pain as possible then you did your job
vancouver
- l l a m a s -
I don't see how shocking it to death is better then choppings its head off... I'd much rather be decapitated then shocked to death.
In the link sPlisH gave....it says in unacceptable methods of euthansia that you do not plunge them in freezing water. But in some cases i heard in this thread and many others, it was considered to be an acceptable method to do so as what Torrean does to some of his smaller fishes....for me, i never had to do it so im just confused..
scubadoo
Fish Crazy
By far the quickest, and therefore in my opinion the most humane method available to the normal aquarist is to cut the head off. With larger fish you can argue that you should also whack it on the head to kill brain function instantly as well.
I know that it can be difficult for some people to face, but it is IMO the best option.
Messing about by freezing the fish - which happens slowly BTW will only cause prolonged distress.
I know that it can be difficult for some people to face, but it is IMO the best option.
Messing about by freezing the fish - which happens slowly BTW will only cause prolonged distress.
Fish die from internal hemorrhaging as ice crystals forming in the blood rip their veins and arteries to shreds when being frozen, in my mind not a nice way to go.
Decapitation is extreemly fast, i cant say its painless as it probably isnt but its over very quickly and is instant death.
Clove oil or vetinary overdose are probably the most trauma free ways of killing a fish.
Decapitation is extreemly fast, i cant say its painless as it probably isnt but its over very quickly and is instant death.
Clove oil or vetinary overdose are probably the most trauma free ways of killing a fish.
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