How Do You Euthanize A Fish?

[Tacklebury]

Its a sad fact but one of the responsibilities of fish ownership is that eventually we all have to make the hard decision to euthanize a fish.

I have recently had a Glass Cat that had serious problems with what I assume was its swim bladder. It was obvious that the fish was dieing and I took the decision to euthanize it.

I personally couldn't bring myself to chopping its head off, I don't agree with cold water, I look for a fast and efficient way of ending its pain.

My chosen method is to net the fish and carry it 5 meters into my kitchen. I then basically swing the net fast and very hard into the side of the sink, this kills the fish outright.

I have used this method many times. My Fiancé doesn't like it as it often results in tank water everywhere, but my priority lies with the care of my fish.

Before someone asks (I’m on a night shift so won't be around to answer until the afternoon) about cold water and freezers, I don't agree as the stress caused must be high. If someone took me out of 27-28' water and stuck me into a cold bath I know I wouldn't like it!

Your thoughts please......

 

[Bobdole10]

I have heard about putting in a glass of vodka slow and pain less. Dont know if people really do it but might be better then freezing them to death.

 

[caboose_122]

i acctually saw someting about this an tv a few days ago, they say choping off its head with a sharp knife quickly is the best way, then a vodka bath with 1 part vodka 3 parts water i guess its painless it just puts the fish to sleep the worst way is to flush it down the toilet becuase it is a loing painful death. freezeing is another bad way ans its a slow painful death

 

[K.J.]

I wrap it in newspaper and drop a heavy, large rock on it.

 

[shroob]

Never had to thankfully, but if I did I would probably use clove oil, that seems to be the kindest. Failing that if the fish was small I would probably put it in a bag or container and slam it on a hard surface. If the fish was big then I think I would kill it with a bash to the back of the head, like fishermen do. The other methods of freezing and vodka don't seem humane to me.

 

[Hollymolly4]

I've never really HAD to do it, if I see one of my fish acting strangely, I just keep an eye on him until he dies.

 

[funkyhoney]

I've never done it but my old supervisor used to cut the back of their necks... Quick and painless apparently.

I just move them to a separate small tank in hopes they'll go naturally. If they suffer I generally add metho.

 

[badboy1690]

i know this sounds bad, but it really depends on the fish, if it was a swordtail for example, flush it down the loo, i cant believe anyone would waste a gass of vodka on a sword tail! when it was my 14" tinfoil barb though, i had to give it a quick smack on head, then held a service for it and buried it out my gargen. i still miss him

 

[TribeOfShroom]

From years of fishing, I prefer to use a priest (no, not the religious kind) and deliver a swift hard blow to the head to send any fish on its way.

 

[andywg]

Before someone asks (I’m on a night shift so won't be around to answer until the afternoon) about cold water and freezers, I don't agree as the stress caused must be high. If someone took me out of 27-28' water and stuck me into a cold bath I know I wouldn't like it!

Your thoughts please......

Comparing yourself (a warm blooded creature) to a fish (a cold blooded creature) is not a good way of deciding how best to do this. You will experience discomfort as your body will otherwise have to start really ramping up the heat creation to stop you getting hypothermia. This is not an issues with fish which gain their body temperature from the environment.

freezeing is another bad way ans its a slow painful death

The point of using a very cold glass of water for smaller fish is not a terrible way at all. It is actually stated to be ok by Washington University, which has an excellent department doing fish research. In its guide on the euthanisation of fish it includes the following (my bold):

Chilling of tropical species: The 1993 and 2000 Reports of the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia concludes that cooling to 4°C will decrease metabolism and facilitate handling of poikilothermic species. This method by itself should only be used to facilitate handling, and it does not constitute an acceptable method of euthanasia since there is no evidence that it reduces pain or is clinically efficacious. However, the panel does not discuss chilling to 4°C as a method for euthanasia for tropical species. Because tropical fish species, (i.e. zebrafish, medaka, and platyfish), have minimal to no physiologic adaptation mechanism for adjusting to cold (4°C) water, cooling to 4°C should be considered an acceptable method of euthanasia since the rapid decrease in temperature from 26°C (or higher) to 4°C induces rapid loss of consciousness and is lethal to these species. Fish euthanized by this method should not come in direct contact with the ice, because this may cause thermal burns and induce pain, but rather the ice should be added to a lowered amount of water for a contact time of 20 minutes.

Protocol: In a container of an appropriate size for the number and size of fish to be euthanized, place a small volume of water that will still allow the fish to freely move about. To this volume of water add four times the volume of ice such that there is a 1:4 ratio of water to ice. Allow the fish to remain in ice-water bath for 20 minutes prior to removing. Afterwards, transfer the fish to the freezer for storage prior to disposal.

Steelhealr has prevously pointed out that in his medical training he has learnt about how cold can be used as an anaesthetic and is noted to cause euphoria.

So long as you are dealing with small fish that are tropical, then a cup of freezing cold water is fine. And before someone claims about ice crystals bursting cells, the fish will die 4 degrees sooner than the ice will form.

 

[Tacklebury]

Thanks for the comments peeps.

I was just interested in what other people do.

 

[Piltdownpaul]

A pint glass half full of water and ice is my method. As soon as an endler hits the water it dies before it hits the bottom. A second or two.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

luckily never had to, if we had to then Ian would do it. He's always said he'd just do something like swiftly bashing it with a brick or cutting it's head off. one of the stomach churning but quick methods.

 

[Piltdownpaul]

My guppy breeding book advises to drop the fish into boiling water. Now that sounds drastic to me..

 

[Squid]

Seeing Miss Wiggle viewing this thread has given me an idea. Best way to euthanase (**spelling) a fish would be to make it sit through "Dancing on Ice". I can't see it lasting long watching that rubbish..


Squid