How To Kill A Fish Painlessly And Quick

[Sheridanp]

My white-skirt tetra should die within the next hour, as he is upside down and heavily breathing. What can I do to make his death quick and painless? Please answer quick!

 

[pieman]

Do not trust this answer as I am not 100% sure of it, but I have heard that you can drop it in boiling water, try and find this on google.

 

[vix]

I havn't done this myself, but put it in a bag with some water and give it a quick sharp flick to the head against a wall or something.

 

[Bloo]

No, boiling water is not a suggested method and not painless at all.

Please read this topic on Euthenasia and decide which method suits you best.

I havn't done this myself, but put it in a bag with some water and give it a quick sharp flick to the head against a wall or something.

But that will only result in the bag bursting with water and a dying fish on the floor

Edit: to add - please read the whole topic including the bits by Steelhealr in the last couple of posts.

 

[WILDER]

Put the fish in a small container and tip cold iced water over the fish, it qucik.

 

[Sheridanp]

I really don't want to do any of those methods. I know it sounds much worse, but I'd rather let him die on his own. I can't bear to do what that topic says, even though it is much painless.

EDIT: @ Wilder: What do you mean tip cold ice water? Also, can the water be 9 degrees celsius?

 

[Dorkhedeos]

bash its head if youre man enough

 

[WILDER]

Cold as possible, will get sh link.

 

[Sheridanp]

To be honest, I'm really a pussy. I don't feel as bad though because I'm just 13. Anyway, I guess I'll do Wilder's method.

 

[WILDER]

Anything that stops the brain functioning either quickly or painlessly is a good method of euthanasia. Each to their own, done properly, blunt force trauma to the head and brain is an instant death.


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Full Edit
Quick Edit
steelhealr Mar 3 2006, 11:45 PM Post #18





This is what I choose to do with my fish and my comments are only placed here as opinion. This is a heated topic. I choose based on my knowledge from my training:

Oil of cloves is a topical anethestic and was used in the past to treat toothaches. Lidocaine (like at the dentist's office is a topical anesthetic as well). When we operate on people we really want to achieve 2 things, analgesia and anesthesia, that is, relief of pain and unconsciousness. IMO, when a fish is immersed in oil of cloves, it is essentially 'topically anesthetized', paralyzed, but, I am NOT convinced that the fish is unconscious.....none of us will really know for sure. We don't know if the oil of cloves causes stinging to the mucus membranes, eyes, etc on initial contact nor if the fish is motionless, painless but aware.

Extreme cold is an anesthetic. When applied to skin, you can actually cut the skin and feel no pain. Cold also can cause rapid unconsciousness. In fact, hypothermia is reported to cause a state of euphoria and clouding of consciousness. Fish, at least most of the types that we keep (tropical), are extremely small and rapid immersion in extreme cold water, in my opinion, causes rapid pain relief and rapid unconsciousness. I have never seen any of my fish shows signs of what I consider suffering. They stop moving immediately and appear lifeless. Some have stated that since fish are ectothermic, this doesn't apply....perhaps in cold water fish I would agree.

I choose to euthanize my fish this way, rather than oil of cloves. One must either make an educated decision for themselves, or, choose what is currently accepted by the masses as what is humane.

Added: although I would never use blunt force to euthanize my fish, nor advocate it, one fact is for sure: death is instantaneous

SH This was written by mod steelhealr

 

[Sheridanp]

He's dead. Thanks everyone.

Also, I think he died immediately when in the cold water.

 

[WILDER]

Sorry.

 

[Bloo]

Well done for being brave and doing the right thing.

Out of interest to others, this method is descrived by Steelhealr here:

This is what I choose to do with my fish and my comments are only placed here as opinion. This is a heated topic. I choose based on my knowledge from my training:

Oil of cloves is a topical anethestic and was used in the past to treat toothaches. Lidocaine (like at the dentist's office is a topical anesthetic as well). When we operate on people we really want to achieve 2 things, analgesia and anesthesia, that is, relief of pain and unconsciousness. IMO, when a fish is immersed in oil of cloves, it is essentially 'topically anesthetized', paralyzed, but, I am NOT convinced that the fish is unconscious.....none of us will really know for sure. We don't know if the oil of cloves causes stinging to the mucus membranes, eyes, etc on initial contact nor if the fish is motionless, painless but aware.

Extreme cold is an anesthetic. When applied to skin, you can actually cut the skin and feel no pain. Cold also can cause rapid unconsciousness. In fact, hypothermia is reported to cause a state of euphoria and clouding of consciousness. Fish, at least most of the types that we keep (tropical), are extremely small and rapid immersion in extreme cold water, in my opinion, causes rapid pain relief and rapid unconsciousness. I have never seen any of my fish shows signs of what I consider suffering. They stop moving immediately and appear lifeless. Some have stated that since fish are ectothermic, this doesn't apply....perhaps in cold water fish I would agree.

I choose to euthanize my fish this way, rather than oil of cloves. One must either make an educated decision for themselves, or, choose what is currently accepted by the masses as what is humane.

Added: although I would never use blunt force to euthanize my fish, nor advocate it, one fact is for sure: death is instantaneous

SH

 

[Sheridanp]

UH-OH!

I went back to check in the container, and he is really slowly, really heavily breathing. I thought he was dead before because he wasn't breathing AT ALL!

 

[WILDER]

Thats weird bless him, add some more cold water.