Methods To Euthanize Fish

[KrystaK]

I know, a depressing subject. But I have come to the conclusion that my tank has become infested with Camallanus worms. I've looked around online and apparently the only method of treatment is basically using pig deworming medication. Not only does this sound unpleasant, it also sounds rather expensive. 
I've lost 4 fish so far that I know of, (I had a dozen small guppies that have gradually disappeared, I can assume at least some were due to these worms.)
 
Anyways, as I stated above, the method of treatment sounds unpleasant (And it doesn't sound easy to get a hold of said medication.)
So I have come to the conclusion that I will need to euthanize my remaining fish. Perhaps not all at once, but I think I will certainly have to deal with this problem at some point...
I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions as to how to go about it. I've used Clove oil and vodka with success inthe past, but when I saw the four fish in my tank with worms and decided to put them down I think I used too much clove oil and caused the fish too much stress...And I think using straight vodka would be much the same. 
I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions of other methods - or a set recipie for how much clove oil to use per unit of water to prevent stressing the fish but still achieving the desired anesthetic affects

 

[SouthernCross]

To be honest I have always thought putting them in something to suffocate them takes too long. So whilst it may be a bit more gruesome, I prefer to make it instantaneous. The very few times I have had to do it, I scoop the fish out, put it in a little plastic bag (no mess then) and then I put it on the ground and drop something really heavy on it. Like a brick. Or a full bottle of laundry detergent. It is always instant, I've never had a fish still alive after and I would like to think the fish does not feel much pain. Not as much as suffocating, or being frozen in the freezer as I have heard some others do. The plastic bag also contains any mess and then you can dispose of the bag.
 
Other things I have heard suggested (but never done) is if you have the stomach for it is to cut the fish's head off with a sharp knife quickly, but I don't think I could do that, also theres a bit of mess obviously. So I tend to stick with my plastic bag/brick method.
 
It is awful I know, but I would be interested to hear what others do, and if there's a better way.

 

[bluesword23516]

I have the same worms.  Hopefully I can get it out of my main tank.  I also can't find anything to cure my fish, and I don't have money to buy the supposed 'cure'.  i may have to euthanize fish as well.  Some have died because of the disease and it made me really sad.  Telling me to use clove oil doesn't help.  I don't know what it is, how to use it, and if it is really 'humane'.  Suffocating sounds painful.

 

[l_l_l]

if it were my fish I'd prepare a dilaudid concoction and drop my fish in it. They'd get really hazed and I would finish them with the freezer method.

 

[daizeUK]

Freezing is one of the most painful ways for fish to die, along with boiling. Cold does not numb the pain, it forms ice crystals in their bodies and causes them intense agony.

Clove oil is meant to be an anaesthetic but just use it on its own, not with alcohol. The Vodka is only to make it easier to mix the oil but you can achieve the same effect by giving the clove oil a really good shake in some water first.

Flushing and suffocating are both cruel and painful.

Decapitation should be followed by pithing the brain, so I don't recommend it unless you know something about fish anatomy.

My preferred method is clove oil - you can get it from herbalists, often in the aromatherapy section. It's the best of a bunch of bad choices unless you can get hold of the veterinary approved anaesthetics.
Blunt trauma (i.e. squishing) is probably the second best of a bunch of bad choices.

 

[fluttermoth]

Daize has covered the main points really well.
 
I'm just adding some guidance on the use of clove oil, so you all know how to use it.
 
The lethal dose is 25 drops per litre of water. Measure out a litre of water from your tank, and put it in a container you won't need to use for anything else (the smell of clove oil stays for ages).
 
Take a small amount of water from the litre and put it in a small jar, add the clove oil to that and shake it until it goes white. Put the fish in the large container and then pour the clove oil mix from the jar into the larger container. The fish will, I promise you, be unconscious within seconds and dead in a minute.

 

[star4]

I dont know if you can get it in Canada but Sera Nematol is very good at getting rid of camallanus worms. I have used it before with great success I only lost a couple of fish.

 

[fluttermoth]

I dont know if you can get it in Canada but Sera Nematol is very good at getting rid of camallanus worms. I have used it before with great success I only lost a couple of fish.

Well said, Star; curing is definitely better than culling!

 

[star4]

Even if you did euthanize all the fish, you will have to strip the whole tank and throw everything away including filter media and disinfect the whole tank and equipment to make sure all the eggs are gone before adding new fish.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Some good advice given so far.
 
I've learned a thing or two here.
 
Just wondering where would you get Clove Oil from?
Is there any special ingredient we need to look for or just any particular bottle of Clove Oil?

 

[Blobfish]

Just wondering where would you get Clove Oil from?
Is there any special ingredient we need to look for or just any particular bottle of Clove Oil?

 
You can buy it from chemists as it is good for toothache, it will just be pure clove oil.  It isn't expensive.
 
The method I have used in the past with clove oil is just to add it a few drops at a time giving it a few minutes to take effect each time.  The fish show no signs of distress with this method and as the oil can also be used as a fish anaesthetic in low doses I doubt it causes them any pain.

 

[KirkyArcher]

Swift sharp smack on the head, life ended in a second.

 

[*pete*]

Over feeding ... keep them hungry and searching for food.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Over feeding ... keep them hungry and searching for food.

 
Sorry, but I don't understand what you mean.
 
Can you clarify a bit for me, sorry if I seem a bit of a noob asking this.

 

[Sophie]

http/www.vetark.co.uk/pages/Aqua-Sed.aspx
 
I use this stuff.

Swift sharp smack on the head, life ended in a second.

 
Yeah if you're a barbarian!