What is your preferred way of fish euthanasia?

[Piranha86]

This seems to be a heated topic.

[<3Oscar]

I've never been faced with a situation in which it was necessary, so I don't even know what options there would be.

[Piranha86]

I tried to put a poll on...

[<3Oscar]

Oh, maybe retry posting?

Edit: nvm its on there now!

[Piranha86]

There it is.

[Jannika]

I'm not sure why it's controversial. Haven't had to yet, but at some point I'll have to step up and do what is necessary, I'm sure.

The blunt force, decapitation is probably the quickest. Many fishing trips with my dad taught me how to club, gut, fillet a fish and pound abalone, but to this day I can't eat anything that lived in water.

My preferred method will be the clove oil.

[Mikey5924]

Hopefully never have to do that but I would do the clove oil and then decapitation.

[XanAvaloni]

I had to vote for the "cold water" as closest to what I do, but it's not really accurate. I put the fish in a plastic or paper cup with the smallest possible amount of water and stick it in the freezer. In 20 minutes or so it's frozen solid and can be disposed of (in my case tossed out in the back yard where the dog can't get at it. If a passing possum wants to give itself a fish disease this does not weigh heavily on my conscience. :) )

The purists always vote for the clove oil but I have to say that in 56 years of shopping I have never seen this product for sale anywhere--not grocery, not drugstore, not vet, nowhere. The freezing method may not be ideal but I figure it beats flushing down the toilet which is what we were all taught was the Right Thing to Do as kids.

[stephcps]

I get the water so cold I have to break away the ice layer on top. So, it is a pretty instantaneous thing.

I hope anyway...can't bring myself to do the blunt force thing.

[Jannika]

The purists always vote for the clove oil but I have to say that in 56 years of shopping I have never seen this product for sale anywhere--not grocery, not drugstore, not vet, nowhere. The freezing method may not be ideal but I figure it beats flushing down the toilet which is what we were all taught was the Right Thing to Do as kids.

I've never seen clove oil in a store either, but I did find some online. I think you have to buy a case, though!
http://www.americarx.com/products/12769.html

I think products like this one are used, even though it lists "benzocaine" as the active ingredient.
http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=192342&catid=291&brand=7773&trx=PLST-0-BRAND&trxp1=291&trxp2=192342&trxp3=1&trxp4=0&btrx=BUY-PLST-0-BRAND

I also question how it can be diluted in water, since most toothache medication comes in gel form.

[Jannika]

I wanna change my vote to freezing water...

[kj5kb]

blunt trauma...quick, plus easy on my wife if I go into another room, and it's gone in less than a second. Most of my fish are 2" or less so that works well.

I've tried decapitation with a really sharp knife...and it seemed way more painful.

[Meenu]

I know some people consider the water thing to be cruel, but that's where my vote went too. You just have to get the water extremely cold from what I've heard.

[tyler79durdan]

I agree with the freezer method...

Its way too easy to freeze it and forget it, as opposed to chop off your pets head...

-Aaron

[platytetrafan]

Freezer method all the way I just can't decapitate a fish no way no how!:barf:

[toddnbecka]

I like da brick method. Bigger fish, use a bigger brick...

[Lupin]

Clove oil.

[mel_20_20]

Clove oil.

I've read quite a few articles that say freezing is not humane. Apparently, cool water fish do go into a dormant state as their bodies cool down, though I don't know if they actually do become unconscious before the freezing process is complete.

Tropicals, however, according to what I've read, do not and freezing is painful to them. This is debated, I know, the whole issue of pain sensation in fish, but the consensus is that fish can feel themselves freezing and it is painful.

Dropping a fish into frigid, near freezing water is different. It is a shock that causes the heart to go into arythmia and stop within seconds.

I have found the clove oil method to be very stress free for the fish, calm, gentle, and effective.

There's an article written by one of our members, ct-death, that is in the Article Forum, sub category Other, that discusses euthanasia and give detailed information on humane methods.

Clove oil can be found at pharmacies, such as CVS, or Walgreens, but you have to ask the pharmacist for eugenol, and it is often behind the counter in the pharmacy.

Anbesol has benzocaine and is not what you want, neither do you want toothache remedy that has clove oil in it, because it also has other ingredients that are irritating to fish.

You need pure clove oil, and, again, the drugstores usually have it, but also health food stores, or Whole Foods stores have it.

Here's the link to the article on euthanasia. It is really very helpful.

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=148361

[Que]

I prefer decapitation. It's very fast and for that reason alone I feel it's the most humane. I't not for everyone... I know.

Q

[Weezer]

Freezer.........:)

[mel_20_20]

Freezer.........:)

Please read this article. The freezer is not a good method, not for the fish.

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums...d.php?t=148361 (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=148361)

[captmicha]

I've never had to put a fish down but I have two bottle of clove oil on hand just in case.

[FishPish]

rocket propelled grenade

[BeavisMom62]

Please read this article. The freezer is not a good method, not for the fish.

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums...d.php?t=148361 (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=148361)

I had heard that before Mel. Just seems cruel to me. And seems to take so long. Ive only had to have one fish put down (well in all honesty hubby did it) and he just smashed it. Wrapped it in a cloth and smashed it with a brick. When he told me I was aghast but after thinking of it, I'm sure it was quick and painless. My preferred method would be Finquel, but I have yet to order any.

[Chill]

sudden and massive blunt force

[27emily27]

to those who freeze or use cold water method.
please do not do it again!! fish are cold blooded, they do not just become unconscious and die. they stay alive and all the ice crystals that form in their body, they feel. and that would be excruciating!