One of my striped convict cichlids is sick with a swim bladder problem, and I have to kill it. What is the least painful way to do it. Is this method any good? From http://homepage.ntlworld.com/faustus/nicoldaquaria/euthanasia.htm :
Temperature shock method (freezing)
This method utilises the coldest water you can find - a bowl of water that has been placed in the freezer long enough for the surface to freeze is good. The surface ice is broken and the bowl taken to the dying fish.
The fish is then captured and dropped into the freezing water. The difference between the temperature of the tank and the freezing water causes an instant fatal shock to the fish nervous system stopping all organ functions instantaneously - anyone who has found themselves suddenly in water that is much colder than your body temperature will know the feeling when you initially can't breathe (people have died of heart failure under similar circumstances), it is like that but much more severe and sudden.
A variation on this is freezing alcohol (pure or vodka)
Stress is caused in the handling of the fish, but in most of the methods the fish must be handled - however this handling is brief.
Recommended for: tropical fish
Not recommended for: coldwater fish
Humane rating: 100% (????)
Temperature shock method (freezing)
This method utilises the coldest water you can find - a bowl of water that has been placed in the freezer long enough for the surface to freeze is good. The surface ice is broken and the bowl taken to the dying fish.
The fish is then captured and dropped into the freezing water. The difference between the temperature of the tank and the freezing water causes an instant fatal shock to the fish nervous system stopping all organ functions instantaneously - anyone who has found themselves suddenly in water that is much colder than your body temperature will know the feeling when you initially can't breathe (people have died of heart failure under similar circumstances), it is like that but much more severe and sudden.
A variation on this is freezing alcohol (pure or vodka)
Stress is caused in the handling of the fish, but in most of the methods the fish must be handled - however this handling is brief.
Recommended for: tropical fish
Not recommended for: coldwater fish
Humane rating: 100% (????)
