How do you humanely euthanize a fish?

Question

My fish has dropsy and it seems to look the same as it did 2 days ago altough i already heated up his tank to 80 degrees and added about 1/2 a tsp. of salt to his tank.

Should i put him down?? or wait a couple of more days to see how he does??

and if i have to put him down...how do i do it painlessly?

(i cant bear to chop of its head or slam it on the ground or even put it in the fridge.. :-( ..plzz help )

Answer 1

I would give it a few more days. 2 days isn't a very long time. But if that time comes, here a link with a few ideas. I've heard of the alcohol one before. It's supposed to be humane and not painful. http://www.answerbag.com/q_view.php/414

Answer 2

properly, you have indexed the two maximum humane techniques accessible in need of in basic terms giving them a bonk on their head (which I admit is annoying with small fish) and that i'd desire to by no ability do it. (Clove oil is obtainable at maximum well-being foodstuff shops, so that is not too annoying to discover!) Why do no longer you bag your fish and take them on your close by LFS for loose? they're going to likely already have guppy tanks set up (for men and girls persons one after the different) and who needs to coach away funds? or see the poor fish be unnecessarily euthanized in case you may wait some days, positioned an advert up on craigslist offering loose guppies p/u in basic terms and positioned a minimum on there. Then, i'd recommend controlling your guppy inhabitants slightly extra advantageous with the help of isolating the boys from women persons once you do no longer choose to reproduce. in any different case this would proceed to be a project for you!

Answer 3

I'm really sorry to hear that this has happened to your fish. It's never fun to see one of your aquatic friends suffering. If you truly feel he/she is beyond the point of no return - you can do the following...

There are varying debates on this, but 2 of the more humane ways to Euthanize a fish is to either use a large amount of Clove Oil in the tank with the sick fish(es) or simply (and much more cleanly) put them into a zip locked baggie with their tank water, and put them in your freezer.

Either way still sounds harsh - I know - but if you truly believe that they are beyond the point of nursing them back to health - you can go one of those 2 routes.

If you still do believe that there is hope however - I would encourage you to use a broad spectrum Antibiotic (Like Maracyn-2 or Pimafix) along with someting for parasites (like Maracide Concentrate) and see if you cannot get some results over the next 5 to 10 days. Please stay away from Copper based products.

Here are some links for you on the meds - in either case I know how you are feeling, and just wish you the best...

http://www.virbacpets.com/mardel/product.php?pid=182&PHPSESSID=d8a841a550617ee082a19981682cfbe4

http://www.virbacpets.com/mardel/product.php?pid=192

Answer 4

Putting a fish into water and then into the fridge or freezer is a sure fire killer -- by SLOWLY freezing to death -- thereby eliminating the "humane" aspect of what you are asking.

The quickest and most humane way without bodily injuring the fish is by putting a glass of ice water in the freezer for a little while and then dropping the fish suddenly into ice water. This is a MUCH quicker death than SLOWLY freezing it to death.

Which way would YOU rather die -- instantly flash frozen or slowly freezing to death?

Answer 5

The way to do it is putting him in the fridge. The fish naturally goes into hibernation and he will not feel anything. Or you can just let him die on his own. Make sure to take the fish out of the tank if there are other fish in with him. Lower the temp back done he will be more comfortable. Goldfish are COLDWATER fish. Even if they are sick I would not raise the temp that high. Sorry about your fish.

Answer 6

Well, this is kinda like the fridge, but what about the freezer? Just put it in a glass with some of it's water, put that in the freezer, and all he'll remember is getting cold. I'd also think it would be faster than the fridge.

Sorry about your fish =(

Answer 7

Fishermen whack them on the top of the skull with a blunt shaft, not unlike a hammer shaft called ,ironically, a priest ( because it performs the last rites? ) That does the trick.

Answer 8

Release it into the wild. Let your fish savor the taste of freedom before flying up to heaven to live with baby Jesus.

Answer 9

http://www.goldfishinfo.com/ailment1.htm#death

Answer 10

I would flush it down the toilet, because that way it has water to survive in for a short while, and will eventually run out of air and "fall asleep"..