What is the best way to safely and humanely euthanize a fish?

Question

I have a Silver Dollar who has a white fungus disease. He is very sick and I do not think he will recover. So what is the best way to end his suffering?

I had an Angelfish who had the same disease but much worse, so I put her in a jar with water and froze her. Did she have a painful death?

I said "safely and humanely". Flushing a fish down a toilet while still alive is a very cruel thing to do!!

My Angelfish, Tiger, was really beyond help. She was 4 years old and had been a mommy for a brief time, so I felt like she had had a good life. At the time of her death one eye was completely white and she couldn't even swim properly. This made her a big target for the nasty little tiger barb living with her. I just don't want Henry (the Silver Dollar) to go through what Tiger went through. Maybe I will consider separating him to another tank with medicine so he can get better.

Answer 1

The most humane way is with the use of an anesthetic, either by overdosing the fish directly, or by anesthetizing it before any other method is used.

If you're positive the fish is untreatable, clove oil is found in drug stores and is commonly used as an anesthetic. See this link for the proper procedure: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-most-humane-way-to-euthanize-a-fish.htm

Sorry to hear about your fish.

Answer 2

Freezing it by sticking it in the freezer is very painful. What you should do is put a bowl of water in the freezer, let it freeze just to the point where there is a think layer of ice across the top, then net your fish and drop him in.. it will be immediate. This is MUCH less cruel than making it freeze to death slowly as the water cools. Its good you are looking for the most humane way, and not making your fish suffer through the disease!

Answer 3

Do not ever end a fish's suffering based on you thinking it has no cure or whatsoever.

Fish are not like other pets like dogs etc..where the signs of beyond repair is prominent.Trust me, sometimes a fish seems like it has no more hope but truly, it is still revivable.

Take it from me, I had a fish that was totally swimming upturned and finnage horribly broken, to an untrained eye, euthanization is unavoidable but WRONG!

I did not give up, I placed the fish in a hospital tank for a month with some medicinal salt.The fins actually miraculously grew back and it swam back to life!

The point is, fish do not show the hope of recovering or rather, as much emotion as a dog or hamster or anything else.So do not waste their gamble at survival by ending their lives with euthanisation.

people who give me a thumbs down are obviously heartless and cruel to begin with but just try my method.

Answer 4

Here is an article from one of the forums I found nice people at ...

Here's the University of Washington's IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee) approved protocols for fish euthanasia.

http://www.theoscarspot.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=49&topic=2650.0

Answer 5

I would freeze it in a bag of water, the fish would slow painlessly into sleep.

BUT!!!! I think your fish can still be saved. Give it a few more days of trying to save it before you give up, please?

Answer 6

put it in a plastic bag and pop it the freezer.

very hard and very sad for you but best and kindest way for the fish.

Answer 7

You could kill it the way fish are killed for eating;a quick blow to its head. I've read that freezing it is a good way,or boil it,the way people cook live lobster. Nothing is 100% humane,but they're quick.

Answer 8

http://www.petplace.com/fish/euthanasia-in-fish/page1.aspx
http://www.aq-products.com/APpro/euthanase.htm

Answer 9

If you are in a city with a sewer system, have you ever considered flushing it down the toilet?

Answer 10

Please DON'T flush the fish. Fish are cold blooded so wrap it in a paper towel and freeze it.