What's the most humane way to kill a fish?

Question

My goldfish has been lying on his back on the bottom of the tank for a few days now. I looked at him closer today and it sems like his fins are rotting. He can still kind of move, but very rarely and not for more than a few seconds. What's the fastest and most humane way to kill it?

Answer 1

The first answerer is correct. I have had to do this several times before, and it sounds like it's time for your fish as well. I think that the best idea is to put Alka Seltzer (8 tabs per gallon) into a pan then drop the fish in to it. He should pass peacefully away. The website the first answerer gave you is accurate, but I don't see any need to decapitate/bleed out once the Alka Seltzer has done its job. I'm sorry that you have to do this, but you're doing the most humane thing for your pet.

EDIT: Others suggested freezing your fish. I have done this too, but it's no longer accepted as humane. Try the clove oil as stated in the website or Alka Seltzer.

Answer 2

Tricaine Methanesulfonate (TMS). This method is probably the most quoted by people with much experience in euthanizing fish humanely (i.e. for university experiments, etc.). TMS is also known as MS222 and commercially is known as Finquel. You can buy it from a pet supply store; Drs. Foster and Smith carry it; a bottle costs $24.99 plus shipping and handling. You can also buy this from PondRx ($14.99 plus shipping and handling for a 5 gram bottle) and Argent Labs. According to fish biologist Meyers' blog, simply by doubling the regular dose that you would use to anesthetize the fish will euthanize it. This substance is FDA approved for anesthetizing and euthanizing fish; it is the only product that is FDA approved to anesthetize fish.

Answer 3

Disregard "a friend"s answer. Do not flush the fish. Your causing it more pain as your actually making it suffer going through rapid currents of water and then into the sewer lanes. The most humane way i found is to get a bowl plastic or such. Fill it with water, and put it in the freezer. Once there is a sheet of ice on the surface that you can crack, the water should be ice cold. Crack all the surfaced ice and net the fish and put it in the cold water. The ice water freezes the fish causing it a quick death. Do NOT put the fish in the freezer. That is a slow and painful death.

Answer 4

Mix a teaspoon of oil of cloves with a shot of vodka (this is because the oil obviously won't readily mix with water) and then place it in a container of water large enough for your fish. Add the fish and leave him alone. He will go to sleep and pass away quietly without suffering any more than he already has.

Answer 5

Gonna sound cruel but take it from a fisherman/hunter. You can do one of two things. If he is big enough (probably not) Pick him up, hold him between your two hands and quickly snap his head hard to one side. If he is too small lay him down on a hard surface and cut his head off. Both methods snap the spinal cord, instant painless death... Sorry to be gruesome but gotta be done

Answer 6

Treat it with medecine for fin and tail rot.....Don't kill him, give him a chance to recover.

Answer 7

Why don't you make the supreme effort, pick up the o'so heavy telephone, and CALL THE VET!!

What the heck is the matter with you? A VET can tell you the most humane way.

Answer 8

no such thing as a humane way to kill anything so let nature take it course.

Answer 9

try to see if he is OK enough to take to the vet i know it sounds stupid but if you want to save him then that's how but if he is going to die any way i know this will sound terrible but either snap his neck by sticking your finger up his gill and it should snap or cut it off don't make it suffer those are the fastest way to kill him

Answer 10

DO NOT freeze or flush!

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