Euthanize a fish?

Question

Whats the best LEAST painfullnis way to euthanize a fish, i have been told of the clover oil but dont have any so whats the next one down? Iv heard of the freezer isnt that painfull?

Answer 1

This may sound brutal, but nothing is quicker than a quick blow to the head. Fishermen use a rubber mallot to whack fish in the head, and it instantly ends it. It happens so fast that the fish's brain doesn't have time to register pain.

Answer 2

Do you live near a GNC or any type of Vitamin Store or Health food store?

They all carry Clove Oil. I bought some over the weekend at my mall - it was a Vitamin type store. The Clove Oil was $5.99.

You can also order it online on Amazon.com
or on Ebay. It really isn't that much money at all - and it does work as they say.

I used it to euthanize rosey red minnows. I had a population explosion in my pond. So I had to capture as many fish as possible - and as many breeding age fish as possible.

All told I caught three breeders and over 200 non-breeders. I put them in a gallon bucket of pond water. Put water in a small glass jar. Added about 30 drops of clove oil. Shook it up to emulsify the oil, then mixed it in the bucket. Within a few minutes, all the fish were asleep. Within a couple of minutes more, their gills had ceased breathing and they were dead. I left them in there for another half hour before scooping them out and putting them on my compost pile.

So - if you can - get the Clove Oil - it really works like they say -

Good Luck,

Ken

Answer 3

I've tried both and I felt better with the clove oil. I'm not sure where to get it because a friend lent it to me. But the freezer is not painful at all. It's a very slow death, but I myself didn't handle that one too well. I kept trying to take the fish out and save him while my boyfriend at the time kept wrestling him from my hands and putting him back because looking back it was the best thing for him.

Answer 4

Well if you don't have the clove oil, then I'd agree with Ben, a quick sharp strong blow just to the base of the head where the spine connects. When I was a kid and my dad and I went fishing, any fish we were going to keep we did that instead of piling them up in a bag and have them flop around. I have to say it does seem to work quite rapid.

JV

Answer 5

I've used baking powder or baking soda and those took forever so forget humane with that. I've also used vodka which was far faster but I'm not sure how humane that is. I've also heard or clove oil and hitting or chopping the fishes head off are humane.

Answer 6

Clove oil is currently considered to be the best method. Here's some more information about it. The first link also discusses other methods.

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/euthanasiafaqs.htm
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-most-humane-way-to-euthanize-a-fish.htm

Hope that helps

MM

Answer 7

I've always used the freezer. Since fish are cold blooded theoretically it's like they're going to sleep. I usually put the fish in a bag of tank water so they aren't suffocating in there.

Answer 8

i dont kill my fishes, i personally follow my "ways" and dont euthanize my fish.

i follow my policy of if they are alive and fighting to live, i will help them via anything.

But i read up on adding carbonated water. This will knock the fish out and it is "less" painful.

Answer 9

if you have tropical fish. try freezing cold water (to the point that it has a layer of ice over it, and net the fish and put it in. it will die instantly of shock.

Answer 10

Don't know what kind of fish it is but this might help you out some. This is from people who care about their fish.

http://www.petfish.net/forum/index.php?topic=38206.0