How do you euthanize a fish , if you have to ?

[fischlein]

I am just curious .
I use a medication called MS-222
It is an narcoticum for aquatic animals and you overdose them .
They fall to sleep and never wake up.
How do you do it , if you have to?

[Dr. Awkward]

I can't bring myself to do it but I've watched my mom cut their heads off. It's fast and she's good at it for some reason, takes her about five seconds.

I watched her try the alcohol method, which by no stretch of the imagination was humane. I've never watched anything so sick in my life.

[ElijahTurtle]

Clove oil is probably the cheapest most effective way.

[iron]

My oscars work in an instant.

[Carg]

Clove oil is probably the cheapest most effective way.
Agreed...but a knife is fast as well, if the fish is too big to be food for another you can make it small enough.

[kewlkatdady]

put them in a bowl of tank water...put them in the freezer.

slows their metabolism till the go to sleep...

[rolloffhill]

Or get a pitcher/glass of water with ice cubes in it. Works a whole lot quicker than cooling down the tank water.

[Dr. Awkward]

put them in a bowl of tank water...put them in the freezer.

slows their metabolism till the go to sleep...

I read that wasn't humane, that the cold just paralyzed the fish so it just looks peaceful as its blood painfully crystalizes.

[iron]

M80 They never know what hit them.

[rolloffhill]

I read that wasn't humane, that the cold just paralyzed the fish so it just looks peaceful as its blood painfully crystalizes.


If they are dying or near death aren't they already in pain?

[kewlkatdady]

I read that wasn't humane, that the cold just paralyzed the fish so it just looks peaceful as its blood painfully crystalizes.


been doing it a long time...and i don't have nor keep clove oil at my house...

and truely I'm not that worried about it.

[Dr. Awkward]

I'm not knocking you, the fish are in pain anyway. At least you have the nerve to do it. I can't.

[EAST_TX_RN]

I either flush them or feed them to my cats or pig....:o

[alta678]

My sister drops them in a running garbage disposal. Brutal, but quick.

[Phonetic Diabetic]

Some of the things I read in here I couldn't do like chopping the head off or putting them in the disposal, which both actually seem like the most humane of everything. I agree with KKD, I put them in a bowl in the freezer.

Where do you get this MS 222?

[Dr. Awkward]

Where do you get this MS 222?

You can get it online at places like Drs. Foster and Smith for about $30. I've never seen it for sale at a LFS.

[ewok]

To me, the word "euthanize" and the word "humane" should never be put together. Who am I to decide how to end a life? In nature, fish can get sick as well. If that's the case, the fish will die naturally and don't need us human beings to cut its head or freeze it alive or poison it.

As a dog lover, I am so sad to know that more than 2/3 of the shelter dogs (millions of them) are killed in the name of "humane." By the way, I've done my best to rescued 2 but sadly that's what I can do the most as I am living in a small house with all the financial burden of the family.

Sorry to digress a bit.

[fischlein]

So you let your sick fish suffer till he dies ?
There are no predators in the tank, so that can take some days.
What about the beef , the pork , the chicken that you might eat?
They do not commit suicide, so we or(our pets )can eat them.

[EAST_TX_RN]

Ewok, I understand where you are coming from, but euthanization can be quite humane. I have assisted with euthanizing dogs,cats, and humans, and there is little to no pain. For those of you who are horrified I have helped euthanize humans, I can tell you it goes on all the time in the medical community and we call it 'snowing a patient'. I used to work on a cancer ward, and believe me, morphine is the way to go out very peacefully. It was one of the most merciful things I have ever done as a human being and nurse. Okay, you can throw rotten fruit at me now.:o

[FishDaddy]

so I suppose a hammer is out of the question? :D

seriously, if they are sick - do them and their tank mates the favor. The freezer ain't bad, as long as you don't forget them in there for a family member to find (don't ask me how I know). I don't think I'd go the garbage disposal route, and I don't flush em. I suppose you could go to a science or lab supply, explain your need and get a small amount of chloraform in a bottle. drop em in a rag soaked with it, say a few words...:D

[fischlein]

so I suppose a hammer is out of the question? :D

seriously, if they are sick - do them and their tank mates the favor. The freezer ain't bad, as long as you don't forget them in there for a family member to find (don't ask me how I know). I don't think I'd go the garbage disposal route, and I don't flush em. I suppose you could go to a science or lab supply, explain your need and get a small amount of chloraform in a bottle. drop em in a rag soaked with it, say a few words...:D



I hope not
I didn't wanted to start something

[Dr. Awkward]

I'd use a hammer. It would crush their head fast. But I wouldn't do it Gallagher style, I'd cover the fish and quickly crush its head.

I don't have a problem with euthanasia. If I were fatally wounded, in a lot of pain and lacking arms I'd ask for help.

[chuck_w]

Interesting topic. I've always found it interesting that we will put an animal down to ease it's suffering but refuse to do so to a loved one. They just suffer and linger until their body gives out.

[fischlein]

Interesting topic. I've always found it interesting that we will put an animal down to ease it's suffering but refuse to do so to a loved one. They just suffer and linger until their body gives out.


So true,
My grandmother died on bone cancer ( sorry i don't know the correct English word for it).
In her last weeks she often cried, because of the pains
The painkillers didn't helped much anymore (and not for long).

[dcacjc]

Interesting topic. I've always found it interesting that we will put an animal down to ease it's suffering but refuse to do so to a loved one. They just suffer and linger until their body gives out.


I could not agree more!!!

After watching my sister die from breast cancer that metastasized in her brain and the suffering this caused her it was horrible.

[Dr. Awkward]

It's sad when a captive fish gets to that point because it turns into a moral issue. In nature a bigger fish just comes along and takes care of it.

With people I really think it's a decision that everyone needs to make for themselves before they get to that point. Just look at the Terry Schiavo debacle. Medical technology has advanced to a point where they can keep many people alive who would have died without intervention - but they can't always guarantee that life would be worth living.

[ElijahTurtle]

put them in a bowl of tank water...put them in the freezer.

slows their metabolism till the go to sleep...
X2 on this as well. I didn't have any clove oil on me, so I used this for my angel that just died a few weeks ago.

[donkey]

Whats wrong with a trash can.If they are that bad that you can not save them then they are not going to live long without water or oxygen.No different than when we catch fish to eat and just throw them in a bucket or ice chest.

[EAST_TX_RN]

I think euthanasia for Americans should be legal, but with good guidelines. If someone is suffering or in a persistent vegetative state, they should be allowed to end their suffering. Americans are more kind to their pets than they are to their loved ones. Best thing you can do right now, is to let your regular doctor and family know via a living will what you want done and what you want withheld and then tell him/her in person you want to be 'snowed' if you are suffering and there is no hope of recovery from it. A compassionate doctor will see that this is done.

[arnold]

euthanasia IS LEGAL IN THE US (SORT OF) ITS CALLED A HOSPICE. I WAS AT ONE WHEN MY DEAR MOTHER GAVE OUT, SHE PROBLY WOULD HAVE SUFFERED LONGER BUT THE MORPHINE HASTENED THINGS UP WHILE KEEPING HER OUT O PAIN. HOSPICE IS ASSISTED DYING NOT TRYING TO KEEP FOLKS ALIVE AT THAT POINT.
AS FAS AS PUTTING A FISH DOWN SPEED COUNTS, PUT FISH IN BAG AND WHAP IT REAL HARD AGAINST A BRICK WALL OR SOMETHIN

[Carg]

Did this thread just get hijacked/turned into something political about end of life decisions?:D

[DiscusD]

Just throw them in the flower bed

[EAST_TX_RN]

Did this thread just get hijacked/turned into something political about end of life decisions?:D


I am sorry, it is my fault. I got a little carried away with the humaneness of euthanasia. :o

[China8USA]

I have used freezer, sick tank(let them have a chance to heal), and the good old fashioned bag wrapped up in a towel and SLAM on the ground.

It sucks if you care about them no matter what. I dont have this problem any more because cichlid tanks will eat any weaklings sometimes before you notice anything.

[flamenco-t]

We're talking about fish, NOT human...if animal cruelty law applies to fish, we'd all will be guilty by now...I'll be a michael vick :)

Chill out...they're fish. Their personality are "feed me", they don't follow you because they like you, they do that because they think they're getting fed.. even my $ 1500 fish...

stan

[PiMpPiStOl]

We're talking about fish, NOT human...if animal cruelty law applies to fish, we'd all will be guilty by now...I'll be a michael vick :)

Chill out...they're fish. Their personality are "feed me", they don't follow you because they like you, they do that because they think they're getting fed.. even my $ 1500 fish...

stan


i dont care what you say, my fish like me!

[iron]

So no one liked the instant firecracker method?

[greeneyed]

So no one liked the instant firecracker method?Apparently not.

[arnold]

a little added off topic or closley related hurts nothing as long as all parties are respectfull of others beliefs :brandy:



I am sorry, it is my fault. I got a little carried away with the humaneness of euthanasia. :o

[EAST_TX_RN]

a little added off topic or closley related hurts nothing as long as all parties are respectfull of others beliefs :brandy:

Thanks, Arnold, but I was getting too deep. I do that on occasion:hehe:

[k20z3]

I have always used the freezer method. Seemed as nice as could be to me? :confused: