Not a subject anyone wants to ponder on but one that still needs to be answered. Everyone has a different view on what they should or shouldnt do.

I dont know if its in the right place, but hopefully it will be put somewhere where everyone has easy access to it.

I took this from another forum, with i might add the authors permission and thought i would share it with as wide an audience as possible and hope that if the sad day ever rises that you should need guidance, then i hope you will take what Rachel has written below and use it to guide you.


*As a biologist and lifetime animal keeper the subject of euthanasia is one that, sadly, has cropped up occasionally, and I've posted on the subject of fish euthanasia in a couple of places before. In my opinion, the question of which method to use on fish is too often 'which is easiest for me' rather than 'which is easiest for my fish'. I apologise in advance if readers find this post a little graphic - I have tried to be as clear as I can - because it's important to understand what you are doing. The most common methods I've heard mentioned are:
1. Just flushing the fish away. This is easy for the keeper, and the fish will *eventually* die. Probably from shock, chlorine poisoning or anoxia, if it survives that then it may get macerated in a processing machine or die in a toxic settling tank. As you may be able to tell, I don't see this as a valid option for a single instant!
2. Freezing or boiling. Of these two, freezing is probably slower (depends on the size of the fish) and is easier for the fish keeper since they don't have to watch. Slow freezing in water is the commonest method. What many people don't realise is that freezing a live animal in a domestic freezer is slow enough to allow large ice crystals to form in the tissues (eyes, brain) and that this may well happen before the fish dies. Fish are poikilothermic, and do not become unconscious when hypothermic like mammals (i.e. people) do. We do not know how painful this process is for a fish (although we know it is extremely painful in humans!). We do not know much about fish consciousness, or whether the fish is aware of freezing to death. Personally, I don't much like this one either...
3. Simple decapitation. This is another difficult one - it's not simple to do (for the fish keeper) and the fish head and brain can live for up to an hour after separation from the body (a talent they share with snakes).
4. Stunning, and destruction of the brain. This is effective, can be fast if done carefully and sympathetically, and works for even large fish. For small fish the brain can be destroyed by mashing the head (really flat, sorry to be so graphic) using a brick, rolling pin etc. and a stone step or floor. For larger fish you can wrap the body in a cloth for grip, stun the fish by whacking it hard on a stone step or with a rolling pin and then destroy the brain using the point of a sharp knife inserted into the head. Wiggle the knife tip about to make sure the brain is completely destroyed while the fish is unconscious.
5. Alcohol poisoning - alcohol is an irritant and very toxic to fish, causing bleeding from the gills before death. Fish do not become paralytically drunk as we would. Alcohol exposure appears to kill fish rapidly but I am not aware of any research into it's effects or whether it is humane.
6. Anaesthetic overdose. Without a doubt this is the most humane method I know of. Like any other pet, a large fish deserves respect as an organism, and if you know the fish must be euthanased, talk to your vet. The recommended anaesthetic for fish euthanasia is tricaine methanesulphonate. Since it tends to reduce pH it is used as a bath immersion at 300mg/litre buffered with 600mg/litre sodium bicarbonate. Once the fish appears to be dead the brain should be destroyed as in no. 4 above.
7. Clove oil. Since clove oil is an anaesthetic it should really be listed with other anaesthetics, but it differs in that it is available from pharmacies to the general public, and as such can be kept in your fish medicine cabinet. Clove oil contains eugenol (the sedative/anaesthetic chemical). Unfortunately, it is not soluble in water so prepare it as follows: mix 2-3ml clove oil with 8ml vodka (makes a milky suspension), pour into a clean bucket and add 1 gallon tank water and stir gently. Transfer your fish to this bucket and wait. This is a lethal concentration of eugenol, which will first induce anaesthesia and then death. If you need to use a stronger mixture use more clove oil but no more vodka as the alcohol will cause bleeding and irritation to your fish.
I have used clove oil euthanasia several times for my own fish and other peoples', and am happy that it causes minimal distress and works well. I wait until the fish is dead (no gill movement, no response to touch), then wait another hour, then either destroy the brain or freeze the remains (depending on the size of fish) to be absolutely sure.

Final note, in my opoinion any keeper of animals has a responsibility to think about their options for euthanasia should it become necessary, prepare themselves mentally and keep any necessary equipment on hand. If you don't feel you can do this yourself, that's fine: but you probably know someone who can. Remember that the most humane farewell to an old friend becomes a torture if it is delayed several hours for research or a trip to the pharmacy.*

Rachel Taylor.

Me thinks this should be pinned.

Thank goodness I havent had to deal with this yet..

I Think soon I might have to do palmer, he not doing well


I will give him till morning to see if he gets better....

Sorry to hear that Palmer isn't improving.

I agree we should have a topic on ethunasia pinned, if we should need it then it should be easy to find.

Sandy - thankyou for posting this.... I also think it should be pinned as it's very important to us all

That was a very good article. I have read similar reports put out by veterinarian societies. I agree that it should be pinned.

I did actually use clove oil not too long ago for my mother's inbreed, sick swordtails. She was going to flush them and take down her tank. So I had to intervene.

I added 10 drops clove oil to 4 cups tank water. I added the fish one by one, and they peacefully swam for a few seconds, then rested on the bottom until they stopped breathing.

It was hard to do, but it was very effective and the fish appeared not to be in any distress.

In response to Rachel's informative posting, "6. Anaesthetic overdose. Without a doubt this is the most humane method I know of." A product often used to euthanize fish within the industry is called "Finquil". I am not sure if it is available to the general public, however it has been used by us for many years.

I agree with Rachel's disdain for freezing, along with just about everything else.


Cheers to all.

Michael
Aquatics Specialist
Petco Folsom, CA

Omg that's so sad to read! Of course I know it's useful and informative, but the thought of destroying a fish with a rolling pin...

someone told me once about using quick-dissolve akla-seltzer tablets in a small amount of aquarium water and cover the bucket or glass as airtight as possible. they said the release of cabon dioxide would make the fish unconscious and euthanize realtively quickly and painlessly.

has anyone else ever heard of this? and of course delete this post if it's total bunk or doesn't work the way my friend said it did. thankfully, i haven't had to test it out yet.

i was told this method by a visiting vet to my area, but i have never tried it either.

Sandy, Although not something we like to think about, your right on though!! Thanks for pinning that one.

sadly, its a subject none of us like to talk about but will visit nearly everyone in time. what she said i just couldnt let slip by and thought it may be helpfull for any poor soul needing to help a fish pass on. I know i couldve done with it in the past.

As much as I love the fish, flushing it is traditionally the best way to me, Sorry.

Ditto. Fast.... maybe not that great for the fish...but it's the easiest on me!

I just had to euthanize one of my fish *tear* i cried for awhile, but she was better off. SBD... I used the clove oil, with whiskey since i had no vodka. It was good. She just kinda relaxed and went to sleep.

I'd like to ask those that flush live fish down the toilet why you think its fast? If you think about it its the most cruellest way to kill your pet. It may be the least stressful to you but that fish has to go through the flush and then get swept along by the water through many miles of pipes in god knows what filth and if its still unluckily enough to be alive when it gets to the processing plant, get burned by the treatments.
Think about the fish and not yourself, give your pet some dignity.

i agree with Sands. Also, any fish that is diseased etc, and you flush it down the toilet, then it all ends up in the sea. this way you can risk diseasing a whole load more fish.

Sorry about your fish Sorsha.

I have to agree with Sandy and Tinkerbell....

I think flushing live fish is horrible,

Clove oil is VERY effective and humane.

clove oil the least painful, but the needle in the brain/head (iki jimi method) is the fastest i think. no need to wiggle the needle/knife to destroy the brain, just a sharp trust and 1 second later the fish is dead.

i think i got a post about this iki jimi method deleted a few days ago. pls tell me if it's a forbidden topic, so next time i don't write about it anymore.

QUESTION: Is clove bud oil the same thing as Clove oil? That's what they had at Whole foods (I can't remember the brand... I returned it since my frog died without it, but I will look at the store if it helps) - It was pure clove bud oil. Thanks.

Mine says "clove bud" oil. I think I remember the clerk telling me it was stronger or more pure or something... I just don't remember. I do know that it worked.

Well I just wanted to say how grateful I was for this information on Monday when I had to help our poor fish. It was almost like having someone here helping me through.
It's not something anyone wants to deal with, but when you need it for the sake of your fish, when there is no other choice than this or letting them suffer ..... well, I for one am grateful this has been pinned.
I hated doing it and literally had to force myself, but I used the clove oil and whiskey and it was all over in seconds like Deedeesue says, and very peaceful for the fish.

Thank you so much for taking the time to describe the best way to put a much loved friend out of their misery. We have 2 goldfish and a week ago one of them becam very unwell we have been treating her with everything the pet shops sujested but all in vain, 4 days ago her right eye ballooned up she was not eating a bumping into everything but most of the time lay at the bottom.

With your advice my husband and I bought some clove oil tonight and with a llot of tears put her out of her misery.

Once agaon thank you for making a painfull process easier.

Many thanks

Leanne

Sorry to hear of your loss Leanne.

Oh Leanne,
I can really empathise ... I'm so very sorry

Such sadness
Maybe this should be a memorial page as well.

I have used clove oil as an anesthetic to remove a tumor before on the wen of my goldfish. Clove oil is very humane as a euthanasia product as well. (I do not use vodka). First put the fish to be euthanized in a smaller container containing tank water from the original tank so as to not stress the fish. Add an air stone to the smaller container to keep the water moving. Next I mix the clove oil with a small amount of bucket water in a glass jar and shake it constantly for 3-5 minutes to break the oil up. Add the clove oil mixture slowly (you might notice that the fish swims away from it initially but mine never seemed stressed by it). Slowly the fish will slow down and become unconscious. I usually leave them in the water for an hour after I think they are dead and then remove them in a clean butter container with no water and watch them for another hour before disposing of them. The clove oil is cheap and can be purchased at a cake supply store in a very small quantity (.125 oz.) I use about 1/2 the clove oil in a 2 gallon size bucket for euthanasia. If your fish is taking too long to get sleepy (more than 20 min.) you can add the rest of the oil after you shake it up with some of the bucket water. As a precaution, I always have 2 little jars of clove oil on hand. No one wants our little finny friends to suffer when we are sure that there is nothing else we can do for them. Every creature we keep becomes our responsibility to keep healthy for as long as possible.

You know sometimes people can make me soo sick!!! NO OFFENCE INTENTED!! But I think it is really sad when ppl r like o it"s easier for me to do this....Its like oo there fish soo it doesn"t matter. But I see it like this do u think they would feel the same way if there cat or dog or fuzzy cuddly anamial needed to be put to sleep, if they would flush it down the toliet or freeze it to death because it was "easier" for them. Just becasue a fish isn't like a dog or something doesn"t mean it doesn"t desever to die with dignaty. I kno when my guys r sick I am just as upset as if one of my cats were sick and i would do everything in my pwer to save it just like neother pet.
I am soo glad u posted this becasue there r some kind ppl out there, like me who wouldn't have kno the best way to do this, and in best i mean best for the fish not for me!!! I have watched my dog die infront of me and yah its tuff< but I felt he knew he was loved and cared for be4 he shut his eyes and drifed off the his enternal slumber......no one deserves to die like that!!!

THANK YOU!!! GOD BLESS ALL YOU WHO ARE KIND ENOUGH TO DO WHATS BEST FOR UR FISHIE FREINDS!!!

Flushing is a relative easy way but horrible for a fish. Why make it suffer even more? Then you should let it die in it's tank, in peace, and not stressed and hurt by flushing!

If I have to kill a fish I just smash it. Sounds very strange but I take a big flat stone and just completely distroy the fish in a second. It's flat after the first blow and it's head and body are gone so it must be dead.

gosh ur violent!! lol j/t u r alot braver than we that sounds sooo bad!!! at least u r thinking of the fish tho!! Its quick!! At least there are some good mommies and daddies out there!!!

What I do want to add in here is that yes, some brands of Clove oil aka Oil of Clove are stronger then others.

I have also noted that there's a bit of error in its employ. When mixing the Oil of Clove, it should be shaken in a baggie with some of the water to be used until it turns white, emmulsifying it is the correct way to proceed. Then it can be added in gradually. I have noted that some folks useing the oil of clove have complained that it was horrible with the fish thrashing and fighting it. If mixed well and added in a little bit at a time, this should relax the fish and not cause such a horrible scene!

Its the more humane way to deal, I agree!

You know, there is another option - take it to a vet to get put down!

Exotic vets will do this for about $50, where it is put to sleep e.t.c

I think this is the best way to do it. Yeah it costs money, but its nicer for the fish!

I use clove oil all the time for doing dental work on my puffers, and I want to really put emphasis on the point that you do NOT need to mix it with whiskey or vodka or anything, that's just silly.

As previous posters said, shake the clove oil with some water in a small container, baggie, whatever, then add it to the container holding the fish. Within a few seconds the fish will go belly up. I've done it in the past just by adding a few drops to the water and it works, but takes longer. But there is no need for people to be messing with alcohol, especially considering the average goldie owner is someone under the legal drinking age!

One thing to keep in mind though, the oil will stick to the sides and bottom of the container you shake it in and have the fish in, so make sure to either throw it out or wash it with lots of soap and hot water. I've made the nearly deadly (for one of my puffers) mistake of not doing so and giving him a double or triple dose of the clove oil.. it took him a long time to wake up from that one.

I Totally agree with Marx on this one, i just had to euthanize one of my friends comets..it was a younger fish and very ill .. I found it hard, but as soon as id done it i realised it was one of the most humain ways of going about it.

RIP Elwood

Dan

I agree that a good strong blow with a blunt instrument, or quickly decapitating with a sharp knife are humane methods of euthanisia. (sounds a bit like a crime scene doesn't it?)

I don't have the stomach for that type of thing, although I would probably do it if there were no other way available. I have used the clove oil method several times and it's equally as humane and a lot less gruesome.

Thanks for the info i have had to euthanise two of my fish in the past and was led to believe freezing was a kind way to let them go I think it will be the anaestetic way for me from now on.I feel guilty now tht i may have caused my fish to suffer

ive had to do it toa fish which had a hugeeee tumor on his underbelly. I put him in a 2 gallon bucket and poured quarter bottle of Soda water the fish guy said thats a humane way for it to go peacefully it did go peacefully didnt seem to strugle or freak out to much

I cannot bear the thought of having to kill a fish I prefer to let the disease do it's work, because it might have a chance to live.

Yes, they eventualy die if the illness is let run its corse.
However, you must think of the quality of life.
If the animal is in pain without relife it is often times simply more humane to kill a fish.
Death with dignity, so to speak
It is an act of love if carried out in sincerity.

i read somewhere that freezing it is a natural way of killing a fish, as in nature, the winter freezes ponds. it sounds kind of stupid now and the person who wrote it must have not known much about fish. i would never be able to bring myself to smash the fishies head, i would probably go freak out. im always too chicken to do anything to them, and try to trust that maybe they will get better, and to let nature take its course.

My little 3 year old comet, Lucky has been rather unlucky lately. He's battled septicemia many times even though I keep the tank very clean and well balanced. The other fish have always been okay. Saturday morning I woke up to a dead Lucky...at least I thought by the way he was floating. After reading more I think he has SBD. I'm going to try everything I can for him since he still does show a little activity, but I know I have to make my decision soon. I've ordered some clove oil and I'm going to pray that I don't have to use it. This just seems the most humane.

this will be hard to do

Hi, a while back I read somewhere that alka-seltzer was a humane way to euthanize a fish. Well when my betta got really sick and I tried everything to help him, I knew euthanizing him was my best option since he had not eaten in weeks and had become paper thin. Also whatever he had was getting worse. It was late and all I had was alka-seltzer so i used it, and although eventually he did pass on, it took a while and he did struggle. I moved him into clean water b/c it was hard watching him jump around w/the alka-seltzer in his water. I personally hate this method and will never do it again.


karla

The theory to the alka seltzer was that it took the oxygen out the water so the fish suffocated, but it would fight it. Sorry you went through that with him.

I still cannot accept the fact that people euthanize fish when they think it's time, even after medicating. Why can't we allow the fish to die naturally. I'm sure people have their own reasons but still... If a human falls sick, no matter what people treat them until whatever happens naturally. Fish will also eventually die if it gets worse. Can't we allow them to go naturally without robbing those few days left out of them...

If Alka-Seltzer suppose to take oxygen out of the water, i wonder why it is considered humane? (this is a rhetorical question). I did read from the same website that alka-seltzer has an ingredient that acts like an asthetic for fish, this is why i chose this method, + i had no clove oil.


Euthanasia is a personal view/belief, I have my reasons to support if for both humans and animals, but I will not go into that here.
Although I felt sad taking my fish's life, watching him for weeks living the way he did when this disease infected him and no matter how hard I tried to help him, he only grew worse, I felt in the end, it was the humane thing to do.


karla

I was led to believe by the internet that one of the best ways to euthanize a fish was to freeze it, the reason being that hypothermia would cause the fish to drift off to sleep. Now I know better and vow to never ever again freeze a fish. I do have clove oil in my cabinet (did you know it's also great for toothaches/dry socket on humans?) and will use it only if necessary.

This topic sucks -- it's great, but it's a sucky, sad topic that I wish no one ever had to read up on. However, kudos for whoever started it. If you own a pet, you are responible for it's life and well being! I'd rather let my fish go naturally than let linger in a horrible death.

Greetings all,

It's been along time since I posted on this site. Since then I have had two losses.
One of which I had to euthanize. I used the clove oil method. Franklyn had been
sick for a long time and was confined to the hospital tank for months. He kept getting
worse. I painfully made the decision. I got a large tupperware bowl to place him in
with water, dimmed the lights and lit a small candle. I stayed with him speaking to
him softly until he peacefully past away. I lost my second goldfish, Magnus, very
quickly, he got ill and past away within two days. I was spared from having to make
the choice of euthanizing again. To all who have had to make the choice, I understand
your pain.

I'm sorry to hear everyone's sad stories...

Surfing Koko's, and buying from a lfs I wasn't so sure about (I couldn't find anything better within driving distance), I started looking for a tiny bottle of clove oil, just in case. To go with the ammonia reducers, and the kosher salt, and the other basics...

I sometimes can find it in the naturopathic section of larger supermarkets -- or in this case, I found a tiny bottle in the aromatherapy aisle. It was marketed as essential oils, of Clove Bud.

Haven't tested it out (thankfully!) but according to Wikipedia, essential oil is the same thing as "oil of..."

Though I had to search three different supermarkets to find it..

But yeah. It might be under natural supplements or aromatherapy if there's anything like that near where you are.

Sorry to hear about Franklyn and Magnus.. Franklin reminds me of the time we lost our cat... Hit by a car in front of us, and slipped away in the space of minutes while we held him.

Oh, and the clove oil? I tried a drop dabbed on my own gumline to see if it seemed to do anything... yeah it burns for a second, then made the gum numb.. and the tongue near that area.. and that corner of my lip... Feeling returned after a couple minutes.

Darwin is rolling in his grave, but at least I know it seems to work.