sick fish and euthanasia

aj · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 1

Does anyone has suggestions on "putting down" a sick fish. My little
girls fish is sick and hasn't eaten in a long time. Its dying a slow
death and I don't want it to suffer any longer.

I know a flush would do the trick, but she's old enough to know that it
"has to go somewhere"

Any advice would be helpful.

AJ

Archived from group: rec>aquaria>tech

Roger Sleet · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 39

In article ,
imaj1965@yahoo.ca (aj) wrote:

> *From:* aj
> *Date:* Thu, 05 May 2005 21:01:59 GMT
>
> Does anyone has suggestions on "putting down" a sick fish. My little
> girls fish is sick and hasn't eaten in a long time. Its dying a slow
> death and I don't want it to suffer any longer.
>
> I know a flush would do the trick, but she's old enough to know that it
> "has to go somewhere"
>
> Any advice would be helpful.
>
> AJ
>
>

There are a number of methods recommended by various people, they depend
on what is available.

The best is undoubtedly an overdose of anesthetic as the fish can't suffer
if it is unconscious, however getting anesthetic is problematic for most
of us without resorting to a vet.

For small fish many people recommend putting in iced water, however there
have been a lot of debates about how much this hurts the fish. I've never
used it.

My preferred methods are not for the squeamish. I put small fish on a
hard surface and hit them with a brick - this is on the basis that being
converted to fish paste in a fraction of a second can't hurt.

Roger Sleet
Roger's Aquatic Pages http://www.sleet.plus.com

Billy · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 210

"Roger Sleet" wrote in message @xxx.demon.co.uk...
> My preferred methods are not for the squeamish. I put small fish
> on a
> hard surface and hit them with a brick - this is on the basis that
> being
> converted to fish paste in a fraction of a second can't hurt.
>

My LFS places the afflicted fish in a bag and quickly thrashes it
against the floor. Same result. Quick, but not for the squeamish.

Ozdude · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 66

"Roger Sleet" wrote in message @xxx.demon.co.uk...
> In article ,
> There are a number of methods recommended by various people, they depend
> on what is available.
>
> The best is undoubtedly an overdose of anesthetic as the fish can't suffer
> if it is unconscious, however getting anesthetic is problematic for most
> of us without resorting to a vet.

Clove Oil is a known anesthetic for fish, but not always freely available.

>
> For small fish many people recommend putting in iced water, however there
> have been a lot of debates about how much this hurts the fish. I've never
> used it.

Not recommended as the fish apparently suffers on several levels. Liquid
nitrogen wouldn't have the same sufferage level, but who can get that? Wink

>
> My preferred methods are not for the squeamish. I put small fish on a
> hard surface and hit them with a brick - this is on the basis that being
> converted to fish paste in a fraction of a second can't hurt.

I use this method when I have no clove oil. I don't have to euthanase very
often thankfully, but as far as suffering goes, a quick sharp blow between
two bricks seems the least stressful for the fish in the absence of clove
oil.

Oz

--
My Aquatic web Blog is at http://members.optusnet.com.au/ivan.smith

Ozdude · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 66

"Billy" wrote in message @comcast.com...
>
>
> "Roger Sleet" wrote in message
> @xxx.demon.co.uk...
>> My preferred methods are not for the squeamish. I put small fish on a
>> hard surface and hit them with a brick - this is on the basis that being
>> converted to fish paste in a fraction of a second can't hurt.
>>
>
>
> My LFS places the afflicted fish in a bag and quickly thrashes it against
> the floor. Same result. Quick, but not for the squeamish.

Hard surfaces are better - they don't see the brick coming. I worry about
them briefly suffering in a bag being swung.

Oz

--
My Aquatic web Blog is at http://members.optusnet.com.au/ivan.smith