Most humane way to euthanize a fish
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Tuan’s Reef
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I believe it is clove oil
What is the most humane way to euthanase aquarium fish?
The term euthanasia comes from the Greek language meaning a good death (eu = good, thanatos = death).
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Ben Pedersen
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Please don't use clove oil! That is one of the most inhumane ways! A very painful way to go..
I never finish anythi
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How do you know that ?
Fish Styx
In Cod We Crust
Yes.
David Matthews
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I take them outside and cut their heads off with a knife. Much quicker and more ethical in my eyes compared to many other ways
Ben Pedersen
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Because resent science has proven that fish feel pain in a similar way to mammals. Clove oil causes damage to the gils resulting in suffocation. The problem is, while it is doing that damage, it is extremely painful for the fish. It would be similar to breathing clove oil.
Really, the most humane way to kill a fish is whatever way is quickest. It may seem brutal, but a fast and hard throw to the ground is the best way I can think of.
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Dr4gula.f32
Active Member
cigar tip snipper???
Brutal = fast and fast = humane IMO so brutal it is here but I won't go into detail especially how I do it to large fish as there are too many sensitive people here. Our family members dying are made to suffer because euthanasia is illegal (at least where I live) I can't speed up family members deaths without going to prison but I can darn sure give my pets a speedy one.
EDIT: I would rather have my head bashed in with one quick blow than be poisoned or frozen to death.
EDIT: I would rather have my head bashed in with one quick blow than be poisoned or frozen to death.
SeaHorseQueen
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Is this what they used to sedate them for surgery?
Tired
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Clove oil, when used properly, is a sedative. I've used it on both fish and crabs. Added very slowly to the container, it causes zero visible distress; they slow down, become less and less wary, and eventually pass out. Never had either of them show any signs of irritation; no head-shaking, no flashing. Heck, it's used as an anesthetic for surgeries on fish sometimes. It'd definitely be an irritant if you poured in a ton at once, so, don't do that.
Unless you've got a reputable source that says clove oil is inhumane when properly used, you might need to do some more reading.
Sometimes, yes.
Decapitation is NOT humane on cold-blooded animals, as it can take a long time for the brain to die. Pithing or otherwise destroying the brain entirely is humane, but gruesome, and can be difficult to do properly. Clove oil is probably the best bet for the hobbyist; it's hard to mess up, the opposite of gruesome, and easily available at health food stores and the like.
Freezing is highly debated but likely inhumane.
Tired
2500 Club Member
I know you're kidding, but, when euthanizing a batch of pest crabs recently, I did give them some food. Figured there wasn't any harm in distracting them. It was interesting to watch them get less and less cautious as the amount of clove oil in the water increased, too; they kept eating, but they ignored me coming over to look at them.
I've seen videos of decapitated fish heads still moving, and read a study suggesting decapitation isn't humane for eels because their slow metabolism prevents quick brain death. It's also documented that snake and turtle heads can continue moving for hours after death. Chopping the brain in half would be humane, but decapitation isn't.
