Fish Euthanasia

[pbmax]

After being asked about this in another thread and learning I've been doing it less than optimally, I figured I'd post the real data here.

https://www.avma.org/KB/Policies/Documents/euthanasia.pdf

The following excerpt is from the section on private veterinary practice:

The following methods are acceptable for use in this environment:
(1) Immersion in solutions of buffered tricaine methanesulfonate (MS 222), buffered benzocaine, isoflurane and sevoflurane, quinaldine sulfate, and 2-phenoxyethanol.
(2) Injections of pentobarbital, ketamine followed by pentobarbital, a combination of ketamine and me- detomidine followed by pentobarbital, and propofol followed by pentobarbital. Owners should be advised about the possibility of ketamine-induced muscle spasms during induction when using that agent.
The following methods are acceptable with condi- tions for use in this environment:
(1) Immersion in eugenol, isoeugenol, or clove
oil. Finfish should be left in the solution for a mini-
mum of 10 minutes after cessation of opercular move- ment.63,325,559

And this is an excerpt from the section on retail or wholesale fish facilities:

The following methods are acceptable for use in this environment:
Immersion in solutions of buffered tricaine meth- anesulfonate (MS 222), buffered benzocaine, and quin- aldine sulfate. Finfish should be left in the anesthetic solution for a minimum of 10 minutes after cessation of opercular movement.63,325,559
The following methods are acceptable with condi- tions for use in this environment:
(1) Immersion in CO2-saturated water; eugenol, isoeugenol, or clove oil; and ethanol.
(2) Decapitation, cervical transection, or manually applied blunt force trauma as step 1 of a 2-step method, followed by pithing.
(3) Freezing may be used as an adjunctive method following anesthesia.
(4) Rapid chilling (hypothermic shock) for small- bodied (3.8-cm-long or smaller) tropical and subtropi- cal stenothermic finfish, for which the lower lethal tem- perature range is above 4°C.316,461,462

So what we learn from that is that immersion in a clove oil solution is the most preferable method.  

I'd been using #2 under the second section, which is also acceptable, but not as ideal as clove oil.

As to how, exactly, to implement the clove oil solution, I can't say as I haven't done it and I haven't researched it thoroughly. I welcome other fishbox users to chime in here.

 

[plaamoo]

That's what I do also. Not pleasant for me, but I believe it's the quickest way to put the fish down.

 

[Anthraxx]

DMD has had some experience in this, send him a pm and maybe he could pass along the info on where he got it. sucks that you even need to consider such an option. gl to ya

 

[Nick_87]

I used to work for a reasearch conservation group where we studied salmon and trout. I used clove oil all the time on fish to put them out. It is a form of Anesthesia for fish that makes them sleep. We would use 2-5 drops per gallon of water that the fish was in and the fish would fall asleep in a minute or two so we could take them out of the water to take measurents and fin and scale samples without damaging the fish with struggles. Afterward we would put them back in normal water and 5-10 minutes later they would wake up and be back to normal. (minus missing a few scales and a fin)

 

[DMD123]

I had a horrible outbreak of something funky a couple years back and slowly had fish after fish waste away. I started with the clove oil method which is very humane if done properly. If too high a concentration is used it can be painful. follow instructions and you will be fine.

But my situation got so bad I opted for the 'other' humane way of doing it. To sever the spinal cord to the brain. A sharp knife and its done very quickly. This does have a horrible psychological impact on you if you have been raising this fish as a pet but the illness was so bad it was what had to be done....  

Huge lesson learned: ALWAYS quarantine and treat new fish before adding them to an established tank.

 

[Anonymous]

Weird topic to me. Perhaps I am still thinking like a Neanderthal when it comes to "euthanasia". I know we all at one time or another had to put a fish down. It sucks! Where can one find clove oil? Never seen it (haven't looked for it) at any fish stores....

 

[Cory]

I think you can find it at like Whole Foods etc.

 

[DMD123]

I think I found mine at Fred Meyer in the health food area.

Yeah it is a weird topic but one that people need to be aware of. I dont know how for example people think it humane to flush fish down a toilet. To be dumped in cold water with chemicals and then exposed to waste material seems a bit like torture to me. (At my home they would end up in a big 500g holding tank with all the household waste and then get ground up by the grinder pump and pumped out to the sewer. Im sure they would die a horrible death once they hit the water in the holding tank.)

 

[Anonymous]

I think you can find it at like Whole Foods etc.

Okay thank you.

I think I found mine at Fred Meyer in the health food area.

Yeah it is a weird topic but one that people need to be aware of. I dont know how for example people think it humane to flush fish down a toilet. To be dumped in cold water with chemicals and then exposed to waste material seems a bit like torture to me. (At my home they would end up in a big 500g holding tank with all the household waste and then get ground up by the grinder pump and pumped out to the sewer. Im sure they would die a horrible death once they hit the water in the holding tank.)

Thanks for sharing the chopped up poop story with us DMD123 :superpuke: You do have a point though!

 

[Gryphon]

The best way I would think would be a combination clove oil and the decapitation. Though I know personally it would be hard for me to decapitate one of my fish.

 

[JimA]

Nothing sadder than a dead fish! That being said I have never looked at my fish like the dog or cat we have. I also worked in Alaska to long on crab boats and at canneries when I was younger, so to just smash a fish with a hammer or cut it's head off doesn't bother me in the least.. Sorry

 

[Anthony J.]

Nothing sadder than a dead fish!   That being said I have never looked at my fish like the dog or cat we have.     I also worked in Alaska to long on crab boats and at canneries when I was younger, so to just smash a fish with a hammer or cut it's head off doesn't bother me in the least.. Sorry    

yup, same with me, although, I typically just scoop the fish out with a net, flip the net around so the open end won't allow the fish fall out, cock my arm back, and in one big, strong swing, whack them on the ground while they are in the net. I have never seen gill plates, or any movement afterwards, so I'm convinced, they die instantly. Which, IMO, is ideal.

 

[DMD123]

I have an old fish keeping book that said to throw them hard against the ground.

 

[lloyd378]

I have used clove oil for small fish, and a good whack on he head for the two times I had to take care of fish11" or larger. I don't really know what is better/ more humane.... So euthanasia in my book is a last dreaded resort. I would rather have them die peacefully in their "sleep"

 

[hobbyorobsession]

if i have to cull fish i do the quick and dirty thud or chop. quick and done.

 

[pbmax]

if i have to cull fish i do the quick and dirty thud or chop.  quick and done.

Indeed; that was my thinking.

I'd rather do that than watch a fish suffer. It would be nice if they all died peacefully...

I picked up some clove oil from Amazon. I think if someone was going to put me down I'd rather be zonked out pretty good before they did the deed.

 

[Betty]

if i have to cull fish i do the quick and dirty thud or chop.  quick and done.

This is what I do as well, but now I clove oil them first.  I have a bottle of Euthanase, by Aquarium Products, which I think is mostly clove oil.  I don't think they make it any more and I've had the bottle for years.  Thank goodness I don't have to put fish down very often. :cry: