humane way to kill a seahorse

[km133688]

One of my papa horses is dying. His skin has a hole under his belly into which I can see, and other sections near this area are turning white and pealing away. He lays on his side at the top of the water. I only noticed this last night but I have to believe it was like this for several days and I simply didn't see him (my males hide while they are pregnant) so I figure he has not eaten for 3 or more days.

The other horses look healthy and are eating and acting normally.
It pains me to watch him float there are try to breathe so I am considering letting him go as I don't see him recovering.

Other suggestions are weclome, but does anyone have opinions on how to humanely kill him. I was told ziploc in the freezer was considered one the best and simplest ways to go both for animal and keeper. Someone else also said "step on his head" but though likely quick and effective, I am passing on that one, so serious answers only please.

Kevin

 

[panmanmatt]

Clove oil works great for euthanizing a seahorse. Add a few drops to a bowl os salt water and ad the horse. Clove oil is an anesthetic so it is pretty painful. Add a few drops at a time and slowly put the horse to sleep.

If that isn't available to you, put the horse in a plastic bag and put in the freezer. Sounds gross, but it will actually work. Just be sure to take it out once dead so that nobody gets a nasty surprise when they go for ice cream.

 

[seahorsedreams]

I used MS-222, otherwise known as Finquel, otherwise known as Tricane something-or-other. It is availabe
HERE for the hobbyist. I don't believe in using Clove after I used it on a toothache. It blistered my mouth and stung SO bad when it hit my tongue. I can't imagine it being a pleasant experience for a SH's gills and such. Here's some information a fellow seahorse friend gave me...

Clove Oil Anesthesia Does Not Inhibit the Stress-Induced Increases in Plasma Cortisol and Glucose in Rainbow Trout.

J.D. Morgan* and E.P. Groot, Faculty of Science and Technology, Malaspina University-College, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5S5

Clove oil has recently become a popular fish anesthetic due to its low cost and apparent safety to both fish and humans. Effective anesthetic dosages have been determined for several fish species, however the physiological stress effects of clove oil are not well understood. Laboratory trials were conducted that investigated the modulation of the plasma cortisol and glucose stress response by several concentrations (20 â€"œ 200 mg/L) of clove oil. Rainbow trout were anesthetized prior to a 1 min dipnet stress and sampled at 15 and 60 min after the stressor was applied. For comparison, similar trials were conducted with doses of MS-222 (100 mg/L) and metomidate (5 mg/L) that are known to suppress the stress-induced increase in plasma cortisol and glucose. Prior anesthesia with clove oil did not significantly block the cortisol and glucose stress response, and there appeared to be a dose-related increase in these variables. By contrast, prior anesthesia with MS-222 and metomidate did significantly reduce the stress response. The different response observed with clove oil may be related to its mode of action, as it may anesthetize the fish without inhibiting the H-P-I axis. The results also suggest that clove oil would probably not be effective as a sedative in reducing physiological disturbances that may occur during aquaculture procedures such as handling and transport.

Clove oil as an anaesthetic for adult sockeye salmon:


Anderson WG, McKinley RS, Colavecchia M (1997) The use of clove oil as an anesthetic for rainbow trout and its effects on swimming performance. North American Journal of Fisheries Management. 17(2):301-307
NAL Call No. SH219.N66
The only anesthetic registered in North America for use in fisheries science is 3-aminobenzoic acid ethyl ester methanesulfate (tricaine or MS-222). Although MS-222 is a very effective anesthesia for several fish species, its application in the field is limited because U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidelines demand a 21-d withdrawal period after exposure to MS-222 before fish can be released and enter the food chain. As a consequence, carbon dioxide (CO2) has been used as a substitute anesthetic; however, induction and recovery times with CO2 are long, and anesthesia is shallow in comparison with MS-222. We compared the efficacy of MS-222 to that of clove oil, a naturally occurring substance, for use as an anesthetic for juvenile and adult rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. Clove oil was as effective as MS-222 in inducing anesthesia in both age-groups. Furthermore, exposure to either clove oil or MS-222 at the concentrations tested was not detrimental to critical swimming speed of juvenile or adult rainbow trout. We propose that clove oil be considered as an alternative to MS-222 for use as a fish anesthetic.
Descriptors: swimming, anaesthetics, anesthetics, Oncorhynchus mykiss, Eugenia aromatica, clove oil, rainbow trout
ASFA; Copyright © 2003, FAO


Effects of clove oil anaesthesia on common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

Just my 0.02 BTW, I have indeed used it myself and was as pleased as one could be when putting down my beloved Seahorse.

 

[seahorsedreams]

K, I know you didn't ask this but I just wanted to put this out there and I hope not to offend. Did you consider trying to treat? If it's not something you want/are able to do, I respect that. But just wanted you to know that there are treatments that could be tried. One of my horses floated a whole week while receiving other treatments and he survived. That was before Diamox which can fix the floating. With a mixture of antibiotics, Diamox and a topical there is a chance.....

 

[D-Rod]

I disagree Clove oil works.

There comes a time in every aquarist's life when a fish that can no longer recover from disease or injury must be euthanized. This is no easy task but it can be done humanely and peacefully without stress to fish or aquarist.

The best method is a two-step process. First, anesthetize the fish with clove oil so that it is sleeping and unable to feel pain, then introduce a clear grain alcohol like vodka to ensure the fish will not wake up.

This method is commonly misrepresented as mixing clove oil and vodka together. That is incorrect. Clove oil must be introduced first, allowing the fish to fall asleep before introducing vodka. Vodka will be stressful for a fish that is not anesthetized.

Clove oil (eugenol) is available at any drug store and is sold as a toothache remedy. It has been used for years as a fish anesthetic for surgeries and tagging procedures. Clove oil will put a fish to sleep and ensure it feels no pain. However the fish can wake up from this sleep if removed from the clove bath. The last step of adding the vodka will ensure the fish expires.

Here are the steps for fish up to 3" (7.6cm) in length:

1. Place the fish in a measuring cup with tank water, or a large mixing bowl. Measure the amount of tank water you add to the bowl and make a note of it. If the fish is in a clear cup place a dark towel around the cup to calm the fish.

2. Fill a small jar with tank water, leaving some room at the top. Put 1 drop of clove oil in the jar, cap and shake vigorously. The clove oil must emulsify, turning the water milky white. When this happens, place about 1/4 of this emulsified mixture in with the fish. The fish will begin listing as it starts to fall asleep. Let the fish be for about 10 minutes. The fish should be resting on the bottom by then. It will look dead, but if you watch closely its gills will be breathing once every few seconds. If after 10 minutes the fish is still rising off the bottom, swimming intermittently, retrieve the jar and re-shake, then add the same dose to the fish's container. Wait again.

3. Once the fish is asleep on the bottom, add 20-25% white grain alcohol. For example, if the fish is in 8oz (240ml) of water, add 2oz (60ml) of vodka. Let the fish stay there for at least 20 minutes.

4. Check the fish carefully after 20 minutes for any gill movement. If there is no gill movement over a 60 second period, the fish has expired.

For larger fish place them in a bucket or plastic tub with tank water. The dose will be 10 drops per gallon (3.78 liters), so if the fish is in 3 gallons (11 liters) of tank water, mix 10 x 3 = 30 drops of clove oil in the jar with some tank water. After shaking the jar vigorously, slowly add the entire mixture to the bucket or tub. Gently mix it in. Once the fish is asleep, follow the previous instructions for adding 20-25% vodka.

To eliminate vodka from the procedure and overdose with clove oil, put the fish to sleep first as stated, then prepare a mixture 5x stronger than the initial dose and administer it the same way, by first emulsifying it. This dose is 50 drops of clove oil per gallon (3.78 liters). Let the fish stay in this mixture for a few hours. Finally make sure there is absolutely no gill movement by watching the gills closely for at least 60 seconds straight. If you see any gill movement, add more emulsified clove oil.

Using clove oil alone is not recommended because even though a fish looks dead it can recover once it has been removed from the bath. Clove oil is a preferred anesthetic precisely because it is hard to overdose a fish with clove oil. Therefore be especially diligent when using clove oil alone, that the fish is really dead. It is much safer to use vodka as the final step.

Unacceptable methods of euthanasia are: freezing, boiling, chopping, removing the fish from water, using a seltzer tablet, slamming, pithing, decapitating, or flushing down the toilet. These methods are slow, torturous, stressful or violent. Clove oil followed by vodka is both inexpensive and humane. The fish goes to sleep just like we might before an operation, and simply doesn't wake up.

Hopefully you will rarely have to perform this task, but when you do, it's at least comforting to know your fish does not have to suffer.

 

[Samala]

MS-222, if really available for a hobbyist as 'Dreams linked, is the best way to go. In research this is the preferred method for sacrificing aquatics. I wouldnt do it any other way.

>Sarah

 

[seahorsedreams]

I don't believe I said Clove Oil didn't work. I just don't believe it is the most humane way to go. Read the articles in the links.... they talk about the physiological changes that occurs with clove that indicates they indeed feel more than we think they do. I have the upmost respect for Matt who suggested it first and am aware that many hobbyists use it. Clove Oil is not one of the options that is listed as acceptabe by the Animal Heath & Welfare People who list acceptabe as being: Barbiturates, inhalant anesthetics, CO2, MS222, benzocaine hydrochloride, 2-phenoxyethanol. Conditionally Acceptable as being: Decapitation and pithing, stunning and decaptiation/pithing. All other methods fall into the Unacceptable category according to them. They do not list Clove as approved and I am sure it is based on studies they have done and not because they haven't heard of it.

 

[km133688]

Thanks all, I see that the MS-222 is available from DANU @seahorsesource. I got the horse from here to start so I figure if Dan is offering it then it must be a good way to go. I am letting the fish live and float not because I think it will eventually survive, but because it is I believe pregnant and close to delivery. I always try to raise fry (with only very limited success to date). It has a hold in its side and I can see intestines etc, so I don't see recovery in the future. It has not eaten for several days (how can it), so gets a little weaker every day.

Thanks everyone for the comments. I know what to do now.

Kevin

 

[mal40]

I have always used Clove Oil. After reading the articles listed I dont think I will use it again!

Freezing is not recommended either due to cellular stresses causing pain in the fish.

As we cannot get these things in the UK I will revert to the sharp knife and head amputation..