the best way to kill a fish that is sick

[Reefski's]

thank you. MS-222 is what i use.

i was wrong about the clove oil. that is what i learned from a very well respected koikeeper.

Carl

 

[mammut89]

How can hammer not be the best ?


it takes a split second.


bam on the head and its no more.

 

[andrewk529]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15445693#post15445693 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by uhuru
On a previous thread similar to this, I had suggested MS-222, clove oil or decapitation as the only acceptable means of euthanasia. This was based on what I learned from a zoo veterinarian. I have since learned that this is not completely correct.

The AVMA panel on euthanasia (the one you MUST follow if you work in any type of research facility) as well as Cornell University make the following recommendations:

Injectable agents:
1) Sodium Pentobarbitol
2) MS-222

External agents (dissolved in water):
1) MS-222
2) Benzocaine HCl
3) 2-Phenoxyethanol

Inhalants (bubbled in closed water container):
1) CO2
2) Inhalant anesthesia overdose - from Cornell

Physical:
1) first anesthetize with short acting barbituate or propofol
2) decapitation that MUST be followed by pithing (or vice versa)

Freezing:
*Only acceptable for fish < 5 cm total body length*
1) place deeply anesthetized fish in liguid nitrogen
2) place deeply anesthetized fish in water container then in freezer

This is all fresh in my mind as I just reviewed the research protocol involving some cichlids at my university today. The PI intended to use CO2 for euthanasia so I had to look this stuff up before talking to him, good thing I did because he could indeed use CO2!

http://www.research.cornell.edu/care/documents/SOPs/CARE306.pdf

http://www.avma.org/issues/animal_welfare/euthanasia.pdf

Clove oil is not an acceptable form of euthanasia

i guess everyone can run out to their local walgreens for these substances....clove oil is sufficient along with the freezer treatment

 

[Reefski's]

clove oil is readily available and ms-222 can be obtained on the net. i use it as an anesthetic too.

Carl

 

[kennedy450r]

If i can get 3 damsels out of my dt there are going straight to the porcelin god but as of right now they will prob die of old age

 

[andrewk529]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15505881#post15505881 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefski's
clove oil is readily available and ms-222 can be obtained on the net. i use it as an anesthetic too.

Carl

i'm pretty sure i implied that clove oil was the more readily available substance.... how many people are actually going to take the time out to order ms-222 in order to properly euthanize a fish? ten maybe 12? its better to go with the easiest method ...yes you can bubble CO2 and put the fish into a coma or introduce some other pharmaceutical but those are impractical to the majority IMO

 

[clownaround2]

Read somewhere you have to mix the clove oil with alcohol for it to work as an anesthetic...

 

[Reefski's]

not true.

i have done it many times with just pond water.

 

[Ross.C]

Clove Oil in water will only anaethetise the fish. It is very difficult to kill a fish with that substance. Vetenary schools here in Canada have done some testing on humae methods and found that fish have woken up from a strictly clove oil method.

Once anaethetised you may use freezing, alka selzer or the vodka method (just please use the bad stuff, otherwise wasting good vodka ) The process of anaethetisation is what makes it humane.

 

[convict3]

i think a sharp knife is the best .... off with his head !!!

 

[uhuru]

Geeez.... I'm sure we all order stuff online, that's part of what keeps this site going! That's a poor excuse to not have some MS222 IMO. Sooner or later you will have a situation where it is better to put it out of its misery, why not keep a bottle on hand? It has other uses too.

Here's a link to an RC sponsor to make it easier for you:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=12271

As for decapitation - it's been proven that fish can continue to be conscious after decapitation. Their nervous system is wired a bit differently than ours. Decapitation must be followed by pithing.

 

[reefamundo]

OK, I am new to this idea of euthanizing sick fish (or the mentally sick "Damn"sels), so I had to look up "pithing". All I can say is I don't think I have the stomach for that. Here's the Wikipedia link: WikiPithing

Given the list of choices, I think the clove oil to the freezer is a way that I can go. Anyone know how much clove oil is needed to anesthetize a fish?

 

[Ross.C]

I usually add about 5 drops of oil to each cup of water. Give it a good shaking as it is an oil and thus needs to be mixed into the water prior to the fish being put into the mixture. If the fish is not succumbing to the mixture add a greater concentration to a small amount of water and then add it to the container holding the fish. I have only had to use this method on freshwater fish so far and not sure the concentration needed for saltwater.

 

[reefamundo]

Hopefully I won't need to, but it's good to be prepared. Thanks.

 

[chops29]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15411595#post15411595 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefski's
a salt water fish can not live in freshwater for a couple of days. where did you get that idea?

Examples of "saltwater fish" that can and do live in freshwater for days are Bull sharks, salmon, Stergeons(spl?)and many other fish that make their home in the brackish water of river deltas. Though most are not kept in our systems they are just a few examples.

 

[frysRC]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15317727#post15317727 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by returnofsid
Freezing is very inhumane. As nasty as it may sound, severing the spine, just behind the head, with a sharp knife is the quickest and most humane, other than using anesthetics, which aren't very readily available.

Thank you for this input.

 

[Ross.C]

Clove Oil, is a natural anesthetic and can be purchased in any health food store.

 

[Anubreed]

I would say any way that kills them instantly. even a blender, it might sound f'ed up but it would be an instant death.

 

[lordofthereef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15411494#post15411494 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dingo44
Last time I looked, I wasn't a fish, so that comparison doesn't work. Saltwater fish can live much longer than that, more like a couple of days, depending on the species.

You could die by drowning in raw sewage just as well as a fish can. Why must you need to be a fish for the comparison tow work?

 

[Plankt0s]

How would you perform pithing on a small fish? I must admit that I am guilty of the freezing method. I guess I always thought that they would just pass out and then get frozen to death. I have a bottle of MS-222 on the way and will use that before adding the fish to water that has been saturated with CO2 now. Thanks for the info I have always wanted to be as humane as possible when putting fish down.