Reefs.org Forums

[nivraM]

My FuManChu developed ich and Pop eye after eating a newly acquired tankmate. I believe the tankmate probably had ich. It was my fault for not having a quarintine tank setup for new fish.

After medicating the fish for several weeks, he has lost his eyes and can not feed- no vision. How should I euthanise him? I have been told I can use pure alcohol or vodka to do this.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

[Guy]

A hatchet. Quick & humane. It's tough on the human though.

[Dawn]

Myvet told me the freezer. I know this is too late for you- but if others see this post- it should be helpful. I had a two year old tang I took to the vet to put down. He used an overdose of anesthesia.

[moggyhill]

clove oil like you use for a toothache in the water will numb the fish. I agree with the knife or hatchet if you can stomach it. It is the quickest way to off a fish or animal. If not try the clove oil in some water and freeze the fish.

[DrHank]

Fish are cold blooded so their system adapts to cooling without any pain. This is what enables them to go down to 100+ feet and continue to function fine in the colder water at those depths.

The most humane way is in a container of salt water overnight in the freezer. Their metabolism will gradually slow down until it stops and the fish won't feel a thing.

[kyrie_eleison]

no...don't put them in a freezer. Yes, most fish are cold-blooded and can withstand very cold but at freezing temperatures, it causes great pain before they finally lose conscienceness.

The only time you should do the whole, "freezer" thing is if it's a mantis shrimp. That's what I'm going to do when I catch the one in my tank. But, first I am going to make a desparate effort to rip off all his appendages (including his eyes) and then place him in the freezer to enjoy the say pain I'm feeling inside everytime I think about my fish that it killed.

[Displacedeerfan]

There is a product called Euthaneze

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=15556&Ntt=euthaneze&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&pc=1&N=0&Nty=1

[delbeek]

I am not sure what Dr. Hank is smoking but he is most assuredly incorrect. Being cold blooded has nothing to do with feeling pain or being able to live in colder temperatures.

The American Veterinary Medicine Association has clear guidelines on how animals should be euthanized humanely. For fish, they should first be anesthetized using something like MS222 or clove oil which is all that the Drs. Foster and Smith product is and can be picked up at any pharmacy or health food store. Once the animal is under and you see no more movement of the gill covers, then it is out. At this point you can freeze the animal before disposal to kill off any infectious diseases they may harbor or to hold it before it can be disposed of.

You should never freeze a live animal, no matter how slowly it is done. The formation of ice crystals in the bodily fluids could be a very real source of pain and discomfort and can not be discounted. When it comes to animals in our aquaria, it is always best to err on the side of caution when it comes to deciding if they can "feel" pain or not.

JCD