What's The Fastest Way To Put A Fish Out Of Misery?

FlyinggFish · 06/11/2009, 01:32 PM

I've had my beautiful Clark's Anemonefish for a little over two years ( I got her as a Valentine's Day present)
Her life is coming to an end...horribly.
She has been suffering for the past couple 2 weeks, starting with fast breathing and loss of appetite. Then it moved from that to staying at the bottom of the tank to staying at the top of the tank and finally side ways on the bottom.

I came home today to see her eyes bulging (although it may seem like that eye parasite, it's not, or I would treat it) and there is pink stuff coming out off her pee hole. This horrible. She looks like she is going to explode.
She was my first fish in this hobby and I can't stand to see her suffer anymore.

Is there a humane way to put her out of her misery and suffering?
And I will be burying her, in case that helps.

Tate · 06/11/2009, 01:49 PM

Sorry about your little bugger.

Put it in the freezer. That's the best way I've heard from around here.

Sugar Magnolia · 06/11/2009, 01:50 PM

I've heard that putting them in the freezer is the best way. Sorry about your fish.

elecbzerk · 06/11/2009, 01:50 PM

A guy in the local club had the same question and alot of suggestions were offered. The one he chose and said it was quick and humane was the freezer. Sorry for your loss, I know it's tough.

FlyinggFish · 06/11/2009, 01:52 PM

I kind of want to do it humanely. I was reading that freezing isn't exactly humane. I was reading about sedating her with clove oil, which will put her to sleep and then by adding enough clove oil will bring her to her death.
I'm so afraid that she is going to explode because there's pink around her pee hole and her eye just keep getting bigger.

GOSH. This is so hard.

kb27973 · 06/11/2009, 01:56 PM

Although I have never had to use it so I can't comment on how effective it is I bought a product called AQUARIUM PRODUCTS MSDSâ€“ EUTHANASE. I got it just in case I found myself in your situation. I believe it contains clove oil. I googled 'clove oil to euthanize fish' and came up with a bunch of hits. Maybe you can mix up your own.

Hope this helps. I know it's not easy watching something die.

Edit - Sounds like you are already there with the clove oil. Your post wasn't there when I started.

Ken

lucas73 · 06/11/2009, 02:00 PM

I also have heard about placing them in the freezer,sorry about your loss.

FlyinggFish · 06/11/2009, 02:00 PM

Does anybody know why there would be pink stuff around her pee hole?

FlyinggFish · 06/11/2009, 02:03 PM

No worries anymore.
She just passed away...I guess she waited until I got home from work.

RIP

luther1200 · 06/11/2009, 02:39 PM

Sorry to hear it. I remember when my Flame angle died. I was feeding my fish and he didn't come out, which was very strange because he was alway the first 1 out. So I went nuts looking in the rock and saw him wedged in his little cave were he slept. I think (hope) he went in his sleep somehow. Thats a terrrible feeling, sorry again.

FlyinggFish · 06/11/2009, 02:46 PM

I just got done burying her.
I guess this is the end of my thread.

Thanks for the helpful advice.
I'm glad I didn't have to use any method.

And just so you can see how beautiful she was:

JoeMac · 06/11/2009, 03:49 PM

Fry pan....just kidding

JoeMac · 06/11/2009, 03:50 PM

Fry pan....just kidding

produceb · 06/11/2009, 03:53 PM

hammer

birdz · 06/11/2009, 04:08 PM

smash the fish, sounds gruesome but its absolutely instant

JustinReef · 06/11/2009, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JoeMac
Fry pan....just kidding

What a great time to be kidding around

happyclam · 06/11/2009, 05:12 PM

I thought I'd add my 2 cents, even though this thread is done. Even though it would be traumatic for the person, I heard that passing a razor blade through the spinal column behind the head is instant & painless. In the freezer a fish either 1). suffocates to death (terrible death IMO) or 2). it's blood veins slowly freeze solid until it dies. I'm just a newbie though so this could be wrong, just my own opinion. I was just thinking that in real life I would hate to be stuck in a commercial freezer and slowly freeze to death. Hopefully that wasn't too morbid...

maybe those will help lighten the mood.

jenglish · 06/11/2009, 05:27 PM

THere is a whole thread on this in responsible reefkeeping or at least used to be. Clove oil is humane. The freezer is probably more stressful for the fish though technically probably painless. If you have the stomach for it a quick blow to the skull or cutting the spine with scissors is very fast. It is however a bit gruesome for the hobbyest.

Sorry for you loss

Macimage · 06/11/2009, 05:38 PM

I am so sorry for your loss. It is very sad when a favorite fish passes. I bury them in my rose garden.

Joyce

aoeBombcat · 06/11/2009, 05:39 PM

Best and fast way is a smack to the head. Quick and Painless. Then in the freezer to finish the job.

I also heard that putting them in Vodka will take care of them too. But it depends on the size of the fish. Don't want to use it on a 1 foot fish... You will be using alot of Vodka.

ReeferChick85 · 06/11/2009, 06:29 PM

Aww I was just thinking about you're fish and how it was doing since the last thread you made about it and then I read this just now

I'm so sorry about your fish. She was beautiful. It sucks losing something that means so much to you. I get that way to. Take care flyingfish.

The abnoxious comments were lame.It's obvious by her thread that it was a big deal to her to find a humane way to let her fish die and the hammer method,frying pan jokes and whatever was said,was totally unnecessarry and very inconsiderate.

Macimage · 06/11/2009, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ReeferChick85

The abnoxious comments were lame.It's obvious by her thread that it was a big deal to her to find a humane way to let her fish die and the hammer method,frying pan jokes and whatever was said,was totally unnecessarry and very inconsiderate.

+1

Do you have any idea what happened?

BangkokMatt · 06/11/2009, 07:54 PM

+2 - however, the hammer method is humane (if you get it right). It does need a strong stomach to do it though.

OP - sorry for your loss.

tmz · 06/11/2009, 09:23 PM

+3 not funny. Sorry for the loss.

ReeferChick85 · 06/12/2009, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Macimage
+1

Do you have any idea what happened?

Well here's her original thread she posted a few days back about her fish condition. It just happened suddenly. So sad

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1649770

06/11/2009, 01:32 PM	#1
FlyinggFish Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 1,042	What's The Fastest Way To Put A Fish Out Of Misery? I've had my beautiful Clark's Anemonefish for a little over two years ( I got her as a Valentine's Day present) Her life is coming to an end...horribly. She has been suffering for the past couple 2 weeks, starting with fast breathing and loss of appetite. Then it moved from that to staying at the bottom of the tank to staying at the top of the tank and finally side ways on the bottom. I came home today to see her eyes bulging (although it may seem like that eye parasite, it's not, or I would treat it) and there is pink stuff coming out off her pee hole. This horrible. She looks like she is going to explode. She was my first fish in this hobby and I can't stand to see her suffer anymore. Is there a humane way to put her out of her misery and suffering? And I will be burying her, in case that helps. __________________ Most women buy clothes, I buy corals Current Tank Info: Biocube 29

06/11/2009, 01:49 PM	#2
Tate Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri Posts: 388	Sorry about your little bugger. Put it in the freezer. That's the best way I've heard from around here. __________________ 100g long FOWLR Current Tank Info: 100g fowlr and NanoCube 6g

06/11/2009, 01:50 PM	#3
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	I've heard that putting them in the freezer is the best way. Sorry about your fish. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

06/11/2009, 01:52 PM	#5
FlyinggFish Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 1,042	I kind of want to do it humanely. I was reading that freezing isn't exactly humane. I was reading about sedating her with clove oil, which will put her to sleep and then by adding enough clove oil will bring her to her death. I'm so afraid that she is going to explode because there's pink around her pee hole and her eye just keep getting bigger. GOSH. This is so hard. __________________ Most women buy clothes, I buy corals Current Tank Info: Biocube 29

06/11/2009, 01:56 PM	#6
kb27973 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Denver, CO. Posts: 715	Although I have never had to use it so I can't comment on how effective it is I bought a product called AQUARIUM PRODUCTS MSDSâ€“ EUTHANASE. I got it just in case I found myself in your situation. I believe it contains clove oil. I googled 'clove oil to euthanize fish' and came up with a bunch of hits. Maybe you can mix up your own. Hope this helps. I know it's not easy watching something die. Edit - Sounds like you are already there with the clove oil. Your post wasn't there when I started. Ken __________________ Sometimes I think we're alone. Sometimes I think we're not. In either case, the prospect is staggering! - Arthur C. Clarke Current Tank Info: 125G SPS - Regal Angel (3 yrs and going), Pascalus Anthia, Bartletts Anthias, spawning pairs of Six Line Wrasse, Mandarin Gobies, P. Fridmani, Gold Stripe Maroon Clowns

06/11/2009, 01:50 PM	#4
elecbzerk Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kerrville, Tx Posts: 470	A guy in the local club had the same question and alot of suggestions were offered. The one he chose and said it was quick and humane was the freezer. Sorry for your loss, I know it's tough.

06/11/2009, 02:00 PM	#7
lucas73 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 542	I also have heard about placing them in the freezer,sorry about your loss.

06/11/2009, 02:03 PM	#9
FlyinggFish Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 1,042	No worries anymore. She just passed away...I guess she waited until I got home from work. RIP __________________ Most women buy clothes, I buy corals Current Tank Info: Biocube 29

06/11/2009, 02:39 PM	#10
luther1200 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NJ, shore Posts: 4,376	Sorry to hear it. I remember when my Flame angle died. I was feeding my fish and he didn't come out, which was very strange because he was alway the first 1 out. So I went nuts looking in the rock and saw him wedged in his little cave were he slept. I think (hope) he went in his sleep somehow. Thats a terrrible feeling, sorry again. __________________ Matt, 65G reef tank Current Tank Info: 65g reef, mix of sps, lps, few softies. Hoping to upgrade within the year.

06/11/2009, 02:46 PM	#11
FlyinggFish Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 1,042	I just got done burying her. I guess this is the end of my thread. Thanks for the helpful advice. I'm glad I didn't have to use any method. And just so you can see how beautiful she was: __________________ Most women buy clothes, I buy corals Current Tank Info: Biocube 29

06/11/2009, 03:49 PM	#12
JoeMac Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Pa Posts: 9	Fry pan....just kidding

06/11/2009, 03:50 PM	#13
JoeMac Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Pa Posts: 9	Fry pan....just kidding

06/11/2009, 03:53 PM	#14
produceb Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 61	hammer

06/11/2009, 04:08 PM	#15
birdz Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Fenton, MI Posts: 107	smash the fish, sounds gruesome but its absolutely instant

06/11/2009, 05:12 PM	#17
happyclam Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,012	I thought I'd add my 2 cents, even though this thread is done. Even though it would be traumatic for the person, I heard that passing a razor blade through the spinal column behind the head is instant & painless. In the freezer a fish either 1). suffocates to death (terrible death IMO) or 2). it's blood veins slowly freeze solid until it dies. I'm just a newbie though so this could be wrong, just my own opinion. I was just thinking that in real life I would hate to be stuck in a commercial freezer and slowly freeze to death. Hopefully that wasn't too morbid... maybe those will help lighten the mood.

06/11/2009, 05:27 PM	#18
jenglish Marquis de Carabas Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 2,523	THere is a whole thread on this in responsible reefkeeping or at least used to be. Clove oil is humane. The freezer is probably more stressful for the fish though technically probably painless. If you have the stomach for it a quick blow to the skull or cutting the spine with scissors is very fast. It is however a bit gruesome for the hobbyest. Sorry for you loss __________________ Jeremy Brown liquor never hurt anybody “Je n'ai pas besoin de cette hypothèse" Pierre-Simon Laplace I should want to cook him a simple meal, but I shouldn't want to cut into him, to tear the flesh, to wear the flesh, to be born unto new worlds where his flesh becomes my key. Current Tank Info: broken and dry

06/11/2009, 05:38 PM	#19
Macimage Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Quartz Hill Posts: 4,078	I am so sorry for your loss. It is very sad when a favorite fish passes. I bury them in my rose garden. Joyce

06/11/2009, 05:39 PM	#20
aoeBombcat Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Moved outside of the Big Apple! Posts: 230	Best and fast way is a smack to the head. Quick and Painless. Then in the freezer to finish the job. I also heard that putting them in Vodka will take care of them too. But it depends on the size of the fish. Don't want to use it on a 1 foot fish... You will be using alot of Vodka. __________________ Sushi is good, only if it is not my fish. RIP - Steve Irwin, My hero. You will always be remembered. Current Tank Info: 90 gal - Neon Tetra with hundreds of Cherry Shrimps

06/11/2009, 06:29 PM	#21
ReeferChick85 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 894	Aww I was just thinking about you're fish and how it was doing since the last thread you made about it and then I read this just now I'm so sorry about your fish. She was beautiful. It sucks losing something that means so much to you. I get that way to. Take care flyingfish. The abnoxious comments were lame.It's obvious by her thread that it was a big deal to her to find a humane way to let her fish die and the hammer method,frying pan jokes and whatever was said,was totally unnecessarry and very inconsiderate.

06/11/2009, 07:54 PM	#23
BangkokMatt Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Krung Thep Posts: 3,100	+2 - however, the hammer method is humane (if you get it right). It does need a strong stomach to do it though. OP - sorry for your loss. __________________ I've spent a lot of money on booze, women and fish. The rest I just squandered. Current Tank Info: 150g sps Reef (now FOWLR after a devastating crash due to chiller) , 2x400w MH (Icecap ballast, Lumenmax 2, Reeflux 12k SE), Deltec AP701, Grotech Tec III, Chiller, 2 x Tunze 6101, 1 x 6205 (+ m/c), bla bla

06/11/2009, 09:23 PM	#24
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	+3 not funny. Sorry for the loss. __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.