Poll: How do you dispose of your sick fish??

[Krish]

At some point in this hobby there will come a time where you will encounter a sick fish that has gone past the point where treating it is no longer an option. Only thing left to do is to put the fish out of his misery. As cruel as it may sound, it is something that has to be done to prevent the fish from suffering. It is an un-fortunate reality that we all have or will have to face at some point so how do you go about disposing of your sick fish?

On a side note, I can see the potential of this poll making a turn for the worse if some in-humane methods are discussed so I ask that we try not to get it to that point. I'd really hate to have to close a thread where the subject is something we all need to consider and be prepared for if the time ever arises so lets play nice!

 

[Krish]

In the meantime as we wait for the votes to come in, I thought I'd post up a supposedly really humane way of disposing of your fish where it doesn't suffer through the ordeal. I've quote the steps below and if you would like to read the original article you can find it here How to Kill a Sick Fish Humanely | eHow.com

•The first thing you must figure out is when it is necessary to kill a sick fish. If you have a sick fish that is lying on the gravel unable to move for more than 24 hours it is likely a good idea to euthanize it. If the fish has labored breathing or some other condition that it will not be able to recover from you may want to consider this humane way to kill a sick fish. Once you have decided to kill the sick fish you must gather your materials as quickly as possible.

•2
Fill the plastic container with room temperature water and place the sick fish into it using the net or your hand if the sick fish allows you to pick it up without much stress. In a separate smaller container add three or four drops of full strength clove oil to about a pint of water and mix. This mixture will be the initial dose that will start the process that will kill the sick fish. Clove oil can be found at health food stores or pharmacies and costs about six dollars for the purest kind. One bottle will likely last you a lifetime since you will hopefully not have the need to kill a sick fish often.

•3
Pour the clove oil and water mixture into the tank with the sick fish. After about thirty minutes the clove oil will slow down the fish's breathing and put it into a "sleep" state. At this point you can then add three or four more drops of clove oil directly into the tank that holds the sick fish. It will not kill the sick fish immediately but will instead continue to slow it down.

•4
Thirty minutes later add the final three or four drops of clove oil to the water with the sick fish in it. This last addition will eventually kill the sick fish but it will take anywhere up to an hour. The sick fish will slowly stop breathing and pass away peacefully and painlessly.

 

[Crack31]

Ice bath

 

[Krish]

Ice bath

So would you consider that freezer method?? I'll broaden that option for you.

 

[Crack31]

Probably the same thing. Just never really used the actual freezer.
Not sure if slowly lowering the temp is better than a quicker temp drop

 

[fulkerl]

I guess the flush method after a wait and watch period. I am always hopping that they will pull out of it, but when I get home they're on the bottem (crab bait) then I flushed it. Like some, I added fish too soon after starting my tank and had to flush. So knock on wood no more flushes in over a year, but I know the day will come when I'll flush again, but I will use clove oil first.

 

[Krish]

Probably the same thing. Just never really used the actual freezer.
Not sure if slowly lowering the temp is better than a quicker temp drop

Hmmm...I've read about many people doing the freezer method and claiming that the fish feels no pain and therefore claim it as a humane method. Some say it actually anesthetizes the fish and if I am understanding the method correctly, it would be considered a slow temp change as the water doesn't freeze instantly. Thinking of a drastic change on the otherhand, I'd imagine the drastic change would probably give the fish temperature shock which if the fish is already sick and weak might just "put it down" right away, but couldn't say for sure...

 

[Krish]

I guess the flush method after a wait and watch period. I am always hopping that they will pull out of it, but when I get home they're on the bottem (crab bait) then I flushed it. Like some, I added fish too soon after starting my tank and had to flush. So knock on wood no more flushes in over a year, but I know the day will come when I'll flush again, but I will use clove oil first.

Yea, that clove oil method seems pretty neat!

 

[NC2WA]

I use the freezer method and then use it for fertilizer for my roses and plants..great nature green way..

 

[user 26995]

I voted for Euthanizing. Clove oil process seems more humane on the fish and less stressful on me!

 

[trido]

I voted other because usually when a fish dies in my tank its pretty sudden. If memory serves correct, it always seems a fish is strugggling as Im walking out the door to work. They are always dead by the time I get home.

 

[Lbrewer34]

I haven't had time to go through a euthanizing process. It seems my crabs have a sixth sense to something struggling, and the fish end up as crab bait. This usually happens overnight, or while I am at work. I think I'll try the clove oil when the issue comes up again.

 

[DTECH07]

I had flushed my first two fish and it didnt feel right (thats me) so when my Clown fis were starting to go i watch and thought about what would happen to then in the wild. Considering the Bio load if there body's stayed in the tank to long i allowed them to slowly die in the tank. Well once the lights went off the "Cleaning Crew" went to work, tried to remove the (bad) part from the fish which led to there end, then the "Cleaning Crew" did what they would and should do took the body's and you can picture the rest. i believe this allowed a natural cycle to occure in my tank with benefits to enviroment, but if it didnt go this direction with the "Cleaning Crew" then I would have removed the fish and flushed them.

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Do fish die?

 

[returnofsid]

I've used clove oil and then severed the spinal column, with a sharp knife. I've also just severed the spinal column, quickly, with a sharp knife.

 

[Herefishyfishy]

I've used clove oil and then severed the spinal column, with a sharp knife. I've also just severed the spinal column, quickly, with a sharp knife.

Your reply didn't go real well with your new animated GIF avatar:fish::yuk:

 

[Faciosity]

I've never been to the point where I thought treatment was not an option. I care about my animals very much, and it would have to be a pretty sad site for me to consider giving up.

 

[Krish]

I've never been to the point where I thought treatment was not an option. I care about my animals very much, and it would have to be a pretty sad site for me to consider giving up.

I can imagine. So what happens in your case? Ever had a sick fish die on you? If so, would your vote then be "other" as you treat until it passes?

 

[Faciosity]

Yes I guess my answer would be "other" to try all known methods of obvious treatment, and hope for the best. I've lost a lot of freshwater fish over the years, but saved quite a few also. I've only lost 3 saltwater fish so far. A Scopas tang and a Chromis were killed by a coral banded shrimp, and my mandarin goby/dragonette was missing in action for a few days and was never seen again (I have a huge brittle star and a few peppermint shrimp, so any death would have to be noticed quickly or there would be no evidence.

 

[Krish]

Cool man...Freshwater fish I've lost tons as well, but can't seem re-collect at the moment losing a saltwater fish. Pretty odd.