Sometimes our best efforts are just not enough. Sometimes the problem is one we cannot fix or sometimes things just go wrong and we don't know why. When the condition of a fish is such that its quality of life is diminished and the prospect of putting the fish through further treatment or otherwise attempting to prolong its life will only cause more suffering, it is time to consider euthanizing the fish.

Making the decision is difficult enough, but actually following through can be even tougher. One method that makes it easiest for you and the fish, but most importantly, the most humane method for the fish, is to use clove oil. Clove oil works as an anesthesia for fish and an overdose will put them to sleep for good. But that is the beauty of it, if there is such a thing. The fish just goes to sleep and never wakes up. Nice, quiet, easy, peaceful. From my own experience, I use clove oil alone. There are two options provided in the article below.

I am pasting the text from an article I found at wisegeek.com in case the article becomes unavailable or the link should otherwise fail. The direct url to the article is http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-most-h...nize-a-fish.htm. Here is the full text from the article. An author was not noted, but full credit goes to wisegeek.com, as far as I know.

What is the Most Humane Way to Euthanize a Fish?

"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."

Here is a link that was available on the page where the article above is posted and from which to buy clove oil. I am not necessarily recommending it, but I am posting it along with the article for convenience. I am certain there are other sources available to choose from online, as well as locally.

http://www.iherb.com/cloveoil1.html

Keeping in mind that everyone has a different opinion. Personally I feel that coldwater fish should be placed in their tank water in a plasctic bag and frozen in the freezer. They are used to survivng very cold temperatures and this also is a numbing process for this type of fish.
If done correctly, decapitation, or severing the spinal cord is quick and painless.
Smaller fish can be clubbed and feel no pain, it is instant.
Everyone has a different view and opinion on this subject. I think this is the taboo subject in the fish world. Just like politics and religion in ours.
I feel everyone should do what they feel most comfortable with in this situation.
I can think of only two horrible deaths, to leave it on a paper towel just to die, or flushing it down the toilet.

Nice follow-up jdizine. :up:

I think I read somewhere that cutting behind the head severing the spine is quick and humane way to do it. Not That I agree with it but that is what I read.

That sounds like a good method. this is what I do. Obviously this would not work for very large fish.

for very small fish, I have used the following method:

If the fish is ill beyond recovery or the fish is suffering immense pain:

get several paper towels and fold so that they are thick. carefully net the fish to minimize stress. Put fish on paper towel and immediately fold over and place on hard surface, use thumb or hard part of hand near wrist to apply pressure on the fishes head and neck until you feel its skull crush. The fish will be dead instantly and will not go through wondering what is happening as it is trapped in an unfamiliar container. Do not hesitate once the fish is out of the water. Make the decision to do this before removing the fish from the water. This has been very hard for me to do, but I know it is quick.

My eyes are tearing up just writing this, but I believe that it is one of the best methods for the fish.

Some people do this by stepping on the fish, but when stepping on the fish, you can't guarantee that the head will be crushed first. You do not want to hurt another part of the fishes body before the head as the fish will feel pain

You can wear a glove if it makes you feel better.

Sorry about the unregistered post guys. I didn't noticed I wasn't logged in. For larger fish I would use a gin-su or a miracle blade, those things rock. Some people just flush them down the toilet. I don't really agree with this practice either but like my brother said " at least the fish has better odds". :blink: :down:

From what I've read, freezing the fish isn't actually very humane...

I like this method best now, prior to reading about this, I did like the alka-seltzer method. I think this is a little more humane though... might try clove oil and alka-seltzer though. Well, not just to try it, but if the need ever arose.

I have been fortuneate enough to not have to put any fish down yet. The only fish I would have, died so quickly from it's disease that I didn't even have a chance to try treatment.

I heard of a sick way once when I was reading somewhere I can't find it now that I need to GRRR but it said "If you want a more humane and quick was to put your fish out of its misery start by grabbing the fish by the tail and slam its skull against a hard surface." :frown: :frown: I was really sad at reading it NEVER EVER DO THAT it sounds horrible and if you do it wrong it hurts the fish

:computer: I should have sent them a email..

That is what I do to blue fish and stripped bass when I'm fishing. LOL

:mellow: SEE? Everyone has read something some where, and some how.
That was the point! SM, seems to not like the freeze method, I don't like the paper towel and hand method. Catlover feels most comfortable with that method, if the brain is no longer then the fish feels no pain. Smacking a fish to the floor, I don't think there is any sure fire way way of knowing the fish is dead, others feel it is like throwing yourself off a tall story building. Come on, what are the chances?
C.C.: If done correctly, severing the spine is very accepted, like slitting your wrists, depends on whom you are talking with. I mentioned that.

Weird thought!? If you HAD to commit suicide, if you HAD to die?

how would you want to pick the way you die?
That is usually the way you would make it more comfortable for you.

I myself have never used any of the methods, my Biggest goldfish died, and I did not know why at the time. I now know more. I don't think he suffered long though. I just know what I did to help and then poof. He is in fish heaven.

Whatever means you take, if necessary, make SURE you are comfortable with the decision...

By the way, I saw an episode where the guy was a bad guy that bred saltwater, he left his home, and killed the whole big tank with bleach.
And that was just T.V. I have heard of worse, in real life.
At least WE care.... "AQUATOPIA!!!" "RULES!" (your opinions matter and will not be judged!) we listen here!