Fish Euthanasia... again...

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xEchOx

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Mar 2, 2006
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I've read numerous 'fish euthanasia' threads on various sites. I had previously been freezing my fish to death, but have read that it isn't humane, and that the fish actually suffer during the process. I don't know if that's true or not, but this time around I decided to do something different.

I've had some texas/convict hybrids that I threw into my 125g as feeders. They survived, and did very well in the 125. I am actually keeping one, as she has some nice colors IMO. The other two I euthanized last night. They were about 2-3 inches long.

I tried decapitation. I don't consider myself a 'wuss' when it comes to fish/deer/duck guts or filleting or field dressing at all. I've done it many times and it has never phased me in the slightest. But after cutting the head off the first little guy I definitely felt... like a mean bastard I guess... I don't know how to put it really. I know for certain that I could never do this to any of my larger fish (I've kept them all for over a year now).

Whats more... I have filleted many, many, many fish. In northern pike, walleye, and lmb, the heart of the fish is located directly in front of the pectoral fins. So even when you cut the head off, essentially the heart is still in circulation with the brain... I am absolutely positive that that would not result in a quick, painless death. It would be quite the opposite.

Did I just put my fish through the worst death possible?
 
Magma works quickly. :D
Nah...Clove oil is prolly best..
 
There is lots of info about this. Choose what is most comfortable for you.
Using a knife is supposed to be fast and painless but clearly this is not for you. Even if everyone says this is best, its clearly not for you. So is asking about it going to help YOU? I am not criticising, you do need to work out what your comfortable doing.

For me its a thick empty plastic bag and then a savage throw onto a concrete floor .... or clove oil for fish too big/heavy for me to throw.
 
i use the plastic bag method too. I don't tend to throw it but rather a hard hit against the wall 2-3 times in succession. I hate to think of them suffering so do it as fast and effectively as possible. I would say freezing is mean, obviously they are suffocating whilst freezing so it is quite prolonged. A lot of people say the clove oil method is best though.
 
I've never had to kill a fish (apart from hook and line fish) because of sickness or anything like that but if I did I would put the fish in a bucket of water, just enough to cover its body. I would then add 1:20 clove oil. 1 Part CO, 20 Parts water. Then I'd up the dose if need be.
 
well if there is nothing wrong with them why not take them to a lfs
 
true

i found the easyist method is a hard hit to the head or snap the spine .

but i would only do this to a sick fish
 
Nic;1066197; said:
well if there is nothing wrong with them why not take them to a lfs
Click to expand...

That is what I would normally do, but these two were Texas/Convict Hybrids. They could have been mistaken for convicts by any newcomer...
 
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