Proper way to cull a fish?
- Thread starter packer43064
- Start date
Freezing something results in ice crystals forming in the body before the animal dies, so it's a very painful death.
The quickest way to kill anything is to destroy the brain, either via very thorough blunt force trauma (smashing the skull) or skewering the braincase. It works for small animals like lizards and mice that have been badly wounded but not killed by cats, too. For badly hurt lizards, I place them under a paper towel and drop a brick on their head. It's very quick, they don't see it coming, and it puts them out of their misery.
For fish, clove oil is effective. It's a lot slower, but it's still humane. I've used it a couple of times, and the fish don't suffer- they just gradually go to sleep and then stop breathing. It's good for instances where a pet fish is suffering and needs to be put out of its misery, as it's a lot less gruesome than smashing it.
Crayfish are inverts and have little to no ability to feel pain. I'd suggest giving them to a LFS if possible, but if not, they make good fish food. Alternately, a hammer or knife to the brain will work, or you can use clove oil.
Honestly, I'd use a blunt or sharp object for crayfish. If you do that, they can be frozen for later use as fish food. Clove oil will probably render them unsafe to eat.
The quickest way to kill anything is to destroy the brain, either via very thorough blunt force trauma (smashing the skull) or skewering the braincase. It works for small animals like lizards and mice that have been badly wounded but not killed by cats, too. For badly hurt lizards, I place them under a paper towel and drop a brick on their head. It's very quick, they don't see it coming, and it puts them out of their misery.
For fish, clove oil is effective. It's a lot slower, but it's still humane. I've used it a couple of times, and the fish don't suffer- they just gradually go to sleep and then stop breathing. It's good for instances where a pet fish is suffering and needs to be put out of its misery, as it's a lot less gruesome than smashing it.
Crayfish are inverts and have little to no ability to feel pain. I'd suggest giving them to a LFS if possible, but if not, they make good fish food. Alternately, a hammer or knife to the brain will work, or you can use clove oil.
Honestly, I'd use a blunt or sharp object for crayfish. If you do that, they can be frozen for later use as fish food. Clove oil will probably render them unsafe to eat.
Last edited:
Thanks. Figured blunt force trauma to the brain would the quickest way to dispatch of a fish.
haha thank you Rocky!Whoa, glad to see you got help uploading your picture, welcome, I'm Rocky
use em for feeders, its part of the large circle of life. oh, I feel a Disney tune coming on!!
And you complain about girlfriend issues.Whoa, glad to see you got help uploading your picture, welcome, I'm Rocky
You have me mixed up with skj47, he's the one with all the exes.