Tayful

Clove oil or alcohol, never flushing. So many people just flush their fish but that doesn't kill them right away.

Peterpiper

Could people back the method that they say, or portray as good or best, with scientific fact or studies done when using the method mentioned, as some methods mentioned in this thread are not classed as a humane method to eythanize a fish, and I feel that some may take a post as fact when it is fiction..

sirdarksol

Unfortunately, there's very little funding for studies on what methods of death cause pain to fish, particularly smaller fish like what we keep in the aquarium. I think that's why the list we have floating around here somewhere lists a lot of things as "not humane", because the vets aren't sure about it.

Peterpiper

sirdarksol,
AVMA ( American Veterinary Medical Association ) released "Guidelines on Euthanasia", This paper was released on June 2007.
There is a section on Amphibians, Fish, and Reptiles. In this section Clove oil is mentioned.
Here's the link,

http://www.avma.org/issues/animal_we...euthanasia.pdf

sirdarksol

That's the file I'm talking about, I think (I can't read it right now. Adobe is acting up). If it is, the entry on clove oil is essentially "we can't say that this is humane because we aren't sure." The one that I read didn't say that it wasn't humane, just that, because there have been no studies, it would be unethical for them to say that their studies have shown that clove oil doesn't cause pain.
About the only thing that they've really been able to study is the use of anesthetic, because there is money in studying the anesthetic. Simply, certain people (namely koi owners) are willing to pay to have surgery done on their fish, and therefore, we need to find something that is an anesthetic. With nearly any general anesthetic, an overdose will simply continue to slow body processes until the being is dead, so it is a fair scientific statement that "OD of anesthetic is a humane death."

Setting all of this aside and returning to your request for scientific fact, it simply cannot be provided. 90% (or more) of what we say on this forum is not supported by properly documented scientific study because it's based on our own personal experience and most of us don't have time to set up a proper control tank, keep track of all variables, etc... I may disagree with some of these methods, but I suggest that anyone who is concerned with scientific method go with the file you've listed here (and that has been listed in a couple of other threads as well).

KyWildFish

I doubt its similar but the fastest way we ended Lab rats in college was the old french rev way, a mini Guillotine (modified cigar trimmer). It severs the brain stem and the rat just stops. Best way to do it humanely was to dope them up a little with something (usually alcohol) then do the deed. It wasnt pleasant but it was quick.

My slaughter classes taught me a few other methods for different animals if its any help. The first is for large bovines. The are bolted (knocked really fast in the head) which knocks them out, then exanguinated (bleed out). They really want to keep stress down in the meat industry so this has proven to be the most effective through many scientific studies. For poultry they hang the birds upside down and dip them into a conductive bath (usually salt water) then electrocute the out of them, enough to drop a grown man. This knocks them out (or kills instantly) then the bird is exanguinated.
I would find it difficult to bleed a fish to death, but some quick knock or shock method must exist that would make the actual killing method more humane (be it decapitation, bleeding, or freezing). I am just starting to learn about fish so I wouldnt know.
All that being said, almost all inverts do not feel pain. They have a primitive organ that is hardly a brain and move on reflex more than touch. I would say the boiling method would be the best for an invert.
Pardon any insensitivities, I am a Food Scientist and veiw things with that mind set. Ending any aminals life for any reason is not pleasant but a necessary fact of life. We do take the animal's well being into concideration in my industry as it both effects the product and has an obvious effect on people not involved in the industry. The ultimate goal of my post was to provide insight into other animals biology and methods developed for thier processing not to offend. I will look into the standard procedures in the fish/fish farming sectors and get back with what they do, it might be inhumane but still provide insight.

The EU has strict laws on the slaughter of animal, including fish. Unfortunately there hasnt been much in the development of fish slaught since these laws have been put into place but I did find some standards that have been suggested. Two methods are "precusive stunning" (stricking the fish in the head) and "electric stunning." Both methods are considered humane. I would not play with the electric method at home, it is hard to judge the proper current for the industry and the saftey consern should be very obvious. Knocking seems to be the best home method, followed by either bleeding or decapitation depending on the species of fish. The article I read did mention that other methods were NOT humane and I will quote it:

"Unacceptable methods

Some traditional methods of killing fish result in lengthy periods to loss of consciousness and may involve pain or distress. The methods include death in ice slurry, live chilling, gill cutting without stunning and carbon dioxide narcosis. The HSA recommends that alternative methods (eg percussive or electrical stunning) be used where available. The HSA support research on humane alternatives to traditional methods of killing fish."


http://www.hsa.org.uk/Information/Sl...0slaughter.htm


[/i]"

This is what I found from then food industry. Again I state that they are concerned with keeping stress as low as possible as it is very destructive to a meat product. I hope I have helped.

Chief_waterchanger

Interesting post, KYWildfish. You contributed something that is news to me and have done so in a very professional manner. I extend a congrats to you, even if the article disagrees with my method. It was informative.

Edit: I realize the post I am replying to is not as recent as usual, but it is worth the reply and bump, as it were.

Slug

I use "homemade" Clove oil and a knife or an OD of "homemade" Clove oil

Alasse

It sound horrid i know..

I put them in a bag and slam them really hard against a hard surface, its quick and to me quick means humane.

Sorry for the graphic mental image they may give some...i only do this if the fish is obviously suffering and has no hope of survival.

fishlover78

In my opinion NEVER freeze fish. when you put them in the freezer the blood vessels start to have ice crystals form on the inside of them, and the fishes heart can't pump the blood anywhere because the ice has formed. this method is extremely painful to the fish! the most humane way is to bag the fish up and slam it into a wall, it is quick and honestly, I would have a hard time sticking a live fish in a freezer. I may sound physco but the next best thing would be to take a wack at the head. NEVER saw back and forth with the knife. Just raise the knife and slam it down quickly. the sawing is also extremely painful for the fish. sorry if anyone finds any of this offensive but in my opinion either method is most humane.

capekate

Im not sorry to disagree with you on this terrible inhuman method of bagging a fish and slamming it against a wall!
I would not advocate such a method. The best humane method has been discussed in other threads and is found here in this thread as well.
you may want to read up on this link I am providing below.
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-...ize-a-fish.htm

soldieroffortune1974

fishlover78



You have got to be joking.

pinkfloydpuffer

I will stick by my homemade clove oil and rubbing alcohol method. Easy, quick, and non-violent, with household items.

TropicalGrimmish

i prefer to flush em thats if they fit in the toilet...

CHoffman

flushing is not the way to go...They do not die a fast painless death. They could suffer for a LONG time being poisoned by the toxic water.

capekate

That remark is very insensitive to many fish lovers. Some think that flushing the fish down the toilet is ok but it is very cruel and if you love your fish and are a good fishkeeper that is not the way to go.

TropicalGrimmish

all the ways are just as cruel. thats just my opinion !!!!!

CHoffman

You are entitled to your own opinion. ..But think of it terms of this..If you became ill and were suffering..Would you want someone to tie a rock to your leg and toss you in a lake for you to drowned slowly causing more suffering...OR..put you under anesthesia so your comfortable, not in pain and then do it..Again you can have your opinions..and we will all accept that..just make sure you have put allot of thought into it before you come to a conclusion.

soldieroffortune1974

Clove oil puts the fish to sleep,a little more,and they don't wake up.When the gill movement stops,the fish is gone. That's not cruel,when it's necessary to prevent a fish from suffering from either too serious of an injury or from a disease that's going to kill it slowly and painfully.

To me,the clove oil is the only humane way...........Then,that is just my opinion.

Emory

I voted other because I would use clove oil to anesthetize the poor thing and then decapitate it.


I was advised by a pet store to euthanize my betta "Kat Füd" by freezing with baking soda in the water. It was awful.

TropicalGrimmish

I did thank you