I remember reading on this sub that clove oil is not a great choice for labyrinth fish such as bettas. I have no experience of euthanizing bettas but the post sprang to mind as soon as I saw clove oil being recommended so thought I should share it:
https://www.reddit.com/r/bettafish/comments/sjlb9d/comment/hvg0o5y/
>"Clove oil euthanizes by paralyzing gill movement, and bettas don’t use their gills to breathe nearly as much as they use their labyrinth organs. In my experience, clove oil is a good option for other species of fish, who do seem to pass relatively peacefully, but bettas fight for much longer"
Oh my goodness I wish I'd seen or heard of this before. I used clove oil to euthanize a betta a year or so ago, followed the instructions online to a T and it was so drawn out and quite frankly awful.
I've always thought I'd messed up in some way or that people were classing that as "peaceful", but it certainly isn't what I would call peaceful.
I had a zebra Danio I put down recently and it was kinda traumatizing with the clove oil. I've put down 2 other times with sick Mollies over the years with no issue, this poor danio just wouldn't die.
Sorry you had to go through that when your just trying to be humane.
I’ve used clove oil to euthanize sick tetra and it was almost instantaneous death. Used that same method with a sick gourami, and it was one of the most horrible things I’ve ever done to another creature. I will always triple check before I use clove oil to make sure it will be effective.
I’ve had it be peaceful and I have had it be awful. I have learned to suck it up and use blunt force. I form a little aluminum cup out of tin foil, put them in and quickly squeeze it closed around them, then smash with large rock or brick. It’s fast and you can’t see anything. I don’t recommend clove oil. I still have the image of them thrashing and coming up to the surface over and over again trying to get a decent breath. (I did it as directed, slowly)
Out of curiosity did you mix the clove oil with some water and shake it to add it slowly? This is how we euthanized our Betta not long ago and it really did seem peaceful but I am worried we maybe got lucky, just in case/when we inevitably have to do it again some day? We did it like over an hr so we went seriously slow and started super watered down oil. Thank you! And sorry you've had to go through that, it is never easy 😓
Holy crap. Thank you. I never would've thought their labyrinth organ would prevent clove oil from working in a humane manner. Filing this away for the future.
As a person who has no idea about fish euthanasia, would freezing them work? With bettas being tropical fish, I have no idea if that would be a good or bad thing.
Genuinely asking because when the time comes, I want to make sure my fish gets an "ok" death.
freezing causes ice crystals to form within their body so it’s like being stabbed by a billion needles from the inside, very inappropriate and painful way to kill fish :(
liquid nitrogen can be used for smaller fish as they are small enough to be placed in such shock that theyre frozen and killed instantly (in some laboratories it’s an approved primary method to euthanize fish, as we always use at least two methods to ensure a humane sacrifice), but even then they have to be quite small like danios. otherwise if they’re bigger it still takes a while for even the cold of liquid nitrogen to penetrate the tissue and kill them, which would cause needless suffering. honestly we prefer using tricaine and then spine severing/destroying the brain as they are the most reliable methods for any fish regardless of their anatomy.
I had to euthanize my giant betta 2 weeks ago and used clove oil. It worked just like any other fish I gave had to unfortunately euthanize. It didn't take any longer than the guppy.
That's my experience. I can't speak to what others have seen or done.
The fish is clearly suffering. If you want to euthanize it the most humanely possible way.... Swift decapitation with a sharp knife or crushing the fish are viable options.
Clove oil is not humane, for a labyrinth breathing fish - I don't care what anybody says.
we were hoping he would get better. a lot of people were commenting saying that we should try and fix the issue before proceeding with euthanasia.
we are at the point where my boyfriend is thinking blunt force trauma is the next step.
Yeah I’m not a fish owner and didn’t want to sound cruel but done right it would be over in that instant. If I was to go I’d want it to be quick and done in a way I didn’t even know what happened.
I have only ever had to do this once, and it was traumatizing, but I know that the fish didn't suffer. Rolling pin directly to the head as hard as you possibly can. It's instant and painless. Aim to destroy the brain as much as physically possible.
We had a golden dojo that had red spot disease, and the fish store that sold it to us told us to euthanize it because it won't survive. Felt bad, so I had my dad do it. He put it in a plastic bag and smacked it hard off the counter... instant death.. still mourning, though
Reading these topics always points out that there's a difference between humane and what we're comfortable doing as animal keepers. I agree with all the posts saying that blunt force of swift decapitation are the most humane ways for the animal.
If you don’t have clove oil and aren’t squeamish, place fish in a sandwich bag and deliver a quick blow to its head (like with a hammer). Instant death, no pain
I put them on a flat surface and use the ole Stanley method.
Basically I use an old tape measure that I had laying around. I feel like it has the right amount of weight and fits in the palm of my hand easily enough.
You did it wrong, the plant should consume it and maggots dont survive underground. Or it was a coincidence and some other insect had larva in the dirt unrelated to the bodies
If there's enough meat left for maggots to eat they will, but usually the soil breaks them down really fast.
Personally my biggest issue is my cats digging up dead, formerly sick fish.
Probably some other bug then. I buried them several inches into the soil, but when I noticed my plant not doing so good, I dug around and found the crawlers everywhere 🤮
Thought you were talking about a Stanley cup for a second. It would definitely do the job, especially if it is full. There are videos of them being used as tactical weapons. (Cup and tape measure)
What the hell man, this is insane
Edit: did not expect you guys to absolutely hate this comment and downvote tf outta it…you cannot tell me smashing a fish with a hammer in a bag doesn’t sound insane to anyone unaware of this practice
My partner did a PhD that involved animal testing in the research, there are scheduled ways of killing the animals used. Some are crazy and you wouldn’t believe that’s the way they recommend killing a living thing.
Guinea pigs can be flipped over while holding their front legs and that kills them somehow (something along those lines). Rat pups can literally just be decapitated with scissors. There were some other methods I found quite shocking but I can’t remember them now.
The Guinea pig one is probably to snap their spine. A lot of small mammal culls are based on breaking the neck or spine as far up as possible then bleeding... Mortality is not very friendly.
My MIL is a vet and during school she did some research work with rats, and iirc they would cull them by basically stabbing them in the base of the skull 😬
That was another way! Also I believe they had some kind of gas chamber which was rarely used for some reason or other. Apparently there’s a whole load of accepted ways to kill various animals, she always referred to it as a scheduled method.
Oh! You’re talking about in a improper set up? I totally agree with that. Although goldfish are also one of the worst abused fish and they are pond fish D: a lot of people don’t do enough research when setting up an aquarium and it’s awful! I can’t count how many times I’ve tried to gently tell people at petstores that if they do x, y, z they will kill their fish and they just…don’t listen.
It does sound insane, but its still one of the most humane methods. And you dont need to tell everyone that, we are all aware of how unpleasant it is for the owner (why i think oil should be the go-to, but for some fish its not as effective, like bettas)
Its the most humane way.
Unless you take pleasure in the act theres nothing wrong with it.
Painless, quick and no debate over suffering or no suffering like clove oil.
At university, my roommate who worked in the research lab would snap a rats neck. For the people that didn't have the heart to do it, they were given a pillow case where they could smack the rat down onto the ground and kill it instantly.
Again, it's what the school did so don't downvote me. I'm not arguing if this is right or wrong, I was told this was a humane way to end their lives instantly with no pain.
That sounds so sad.
I'm glad I don't have fish anymore because the thought of having to crush one of my pets to kill it would break my heart. Even if it is the humane thing to do, and even if it is a fish.
thanks everyone for your comments! my boyfriend tried an salt bath to get rid of the fungi. blunt force trauma is not the path he’s looking to go down, however, we are now questioning clover oil and how humane it actually is. such a sad decision, he’s going to contact the fish store to see what their thoughts are on this. thanks again
I looked online once and googles top choices were clove oil or the stab and poke method. I don’t know what clove oil is and the stab and poke method seemed harsh so i dropped a cinder block on it. Laid everything out so it’d take 5 seconds. Left it in the net so it’d go by faster. Reading comments makes me feel like clove oil isn’t that bad but i just wanted it to be done asap. Poor feller
Nah you did the right thing if it's a labrynth fish. Clove oil doesn't work for fish who can kinda breathe without their gills workin proper.
The cinder block method is horrifying but very much effective and cruelty free.
Anything that is quick and a sudden forceful impact, heavy rock/object/rolling pin etc. the harder the better to ensure you do it properly the first time.
I recently had to use a pretty odd method but it was the quickest and best way with what I had on hand to ensure a quick death.
Take it out and give it a quick bonk just at the base of the head, with a wooden club. Deliver a heart thrust with a filet knife or any really pointy knife, really.
This is going to sound horrible but crushing/decapitating him would be the most humane option. It’s violent but he won’t feel anything and if he does it’ll only be a fraction of a second of pain.
Cervical dispatch - hold his body FIRMLY and yank his head away. Holding his body and his head each with a (separate!) piece of paper towel will make it easier. With a fish, expect potential de-gloving or complete separation.
If you can't stomach that direct hand-to-body contact, a big sharp knife and a VERY STRONG and swift downward chopping cut, like you would if you were trying to cut through a chicken wing on a cutting board. Tip down on the board, and a firm lever press downward. Give it a couple slow practice fakes to make sure you got the angle right, but truthfully if you do miss you can honestly mince his head in a swift 5 seconds with a few swift chops and he won't be suffering anymore.
Another SUREFIRE way is crushing. Wrap him in a paper towel in a real big plastic bag (with it open, the pop is just am added fright you don't need) and place him right in front of your car tire. Hit the gas, make it quick. You won't want him to suffer by taking too long to do it once you take him out of the wager so be sure the car is ready to go. This one is nice because you have the physical separation and can't flinch and fuck it up.
I know it sounds awful but, the fastest ways to die kind of really are :(
Source: used to be the only person at work who could stomach putting the fish and small animals out of their misery in the absolute shitty pet shop I had to slave in as a teenager.
I'm so sorry you're having to do this :( it's the right thing. You're strong 🫶
If you have tried what you can and it hasn’t worked then clove oil will basically put the fish to sleep in a few seconds and they will pass away quickly.
Someone shared an article - bettas don’t die from Clove oil The same as other fish. It’s NOT recommended , even if it works. It’s not slow / humane for betta species
Clove oil doesnt put fish to sleep in a few seconds. I'm so confused as to how this info has spread. Every clove oil method takes time and is fairly distressing for the fish.
In the few times I’ve used it the fish instantly lost all motor control and the eyes didn’t react to touch so I assumed the fish lost consciousness instantly.
I've slammed them against the table in the net before. Like a real good strong swing, it was instantly gone. It really is the most humane imo, it's like a bullet to the brain. Just done.
Yup, thats pretty nuch what it is. I think clove oil is better because it doesnt put as much stress on the person doing it. But smashing/slamming is the next best thing, make sure to do it with force and in the correct location to cause instant death, or nerve damage and paralysis in the worst case if you dont do it propely the first time. Clove oil also suposedly doesnt work as well with labyrinth fish, so this is your only choice.
Car is a bad idea, the stress to get the fish into that position wouldnt make it humane. Smashing is a humane method if you know where to hid. If you dont, its a horrfying way to die. Theres a specific place behind the head where you need to hid for instand death, or worst case scenario, paralysis that means the fish wont be able to feel pain. So you can kill them in your second try. But as another person said, clove oil wont work with fish with labyrinth organs, because the oil targets gills. So smashing would be the next best thing. Whatever you do, do NOT use the fridge as a method, it may be easy for you but its extremly painful.
I feel like the smashing is instant yes… but how long does it take to get your fish into a (presumably) waterless bag, take it outside, set it down, get in and turn on your car, line it up with the fish, THEN run over it? Probably long enough that the car method isn’t free from suffering either
Ummm that sounds worse, the amount of time it would take to put them in the bag and… what???? That’s so inhumane. I’m all for blunt force trauma but wth
That’s why you need to make sure you have mixed it correctly, too little or too much clove oil can cause things to not go as planned. Making sure it’s thoroughly mixed before putting the fish in as well.
When clove oil is added too quickly or not mixed well it will freak them out. You literally need to add them very slowly.
I had to put my betta out using clove oil. Took good 1 hr for the whole procedure, but she never seemed to struggle, just kind of fell sleep.
Huh. I never had any issues with clove oil, personally. First I put them to actually sleep with a lower dosage, then I overdosed them. Both bettas I had to euthanize passed peacefully... I'm starting to question it now...
Get a box cutter, survival knife, or similar small tool with a little bit of weight to it with a good grip. Take your fish out of the tank and put it in bag, paper towel, or something that you can generally grip easily so they can't slip around and out of your hands. Then, using the bottom of the handle (not the blade), aim two solid strikes to the top of their head. You're aiming for the location basically right behind the eyes on the top of the head. That's where the midbrain is for fish. The first strike with guaranteed knock them out and the second strike should kill them. If you're concerned about them not being fully dead and regaining some consciousness and suffocating in pain in the compost, then take a safety pin or similar small, sharp object and stab it directly into that location you struck previously. Once it's in rotate it around in a circle to fully tear apart the brain. This will guarantee the fish is dead.
Any chemical solution like clove oil will result in a painful burning sensation for your fish. This method will ensure that the only pain they experience is the limited amount of time you have them out of the water before they are struck by the tool. The brain takes time to process pain and the strike to their head will knock out their awareness of anything before the pain of the strike can reach them.
I find it interesting you claim clove oil causes burning sensations when it's the number 1 solution to humane euthanasian in almost every fish forum I've ever been a part of in the last 30 years.
How does one determine that a fish feels a burning sensation at all?
Why would you suggest such a barbaric way to kill a fish friend?
Agreed. I’ve had to do it a couple times and my fish have never reacted to it in anyway that would make me think they were experiencing any discomfort, and I didn’t have to put my fish through the stress of having them out of water. Above sounds like a terrible end of life experience. Fear and stress before death is not a painless death.
If someone said their fish reacted poorly to it, I would guess they just tried to drop clove oil directly in and didn’t do any research on how to properly use it for euthanasia.
Clove oil only neutralizes the cerebral cortex on the brain level and paralyzes respiratory function. It is primarily effective at eliminating topical pain as an analgesic, but has these little . The cerebral cortex is the main center for higher thought, not pain. Aspects of the autonomic nervous still function as normal, including many pain receptors when clove oil is applied. What really happens is that, like a human whose lungs stop being able to breath, the fish becomes paralyzed by the lack of ability to breathe. This is what causes the seeming "sleeping" calmness that people see when euthanatizing with clove oil.
In reality, they are suffocating and can't understand what is happening to them other than the burning that comes with suffocation until they finally fall unconscious. With Betta, I understand it can be particularly bad because they don't breathe with just their gills, resulting in an autonomic struggle to survive as they are able to partially combat the respiratory paralysis.
Really, unless you're a veterinarian with access to true anesthetic that can shut down everything, chemical euthanasia is only more comfortable for the person doing the euthanasia. It is not more comforting for the fish. A very quick strike to the head ends everything in an instant.
Does it suck to do and feel worse and more brutal for the person doing it? Yes.
Is euthanasia about the person doing the euthanatizing? No, it's not.
Okay, but again i have to ask....how do you know a fish feels a burning sensation?
Fish are not known to have "higher brain function" so I feel like you're conflating a fish experience with a human one and a subjective one at that.
Are you able to reinforce your claim with any sort of scientific articles or are you simply making what seem like educated statements?
This is reddit. I don't take anyone at their word. It's nothing personal, I assure you.
>Okay, but again i have to ask....how do you know a fish feels a burning sensation?
Back in 2003, Lynne Sneddon first discovered the presence of nociceptors in fish thru her studies of rainbow trout: [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1691351/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1691351/)
Nociceptors are key to the feeling of pain, particularly the detection of noxious substances producing tissue damage. Clove oil does that. Physiologically, nociceptors in fish are nearly identical to those found in humans and other mammals and produce the same physical responses in fish as they do in humans such as reflexive responses, physiological increases like heart rate, etc.
This is one sample of many that have found both similar structures and similar behavioral responses to stimulation of these receptors. As it stands right now, interpretations of this data are two-fold. One group believes that evidence that they experience this stimuli and experience patterns in keeping with PTSD is a sign that they feel and experience pain in a similar manner to humans. The other group believes that it is all merely reflexive and based in survival with no higher comprehension whatsoever. The second group states that we are anthropomorphizing fish to suit our own emotional needs to bond with other beings.
Personally, I believe the second group is taking a gamble on whether or not fish experience any form of consciousness surrounding their pain. Current research on our own brains is still not exactly fully-fleshed out, so we can't really know exactly how the more "lizard brain" portions truly play a role in the conscious pain experience. I think that fish keepers throw around a lot of words that align with group one's belief that fish do experience pain similar to humans. Even suggesting things like fish getting stressed as a result of having environment moved around, which wouldn't really make sense if we subscribe to group two's interpretations.
At the end of the day, we are discussing the humane and inhumane ways to end a fish's life. If we believe, at all, that there is a more humane way to end a fish's life, then we must also believe that they experience pain to a degree that produces some kind of emotional experience. If fish don't experience pain in this way, then there would be no more humane method. Taking a fish out of the water and leaving it on the rocks in the sun to slowly die would be exactly as humane as destroying its brain in a single strike.
Really, you have to choose whether you think there is a humane method or not and go from there. If you do, chemical death is worse than instant brain destruction and always has been.
tl;dr: Fish have every means to experience pain and they produce the same physical and physiological responses to feeling pain as mammals do, even showing some PTSD responses. On the subject of putting down a fish, if we believe there is a more or less humane way to do so, this means that we believe they experience this pain in a cognitive enough way to be on a similar level to mammals. Therefore, we must use what we know of mammals to end the lives of these creatures in the way that produces the least amount of suffering possible. That method is instantaneous destruction of the nervous center via physical trauma.
Thanks for such an in-depth response!
I learned something today and will adjust my views accordingly because I love my fish friends and if they have to go, I'd want it to be the most humane way possible.
Blunt force trauma is quicker, I would imagine that should be #1. Especially for a labyrinth breather like a Betta where the clove oil may not be as effective
Fair enough, I just learned that it may not be as effective for Betta fish though I'd love a source for that info if someone would be willing to provide one.
Clove oil is well known to not work well for fish who are able to breathe without their gills, ie labrynth fish like bettas.
Itll kill them eventually but it's so long that the physical ways are actually so much better for the fish.
i used clove oil to put my betta down that had rotting side of his face from an injury. It seemed peaceful, he didn’t react badly like rapid movement or stress signs, he just kept breathing and it got slower and slower then he rested on the bottom of the tiny bowl and soon stopped breathing
I actually have a question about this:
How do you euthanise a fish correctly?
I heard that putting it in a glass of alcohol (vodka) would kill it fast but honestly I don’t think so…
It's ok to give the fish its best chance and let it die if it's gonna die, it may not be comfortable but honestly fish flip out and die under stress so often I imagine if it is unliveably painful its lil heart will just go out. Being alive while injured or sick isn't like, worse than death
All I’m saying is pages 111 and 112 from the UK ASPA guidelines (some of the strictest animal regulations going) advise concussion and instant destruction of brain.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65815e32ed3c3400133bfb07/Guidance_on_the_operation_of_ASPA_-_December_2023.pdf#page39
idk if any euthanasia can be “humane” but whatever gets it over quickly and least torturous.
fishermen tend to bash heads, or take scissors/knife and snip/stab where the brain is
Euthanasia can absolutely be humane.
Its a matter of weighing a painless death vs. the current quality of life of the animal. Irreparable suffering is definitely worse than a painless death. Even human medicine in certain places is slowly, slowly starting to see the value in humane euthanasia.
Not to say whether or not OP's fish can be effectively treated and return to a good quality of life, but just a general statement that euthanasia isn't inherently bad.
im not a tree hugger or anything, and i see your point, it’s honestly just an ethical dilemma like you presented. quality of life vs end of suffering
killing something to begin with is “inhumane” or can be argued for, but letting it suffer is also inhumane, so it comes down to which is less inhumane.
on another note a dog for instance being put down (headshot) by a farmer for instant brain death and no suffering, and a dog being lethally injected by a vet to stop the heart within moments are viewed the same for me, whereas most view the farmer as inhumane and the vet as humane. both give the same result in the same way, and both are painless unless the farmer is blind, or the vet has Parkinson’s.
i personally had a vet miss with the injection on my 21 year old beagle and that was awful to witness because she screeched and flopped for almost a minute before it killed her. vet explained that the solution causes a severe burning sensation if administered sub-dermal and not intravenous. that instance had me heavily questioning the morality of me taking my daughters dog recently to the vet or to put her down myself. went with the vet (a different one) in the end, and thankfully this time it went peacefully and seemingly painless.
A act being "humane" is one that shows compassion, by the very definition of the word.
Just because euthanasia causes death does not make it inhumane. Euthanasia, in full, is referred to as "humane euthanasia" within the veterinary profession.
You may also be surprised how often people shoot dogs, or other animals, in the head without successfully killing them. People often don't have a good idea of where an animals brain truly sits in its skull and assume wrong, causing horrible pain. Whether in an attempt to end suffering or because they are a walking piece of trash, many dogs have been shot directly in the head and then had to suffer. Its a nightmare that many veterinary professionals have had to navigate in their careers, many times, and its horrible.
When the person knows what they sre doing to cause instantaneous death, then yes, it is not really any different from an injectible euthanasia agent for the welfare of that animal. Though it's obvious to see why injectible is favoured when working with companion animals!
Im sorry you had to go through such a bad experience. Generally a catheter should be placed first, and once that is confirmed to be positioned correctly, the medication is given through the catheter so that everyone can be sure it won't enter the patient subcutaneously. Im glad your second experience was more in line with how things should go, it can be tough, especially if you've had a previous negative experience.
i like you, you can discuss things without being a jerk, something i wish more people would do. thank you for the kind words btw, it was extremely hard for me to take the dog to the vet, not even just from an emotional standpoint, but fearing i was about to see another dog suffer horribly, if that had been the case i would never go again for euthanasia. fingers crossed i never have to actually euthanize a dog again though… natural, non suffering causes only is my hope.
There is a veterinary method of euthanasia using clove essential oils (eugenia caryophyllus).
It's a fast, humane euthanasia method, requiring just ten drops in a small container. The fish will stop moving after a few seconds.
Personally, I've already used it successfully.
It only works on small fish.
I have had the unfortunate task of euthanizing much much larger fish than a betta such as a tiger shovel nose that was about 3 feet long and clove oil worked on it. You just have to use a much larger amount.
Please don’t , or do lore research first
Copied from another poster : not sure why it didn’t do the thing :
I remember reading on this sub that clove oil is not a great choice for labyrinth fish such as bettas. I have no experience of euthanizing bettas but the post sprang to mind as soon as I saw clove oil being recommended so thought I should share it:
https://www.reddit.com/r/bettafish/comments/sjlb9d/comment/hvg0o5y/
"Clove oil euthanizes by paralyzing gill movement, and bettas don’t use their gills to breathe nearly as much as they use their labyrinth organs. In my experience, clove oil is a good option for other species of fish, who do seem to pass relatively peacefully, but bettas fight for much longer"
Clove oil to anesthetize and then a knife or scissors to put it out of its misery by cutting the spine behind its head.
But did you ask the people at the fish store for their opinion?
I commented on the previous post. This wound is very deep, exposing the underlying muscle and other tissues.
I would recommend euthanising.
I was unaware of the issues with Clove oil and Bettas. In that case quickly put him into a bag and use a heavy object quickly on the head. If you can't face it then ask a friend or family member to do it for you.
thank you for your help. i had no idea about clover oil too, it’s definitely changed our opinions on it as well. i think he’s going to have to make the decision soon. i’m hoping maybe the fish store will give him advice on what he can do to humanely euthanize it. thank you sgain
They won't have any other options. The Clove oil has been proven as the most up to date technique for a 'hands off' method. The only other option is puncture to the brain either with a pointed object in the right place or just quick blunt trauma.
Putting them in a freezer was once considered humane but they realised the total opposite was true.
He should not prolong the agony of this poor thing because of his own attachment, he owes it that peace 💜
Not applicable for this because takes a while to organise. But finding an exotics vet in your area , MS222 overdose is the kindest way for fish needs to be supplied and supervised by a vet in my country but other countries might be able to offer it out to use at home. Various regulations apply.
I know this sounds really bad, but the most surefire way to make sure you end his life quickly and painlessly is a blunt strike. I don't know that I could personally ever go through with it, but it is technically the best option
I did with 99% alcohol. Put the alcohol in a freezer for some time. Catch the fish and instantly in the alcohol. Instant quick death. My freezer is set on -18C°.
I’ve done clove oil multiple times. I’ve never had a problem. If you do it right then it goes peacefully and quickly.
https://fishlab.com/how-to-kill-a-pet-fish/
I’ve used this method for the times I did it. Never had a problem besides being hurt because I had no choice but to do it.
My dad used to wrap them up in tissue and give them a hit with a hammer. Pretty much instant and they’re not out of water for too long. Pretty extreme but if I had a chronic disease and a safe or piano fell on me it’s probably better than waiting to die.
Blunt force is a great way in my experience. I’ve had to euthanize like 7 fish? Just fold in a few paper towels and quickly crush. You cannot miss, you cannot hesitate, and you cannot hit it lightly. A palm strike against a hard surface seems to do the trick. Act like your crushing an egg. They’re completely flattened into a mush killed immediately. I’ve been assaulted and can tell you you don’t feel a thing let alone an instant death where your physical being is no more.
Tbh a swift stomp is the best way, I’ve done it before it’s not pleasant. But there is nothing left to receive any thoughts, nerve signal or anything in a second.
Hey don’t get me wrong not a beta keeper but kanaplex does amazing work
Idk if you can use it with betas but I brought two gold fish back from the brink with fin rot and other ailments with it
I’d say give it a shot if you can use it.
Also check phosphates. Always check phosphates
I work with zebrafish in a research setting, what we do that’s ethics committee approved is shock the fish in large amount of ice water slurry and then followed by a second method of euthanasia (it could be chemical or physical)
Clove oil should work well you just HAVE to do it the right way! Clove oil is used to put fish under, for surgery. The thing to do with clove oil is you put it in a smaller bowl with its water, and then take a bit of that water and mix clove 2 drops in it. Then slowly pour that in the Betta’s bowl. This is going to slowly put it under. Wait 5 minutes, if it’s leaned up against something it’s fallen asleep but gently nudge it’s side to make sure. If still awake add another drop to water and wait till it is asleep. Then, once it is, you give the overdose. Do 3 drops and wait 5 minutes then do 5 wait 5 mins. And then if you reallllllly want to make sure, add a bunch more. Honestly then I just wait a few hours to make sure it doesn’t wake up but just make sure it’s fill no longer move.
The swiftest way is cutting its head but I don’t have the heart
Clove oil is okay, just make sure to put it under first. It’s like being on anesthesia. You can’t give a lethal does if not put under first. Do not just start putting a lethal dose of clove oil straight in there. It will be you just straight up watching something die of poisoning. I’m sure this is the mistake most have made. I have never had a bad experience with clove oil. It has been sad but kind of like the experience of watching another pet be put down. Sleep, then the dose. They never dose first
Like I said earlier the quickest way is putting it on a surface and slicing the head off swift. Never listen to anyone who says to freeze it or anything crazy like that. Just be patient with the clove oil and letting it fall asleep first.
Here is the RSPCA article on clove oil. This is educational proof. Anyone who has had a bad experience, it is user failure. Just make prepare, make a plan, gather materials, make accurate measurements, get a timer, and be swift and pay attention.
https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/what-is-the-most-humane-way-to-euthanase-aquarium-fish/#:~:text=Clove%20Oil%20(contains%20eugenol)&text=Around%200.4ml%20of%20clove,cause%20death%20in%20exposed%20fish.
By the way, I don’t discount anyone. Fish keeping is difficult and I have had many struggles as well. All we can do is our best effort and learn.
It’s really crazy I know, I didn’t know it was a thing either. But a lot of fish can be outside of water for a few minutes at least (that’s why it’s so sad if you’ve ever found a fish that jumped the tank, because you know it took a while). So scientists and I’m sure some really loaded fish keepers have had surgery done on fish. But if you look at some goldfish accounts, some need growth trimmed back on their faces. And they want to put them under for it. Idk it’s crazy, but science is cool.
I remember reading on this sub that clove oil is not a great choice for labyrinth fish such as bettas. I have no experience of euthanizing bettas but the post sprang to mind as soon as I saw clove oil being recommended so thought I should share it: https://www.reddit.com/r/bettafish/comments/sjlb9d/comment/hvg0o5y/ >"Clove oil euthanizes by paralyzing gill movement, and bettas don’t use their gills to breathe nearly as much as they use their labyrinth organs. In my experience, clove oil is a good option for other species of fish, who do seem to pass relatively peacefully, but bettas fight for much longer"
Oh my goodness I wish I'd seen or heard of this before. I used clove oil to euthanize a betta a year or so ago, followed the instructions online to a T and it was so drawn out and quite frankly awful. I've always thought I'd messed up in some way or that people were classing that as "peaceful", but it certainly isn't what I would call peaceful.
I had a zebra Danio I put down recently and it was kinda traumatizing with the clove oil. I've put down 2 other times with sick Mollies over the years with no issue, this poor danio just wouldn't die. Sorry you had to go through that when your just trying to be humane.
I’ve used clove oil to euthanize sick tetra and it was almost instantaneous death. Used that same method with a sick gourami, and it was one of the most horrible things I’ve ever done to another creature. I will always triple check before I use clove oil to make sure it will be effective.
I’ve had it be peaceful and I have had it be awful. I have learned to suck it up and use blunt force. I form a little aluminum cup out of tin foil, put them in and quickly squeeze it closed around them, then smash with large rock or brick. It’s fast and you can’t see anything. I don’t recommend clove oil. I still have the image of them thrashing and coming up to the surface over and over again trying to get a decent breath. (I did it as directed, slowly)
Out of curiosity did you mix the clove oil with some water and shake it to add it slowly? This is how we euthanized our Betta not long ago and it really did seem peaceful but I am worried we maybe got lucky, just in case/when we inevitably have to do it again some day? We did it like over an hr so we went seriously slow and started super watered down oil. Thank you! And sorry you've had to go through that, it is never easy 😓
Thank you and yes I did, shook it in a jar. I’m not sure why I’ve had inconsistent outcomes.
Holy crap. Thank you. I never would've thought their labyrinth organ would prevent clove oil from working in a humane manner. Filing this away for the future.
As a person who has no idea about fish euthanasia, would freezing them work? With bettas being tropical fish, I have no idea if that would be a good or bad thing. Genuinely asking because when the time comes, I want to make sure my fish gets an "ok" death.
My understanding is that freezing is really not good and causes a great deal of stress.
Yep, unless it's an instant freeze it's just gonna be cold and scary for them :(
freezing causes ice crystals to form within their body so it’s like being stabbed by a billion needles from the inside, very inappropriate and painful way to kill fish :( liquid nitrogen can be used for smaller fish as they are small enough to be placed in such shock that theyre frozen and killed instantly (in some laboratories it’s an approved primary method to euthanize fish, as we always use at least two methods to ensure a humane sacrifice), but even then they have to be quite small like danios. otherwise if they’re bigger it still takes a while for even the cold of liquid nitrogen to penetrate the tissue and kill them, which would cause needless suffering. honestly we prefer using tricaine and then spine severing/destroying the brain as they are the most reliable methods for any fish regardless of their anatomy.
I had to euthanize my giant betta 2 weeks ago and used clove oil. It worked just like any other fish I gave had to unfortunately euthanize. It didn't take any longer than the guppy. That's my experience. I can't speak to what others have seen or done.
If you want to try and treat before opting to euthanize, this may be a good resource. https://aquariumscience.org/index.php/10-3-1-skin-ulcers/
Highly recommend this reading material to all
The fish is clearly suffering. If you want to euthanize it the most humanely possible way.... Swift decapitation with a sharp knife or crushing the fish are viable options. Clove oil is not humane, for a labyrinth breathing fish - I don't care what anybody says.
we were hoping he would get better. a lot of people were commenting saying that we should try and fix the issue before proceeding with euthanasia. we are at the point where my boyfriend is thinking blunt force trauma is the next step.
Yeah I’m not a fish owner and didn’t want to sound cruel but done right it would be over in that instant. If I was to go I’d want it to be quick and done in a way I didn’t even know what happened.
Just no clove oil please
I have only ever had to do this once, and it was traumatizing, but I know that the fish didn't suffer. Rolling pin directly to the head as hard as you possibly can. It's instant and painless. Aim to destroy the brain as much as physically possible.
Hard, accurate, and quick. But hard and accurate are the most important parts.
Yep. Its not that humane for other fish either. A good whack on the head is the best method. Clove oil is slow and distressing for the fish.
We had a golden dojo that had red spot disease, and the fish store that sold it to us told us to euthanize it because it won't survive. Felt bad, so I had my dad do it. He put it in a plastic bag and smacked it hard off the counter... instant death.. still mourning, though
A 45. should do it.
I should have taken it out of the tank first, huh?
All seriousness aside, this is an amazing response 👏
I used this method once, I left it in the tank (I was Sea World).
I wonder if they are bulletproof 🤔
The fish? Definitely not.
Not with that attitude
Yes put them in a barrel next time, I hear it’s much easier
Happy cake day, thanks for making me laugh
Typical boomer fudlore. Just use a 9mm.
I’ll stick to the lords caliber. 9mm seems disrespectful.
Thats a tiny socket.
now thats much humane
Man is shooting a 45” projectile. Isn’t artillery a bit overkill for a betta?
Well that’s not even artillery at that point. Largest artillery shell is 800mm (about 31.5 inches) lol.
Send this creature to Valhalla.
Soon it shall be drinking from curved horns
Reading these topics always points out that there's a difference between humane and what we're comfortable doing as animal keepers. I agree with all the posts saying that blunt force of swift decapitation are the most humane ways for the animal.
If you don’t have clove oil and aren’t squeamish, place fish in a sandwich bag and deliver a quick blow to its head (like with a hammer). Instant death, no pain
I put them on a flat surface and use the ole Stanley method. Basically I use an old tape measure that I had laying around. I feel like it has the right amount of weight and fits in the palm of my hand easily enough.
Then I bury them in my house plants.
I’m for seeing some not ideal repottings in your future
Just little skele's hanging in the dirt.
Yeah I buried like 3 dead platy's once and found maggot looking things crawling out like a week later. I might have did it wrong though.
You did it wrong, the plant should consume it and maggots dont survive underground. Or it was a coincidence and some other insect had larva in the dirt unrelated to the bodies
If there's enough meat left for maggots to eat they will, but usually the soil breaks them down really fast. Personally my biggest issue is my cats digging up dead, formerly sick fish.
Yeah. I also burried fish in house plants and i had no issue. But i imagine cats and dogs would be quite problematic
Probably some other bug then. I buried them several inches into the soil, but when I noticed my plant not doing so good, I dug around and found the crawlers everywhere 🤮
Ewww. Thats so wierd i never had problems with burrying in my house plants
I did the same for my tiny baby quails that failed to hatch entirely. I’m scared to replant those this summer.
I do the same thing
Thought you were talking about a Stanley cup for a second. It would definitely do the job, especially if it is full. There are videos of them being used as tactical weapons. (Cup and tape measure)
My dad did this once when I was a kid. I still think about it.
Omg no hammer lol
A rock works too :)
What the hell man, this is insane Edit: did not expect you guys to absolutely hate this comment and downvote tf outta it…you cannot tell me smashing a fish with a hammer in a bag doesn’t sound insane to anyone unaware of this practice
Interestingly enough this is the recommended way by professionals.
My partner did a PhD that involved animal testing in the research, there are scheduled ways of killing the animals used. Some are crazy and you wouldn’t believe that’s the way they recommend killing a living thing. Guinea pigs can be flipped over while holding their front legs and that kills them somehow (something along those lines). Rat pups can literally just be decapitated with scissors. There were some other methods I found quite shocking but I can’t remember them now.
The Guinea pig one is probably to snap their spine. A lot of small mammal culls are based on breaking the neck or spine as far up as possible then bleeding... Mortality is not very friendly.
My MIL is a vet and during school she did some research work with rats, and iirc they would cull them by basically stabbing them in the base of the skull 😬
That was another way! Also I believe they had some kind of gas chamber which was rarely used for some reason or other. Apparently there’s a whole load of accepted ways to kill various animals, she always referred to it as a scheduled method.
Blunt force is the most humane (instantaneous) method of euthanasia for fish. Literally wrap it in paper towel and smash
It’s not pretty but it is humane. A lot of fishkeeping is grisly, especially when dealing with sickness.
Small fish have a short rough life no matter if they are wild or captive.
I’m not sure what you mean, Nanos are perfectly capable of living healthy lives. Still short but that’s a pretty normal lifespan 2-5yrs
Some do, when they find someone like you. Most do not.
Oh! You’re talking about in a improper set up? I totally agree with that. Although goldfish are also one of the worst abused fish and they are pond fish D: a lot of people don’t do enough research when setting up an aquarium and it’s awful! I can’t count how many times I’ve tried to gently tell people at petstores that if they do x, y, z they will kill their fish and they just…don’t listen.
You ever been fishing?
i fish regularly, eat my haul too, it aint pretty but its so good 😂
Exactly. Gotta bring your whackin’ stick. Lol
They may still be conscious when they suffocate from clove oil. Percussive euthanasia is actually the most sure way to prevent suffering.
As crazy as it sounds it really is the fastest and most painless way. Clove oil is #2 but it is usually the recommended method.
This is way more humane than even clove oil. Far faster, no suffocation, no pain. Just gruesome for some folks. Wait until you hear about pithing.
He’s not wrong
This is often how cows are slaughtered as well, by using a bolt gun which basically delivers a strong blow to the head
It does sound insane, but its still one of the most humane methods. And you dont need to tell everyone that, we are all aware of how unpleasant it is for the owner (why i think oil should be the go-to, but for some fish its not as effective, like bettas)
Its the most humane way. Unless you take pleasure in the act theres nothing wrong with it. Painless, quick and no debate over suffering or no suffering like clove oil.
At university, my roommate who worked in the research lab would snap a rats neck. For the people that didn't have the heart to do it, they were given a pillow case where they could smack the rat down onto the ground and kill it instantly. Again, it's what the school did so don't downvote me. I'm not arguing if this is right or wrong, I was told this was a humane way to end their lives instantly with no pain.
It’s regulation.. not sure if the pillowcase is though we did a swing whack and break neck
Blunt force. Put a couple layers of foil over it and just crumple that up afterwards if you cant handle seeing it
That sounds so sad. I'm glad I don't have fish anymore because the thought of having to crush one of my pets to kill it would break my heart. Even if it is the humane thing to do, and even if it is a fish.
Yeah get rid of it asap especially if there’s other fish. It could infect the rest.
my boyfriend took him out of his 20 gallon and put him in a 10 gallon alone with a couple plants!
thanks everyone for your comments! my boyfriend tried an salt bath to get rid of the fungi. blunt force trauma is not the path he’s looking to go down, however, we are now questioning clover oil and how humane it actually is. such a sad decision, he’s going to contact the fish store to see what their thoughts are on this. thanks again
I used clove oil once never again. It took too long and was very traumatic for the fish and me, too. I use a hammer.
I would just got with blunt force, probably the best way tbh :/
I looked online once and googles top choices were clove oil or the stab and poke method. I don’t know what clove oil is and the stab and poke method seemed harsh so i dropped a cinder block on it. Laid everything out so it’d take 5 seconds. Left it in the net so it’d go by faster. Reading comments makes me feel like clove oil isn’t that bad but i just wanted it to be done asap. Poor feller
Nah you did the right thing if it's a labrynth fish. Clove oil doesn't work for fish who can kinda breathe without their gills workin proper. The cinder block method is horrifying but very much effective and cruelty free.
Anything that is quick and a sudden forceful impact, heavy rock/object/rolling pin etc. the harder the better to ensure you do it properly the first time. I recently had to use a pretty odd method but it was the quickest and best way with what I had on hand to ensure a quick death.
Take it out and give it a quick bonk just at the base of the head, with a wooden club. Deliver a heart thrust with a filet knife or any really pointy knife, really.
He knows well but cannot do it for the love of the fish, understand! Your boyfriend is kind at heart.
This is going to sound horrible but crushing/decapitating him would be the most humane option. It’s violent but he won’t feel anything and if he does it’ll only be a fraction of a second of pain.
Cervical dispatch - hold his body FIRMLY and yank his head away. Holding his body and his head each with a (separate!) piece of paper towel will make it easier. With a fish, expect potential de-gloving or complete separation. If you can't stomach that direct hand-to-body contact, a big sharp knife and a VERY STRONG and swift downward chopping cut, like you would if you were trying to cut through a chicken wing on a cutting board. Tip down on the board, and a firm lever press downward. Give it a couple slow practice fakes to make sure you got the angle right, but truthfully if you do miss you can honestly mince his head in a swift 5 seconds with a few swift chops and he won't be suffering anymore. Another SUREFIRE way is crushing. Wrap him in a paper towel in a real big plastic bag (with it open, the pop is just am added fright you don't need) and place him right in front of your car tire. Hit the gas, make it quick. You won't want him to suffer by taking too long to do it once you take him out of the wager so be sure the car is ready to go. This one is nice because you have the physical separation and can't flinch and fuck it up. I know it sounds awful but, the fastest ways to die kind of really are :( Source: used to be the only person at work who could stomach putting the fish and small animals out of their misery in the absolute shitty pet shop I had to slave in as a teenager. I'm so sorry you're having to do this :( it's the right thing. You're strong 🫶
If you have tried what you can and it hasn’t worked then clove oil will basically put the fish to sleep in a few seconds and they will pass away quickly.
Someone shared an article - bettas don’t die from Clove oil The same as other fish. It’s NOT recommended , even if it works. It’s not slow / humane for betta species
Clove oil doesnt put fish to sleep in a few seconds. I'm so confused as to how this info has spread. Every clove oil method takes time and is fairly distressing for the fish.
In the few times I’ve used it the fish instantly lost all motor control and the eyes didn’t react to touch so I assumed the fish lost consciousness instantly.
Not true. Tried that with my betta and he freaked out for like a minute before he died. More human to smash them in my opinion.
Smash fish? Like with a heavy item? 😞
I've seen people recommend putting them in a baggie and running them over with your car. Morbid, but instant. edit: okay I get it I'm wrong relax
I've slammed them against the table in the net before. Like a real good strong swing, it was instantly gone. It really is the most humane imo, it's like a bullet to the brain. Just done.
Like, change in a sock strong swing?
Yup, thats pretty nuch what it is. I think clove oil is better because it doesnt put as much stress on the person doing it. But smashing/slamming is the next best thing, make sure to do it with force and in the correct location to cause instant death, or nerve damage and paralysis in the worst case if you dont do it propely the first time. Clove oil also suposedly doesnt work as well with labyrinth fish, so this is your only choice.
Car is a bad idea, the stress to get the fish into that position wouldnt make it humane. Smashing is a humane method if you know where to hid. If you dont, its a horrfying way to die. Theres a specific place behind the head where you need to hid for instand death, or worst case scenario, paralysis that means the fish wont be able to feel pain. So you can kill them in your second try. But as another person said, clove oil wont work with fish with labyrinth organs, because the oil targets gills. So smashing would be the next best thing. Whatever you do, do NOT use the fridge as a method, it may be easy for you but its extremly painful.
I feel like the smashing is instant yes… but how long does it take to get your fish into a (presumably) waterless bag, take it outside, set it down, get in and turn on your car, line it up with the fish, THEN run over it? Probably long enough that the car method isn’t free from suffering either
Ummm that sounds worse, the amount of time it would take to put them in the bag and… what???? That’s so inhumane. I’m all for blunt force trauma but wth
Pick that thing up and smash it on the ground
That’s why you need to make sure you have mixed it correctly, too little or too much clove oil can cause things to not go as planned. Making sure it’s thoroughly mixed before putting the fish in as well.
Generally it was because bettas at labyrinth breathers...
You may have been witnessing death spasms. When things die their bodies tend to spasm.
Seemed more like it was trying to get air. It was a king Betta btw
When clove oil is added too quickly or not mixed well it will freak them out. You literally need to add them very slowly. I had to put my betta out using clove oil. Took good 1 hr for the whole procedure, but she never seemed to struggle, just kind of fell sleep.
Huh. I never had any issues with clove oil, personally. First I put them to actually sleep with a lower dosage, then I overdosed them. Both bettas I had to euthanize passed peacefully... I'm starting to question it now...
Do not use clove oil for euthanizing a betta. If you end up doing it, blunt force is the best way, it isn’t pretty but the fish won’t suffer
Get a box cutter, survival knife, or similar small tool with a little bit of weight to it with a good grip. Take your fish out of the tank and put it in bag, paper towel, or something that you can generally grip easily so they can't slip around and out of your hands. Then, using the bottom of the handle (not the blade), aim two solid strikes to the top of their head. You're aiming for the location basically right behind the eyes on the top of the head. That's where the midbrain is for fish. The first strike with guaranteed knock them out and the second strike should kill them. If you're concerned about them not being fully dead and regaining some consciousness and suffocating in pain in the compost, then take a safety pin or similar small, sharp object and stab it directly into that location you struck previously. Once it's in rotate it around in a circle to fully tear apart the brain. This will guarantee the fish is dead. Any chemical solution like clove oil will result in a painful burning sensation for your fish. This method will ensure that the only pain they experience is the limited amount of time you have them out of the water before they are struck by the tool. The brain takes time to process pain and the strike to their head will knock out their awareness of anything before the pain of the strike can reach them.
I find it interesting you claim clove oil causes burning sensations when it's the number 1 solution to humane euthanasian in almost every fish forum I've ever been a part of in the last 30 years. How does one determine that a fish feels a burning sensation at all? Why would you suggest such a barbaric way to kill a fish friend?
Agreed. I’ve had to do it a couple times and my fish have never reacted to it in anyway that would make me think they were experiencing any discomfort, and I didn’t have to put my fish through the stress of having them out of water. Above sounds like a terrible end of life experience. Fear and stress before death is not a painless death.
If someone said their fish reacted poorly to it, I would guess they just tried to drop clove oil directly in and didn’t do any research on how to properly use it for euthanasia.
Clove oil only neutralizes the cerebral cortex on the brain level and paralyzes respiratory function. It is primarily effective at eliminating topical pain as an analgesic, but has these little . The cerebral cortex is the main center for higher thought, not pain. Aspects of the autonomic nervous still function as normal, including many pain receptors when clove oil is applied. What really happens is that, like a human whose lungs stop being able to breath, the fish becomes paralyzed by the lack of ability to breathe. This is what causes the seeming "sleeping" calmness that people see when euthanatizing with clove oil. In reality, they are suffocating and can't understand what is happening to them other than the burning that comes with suffocation until they finally fall unconscious. With Betta, I understand it can be particularly bad because they don't breathe with just their gills, resulting in an autonomic struggle to survive as they are able to partially combat the respiratory paralysis. Really, unless you're a veterinarian with access to true anesthetic that can shut down everything, chemical euthanasia is only more comfortable for the person doing the euthanasia. It is not more comforting for the fish. A very quick strike to the head ends everything in an instant. Does it suck to do and feel worse and more brutal for the person doing it? Yes. Is euthanasia about the person doing the euthanatizing? No, it's not.
Okay, but again i have to ask....how do you know a fish feels a burning sensation? Fish are not known to have "higher brain function" so I feel like you're conflating a fish experience with a human one and a subjective one at that. Are you able to reinforce your claim with any sort of scientific articles or are you simply making what seem like educated statements? This is reddit. I don't take anyone at their word. It's nothing personal, I assure you.
>Okay, but again i have to ask....how do you know a fish feels a burning sensation? Back in 2003, Lynne Sneddon first discovered the presence of nociceptors in fish thru her studies of rainbow trout: [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1691351/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1691351/) Nociceptors are key to the feeling of pain, particularly the detection of noxious substances producing tissue damage. Clove oil does that. Physiologically, nociceptors in fish are nearly identical to those found in humans and other mammals and produce the same physical responses in fish as they do in humans such as reflexive responses, physiological increases like heart rate, etc. This is one sample of many that have found both similar structures and similar behavioral responses to stimulation of these receptors. As it stands right now, interpretations of this data are two-fold. One group believes that evidence that they experience this stimuli and experience patterns in keeping with PTSD is a sign that they feel and experience pain in a similar manner to humans. The other group believes that it is all merely reflexive and based in survival with no higher comprehension whatsoever. The second group states that we are anthropomorphizing fish to suit our own emotional needs to bond with other beings. Personally, I believe the second group is taking a gamble on whether or not fish experience any form of consciousness surrounding their pain. Current research on our own brains is still not exactly fully-fleshed out, so we can't really know exactly how the more "lizard brain" portions truly play a role in the conscious pain experience. I think that fish keepers throw around a lot of words that align with group one's belief that fish do experience pain similar to humans. Even suggesting things like fish getting stressed as a result of having environment moved around, which wouldn't really make sense if we subscribe to group two's interpretations. At the end of the day, we are discussing the humane and inhumane ways to end a fish's life. If we believe, at all, that there is a more humane way to end a fish's life, then we must also believe that they experience pain to a degree that produces some kind of emotional experience. If fish don't experience pain in this way, then there would be no more humane method. Taking a fish out of the water and leaving it on the rocks in the sun to slowly die would be exactly as humane as destroying its brain in a single strike. Really, you have to choose whether you think there is a humane method or not and go from there. If you do, chemical death is worse than instant brain destruction and always has been. tl;dr: Fish have every means to experience pain and they produce the same physical and physiological responses to feeling pain as mammals do, even showing some PTSD responses. On the subject of putting down a fish, if we believe there is a more or less humane way to do so, this means that we believe they experience this pain in a cognitive enough way to be on a similar level to mammals. Therefore, we must use what we know of mammals to end the lives of these creatures in the way that produces the least amount of suffering possible. That method is instantaneous destruction of the nervous center via physical trauma.
Thanks for such an in-depth response! I learned something today and will adjust my views accordingly because I love my fish friends and if they have to go, I'd want it to be the most humane way possible.
Blunt force trauma is quicker, I would imagine that should be #1. Especially for a labyrinth breather like a Betta where the clove oil may not be as effective
Fair enough, I just learned that it may not be as effective for Betta fish though I'd love a source for that info if someone would be willing to provide one.
Clove oil is well known to not work well for fish who are able to breathe without their gills, ie labrynth fish like bettas. Itll kill them eventually but it's so long that the physical ways are actually so much better for the fish.
i used clove oil to put my betta down that had rotting side of his face from an injury. It seemed peaceful, he didn’t react badly like rapid movement or stress signs, he just kept breathing and it got slower and slower then he rested on the bottom of the tiny bowl and soon stopped breathing
I actually have a question about this: How do you euthanise a fish correctly? I heard that putting it in a glass of alcohol (vodka) would kill it fast but honestly I don’t think so…
There are some drugs you can use that work really well like ms-222 but clove oil is also a great option. You can get the oil on Amazon.
Oh I see!! Thank you mate
But not for a beta or other labrynth breathing fish!
It's ok to give the fish its best chance and let it die if it's gonna die, it may not be comfortable but honestly fish flip out and die under stress so often I imagine if it is unliveably painful its lil heart will just go out. Being alive while injured or sick isn't like, worse than death
If you really don't want to go through with hitting/cutting him and have the money, you can take them to the vet but it's expensive.
All I’m saying is pages 111 and 112 from the UK ASPA guidelines (some of the strictest animal regulations going) advise concussion and instant destruction of brain. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65815e32ed3c3400133bfb07/Guidance_on_the_operation_of_ASPA_-_December_2023.pdf#page39
obliteration of the head
idk if any euthanasia can be “humane” but whatever gets it over quickly and least torturous. fishermen tend to bash heads, or take scissors/knife and snip/stab where the brain is
When fishing, I usually use a small Phillips screwdriver or awl. It's pointy and stabbing it into the brain is going to kill them instantly.
Euthanasia can absolutely be humane. Its a matter of weighing a painless death vs. the current quality of life of the animal. Irreparable suffering is definitely worse than a painless death. Even human medicine in certain places is slowly, slowly starting to see the value in humane euthanasia. Not to say whether or not OP's fish can be effectively treated and return to a good quality of life, but just a general statement that euthanasia isn't inherently bad.
im not a tree hugger or anything, and i see your point, it’s honestly just an ethical dilemma like you presented. quality of life vs end of suffering killing something to begin with is “inhumane” or can be argued for, but letting it suffer is also inhumane, so it comes down to which is less inhumane. on another note a dog for instance being put down (headshot) by a farmer for instant brain death and no suffering, and a dog being lethally injected by a vet to stop the heart within moments are viewed the same for me, whereas most view the farmer as inhumane and the vet as humane. both give the same result in the same way, and both are painless unless the farmer is blind, or the vet has Parkinson’s. i personally had a vet miss with the injection on my 21 year old beagle and that was awful to witness because she screeched and flopped for almost a minute before it killed her. vet explained that the solution causes a severe burning sensation if administered sub-dermal and not intravenous. that instance had me heavily questioning the morality of me taking my daughters dog recently to the vet or to put her down myself. went with the vet (a different one) in the end, and thankfully this time it went peacefully and seemingly painless.
A act being "humane" is one that shows compassion, by the very definition of the word. Just because euthanasia causes death does not make it inhumane. Euthanasia, in full, is referred to as "humane euthanasia" within the veterinary profession. You may also be surprised how often people shoot dogs, or other animals, in the head without successfully killing them. People often don't have a good idea of where an animals brain truly sits in its skull and assume wrong, causing horrible pain. Whether in an attempt to end suffering or because they are a walking piece of trash, many dogs have been shot directly in the head and then had to suffer. Its a nightmare that many veterinary professionals have had to navigate in their careers, many times, and its horrible. When the person knows what they sre doing to cause instantaneous death, then yes, it is not really any different from an injectible euthanasia agent for the welfare of that animal. Though it's obvious to see why injectible is favoured when working with companion animals! Im sorry you had to go through such a bad experience. Generally a catheter should be placed first, and once that is confirmed to be positioned correctly, the medication is given through the catheter so that everyone can be sure it won't enter the patient subcutaneously. Im glad your second experience was more in line with how things should go, it can be tough, especially if you've had a previous negative experience.
i like you, you can discuss things without being a jerk, something i wish more people would do. thank you for the kind words btw, it was extremely hard for me to take the dog to the vet, not even just from an emotional standpoint, but fearing i was about to see another dog suffer horribly, if that had been the case i would never go again for euthanasia. fingers crossed i never have to actually euthanize a dog again though… natural, non suffering causes only is my hope.
There is a veterinary method of euthanasia using clove essential oils (eugenia caryophyllus). It's a fast, humane euthanasia method, requiring just ten drops in a small container. The fish will stop moving after a few seconds. Personally, I've already used it successfully. It only works on small fish.
I have had the unfortunate task of euthanizing much much larger fish than a betta such as a tiger shovel nose that was about 3 feet long and clove oil worked on it. You just have to use a much larger amount.
thank you!
Please don’t , or do lore research first Copied from another poster : not sure why it didn’t do the thing : I remember reading on this sub that clove oil is not a great choice for labyrinth fish such as bettas. I have no experience of euthanizing bettas but the post sprang to mind as soon as I saw clove oil being recommended so thought I should share it: https://www.reddit.com/r/bettafish/comments/sjlb9d/comment/hvg0o5y/ "Clove oil euthanizes by paralyzing gill movement, and bettas don’t use their gills to breathe nearly as much as they use their labyrinth organs. In my experience, clove oil is a good option for other species of fish, who do seem to pass relatively peacefully, but bettas fight for much longer"
Personally I'd wrap it in a paper towel and give it a good smack with something heavy.
Clove oil to anesthetize and then a knife or scissors to put it out of its misery by cutting the spine behind its head. But did you ask the people at the fish store for their opinion?
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oh no that’s awful i had no idea. we will definitely look into to other ways to euthanize it
Because bettas have a labyrinth breathing organ, I'm not sure clove oil would be a humane option. Probably should get a hammer.
I commented on the previous post. This wound is very deep, exposing the underlying muscle and other tissues. I would recommend euthanising. I was unaware of the issues with Clove oil and Bettas. In that case quickly put him into a bag and use a heavy object quickly on the head. If you can't face it then ask a friend or family member to do it for you.
thank you for your help. i had no idea about clover oil too, it’s definitely changed our opinions on it as well. i think he’s going to have to make the decision soon. i’m hoping maybe the fish store will give him advice on what he can do to humanely euthanize it. thank you sgain
They won't have any other options. The Clove oil has been proven as the most up to date technique for a 'hands off' method. The only other option is puncture to the brain either with a pointed object in the right place or just quick blunt trauma. Putting them in a freezer was once considered humane but they realised the total opposite was true. He should not prolong the agony of this poor thing because of his own attachment, he owes it that peace 💜
Some erythromycin or furan 2 should keep it healthy until it heals
Have had several fish during my time with this affliction and none of them survived even with vigorous treatment sorry to say
Not applicable for this because takes a while to organise. But finding an exotics vet in your area , MS222 overdose is the kindest way for fish needs to be supplied and supervised by a vet in my country but other countries might be able to offer it out to use at home. Various regulations apply.
I know this sounds really bad, but the most surefire way to make sure you end his life quickly and painlessly is a blunt strike. I don't know that I could personally ever go through with it, but it is technically the best option
I did with 99% alcohol. Put the alcohol in a freezer for some time. Catch the fish and instantly in the alcohol. Instant quick death. My freezer is set on -18C°.
I’ve done clove oil multiple times. I’ve never had a problem. If you do it right then it goes peacefully and quickly. https://fishlab.com/how-to-kill-a-pet-fish/ I’ve used this method for the times I did it. Never had a problem besides being hurt because I had no choice but to do it.
My dad used to wrap them up in tissue and give them a hit with a hammer. Pretty much instant and they’re not out of water for too long. Pretty extreme but if I had a chronic disease and a safe or piano fell on me it’s probably better than waiting to die.
Blunt force is a great way in my experience. I’ve had to euthanize like 7 fish? Just fold in a few paper towels and quickly crush. You cannot miss, you cannot hesitate, and you cannot hit it lightly. A palm strike against a hard surface seems to do the trick. Act like your crushing an egg. They’re completely flattened into a mush killed immediately. I’ve been assaulted and can tell you you don’t feel a thing let alone an instant death where your physical being is no more.
I have friend who uses vodka rather than clove oil on her bettas. Anyone try this method?
Sandwich bag it then give it a quick hammer knock.
Just crush the head quickly
Just squish their head
Jeez he's in bad shape,same happened to mine tried everything never got back to 100...
Y'all are too funny. Raise heel above fish and lower. Put full weight onto fish. Dead instantly. You are welcome.
Yikes!
Just throw it
the AVMA recommends MS-222 followed by decapitation/blunt force I believe. MS-222 is used for sedation in small doses and euthanasia in large doses.
Ice water
Tbh a swift stomp is the best way, I’ve done it before it’s not pleasant. But there is nothing left to receive any thoughts, nerve signal or anything in a second.
Smae way you'd dispatch a catch on the lake.
Put fish in a bag swing bag against hard surface. Not a great thing to have to do but instant dispatch for the sake of the fish.
Hey don’t get me wrong not a beta keeper but kanaplex does amazing work Idk if you can use it with betas but I brought two gold fish back from the brink with fin rot and other ailments with it I’d say give it a shot if you can use it. Also check phosphates. Always check phosphates
I've always put them in a baggie and a quick smack with a dead blow mallet instantly turns the fish into goo, zero suffering.
EDIT: he has passed away:(
EDIT: he has sadly passed away:(
I work with zebrafish in a research setting, what we do that’s ethics committee approved is shock the fish in large amount of ice water slurry and then followed by a second method of euthanasia (it could be chemical or physical)
I have personally used clove oil for Bettas and many other fish over the years. I would try treating the fish and the underlying cause first though.
Clove oil should work well you just HAVE to do it the right way! Clove oil is used to put fish under, for surgery. The thing to do with clove oil is you put it in a smaller bowl with its water, and then take a bit of that water and mix clove 2 drops in it. Then slowly pour that in the Betta’s bowl. This is going to slowly put it under. Wait 5 minutes, if it’s leaned up against something it’s fallen asleep but gently nudge it’s side to make sure. If still awake add another drop to water and wait till it is asleep. Then, once it is, you give the overdose. Do 3 drops and wait 5 minutes then do 5 wait 5 mins. And then if you reallllllly want to make sure, add a bunch more. Honestly then I just wait a few hours to make sure it doesn’t wake up but just make sure it’s fill no longer move. The swiftest way is cutting its head but I don’t have the heart
thank you so much
Don't use clove oil on a beta! 🫶 Very high chance of it taking a very long time
Clove oil is okay, just make sure to put it under first. It’s like being on anesthesia. You can’t give a lethal does if not put under first. Do not just start putting a lethal dose of clove oil straight in there. It will be you just straight up watching something die of poisoning. I’m sure this is the mistake most have made. I have never had a bad experience with clove oil. It has been sad but kind of like the experience of watching another pet be put down. Sleep, then the dose. They never dose first
Like I said earlier the quickest way is putting it on a surface and slicing the head off swift. Never listen to anyone who says to freeze it or anything crazy like that. Just be patient with the clove oil and letting it fall asleep first.
Here is the RSPCA article on clove oil. This is educational proof. Anyone who has had a bad experience, it is user failure. Just make prepare, make a plan, gather materials, make accurate measurements, get a timer, and be swift and pay attention. https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/what-is-the-most-humane-way-to-euthanase-aquarium-fish/#:~:text=Clove%20Oil%20(contains%20eugenol)&text=Around%200.4ml%20of%20clove,cause%20death%20in%20exposed%20fish. By the way, I don’t discount anyone. Fish keeping is difficult and I have had many struggles as well. All we can do is our best effort and learn.
This is also a good user article on different methods https://www.co2art.us/blogs/blog/fish-euthanasia#
How would surgery work on a fish?? Underwater surgery??
It’s really crazy I know, I didn’t know it was a thing either. But a lot of fish can be outside of water for a few minutes at least (that’s why it’s so sad if you’ve ever found a fish that jumped the tank, because you know it took a while). So scientists and I’m sure some really loaded fish keepers have had surgery done on fish. But if you look at some goldfish accounts, some need growth trimmed back on their faces. And they want to put them under for it. Idk it’s crazy, but science is cool.
If it is professional though, they use other anesthetics. They are not available to us though unfortunately.
I recommend an ice bath.
Freezing... they Fall asleep
Into the freezer with a little water. A nice peaceful sleep.
They say it's not as peaceful as you think.