Euthanize a fish

[DRThompson]

Have a clown with some sort of swim bladder problem. He is unable to keep himself under he water. He now floats upside down and doesn't eat. I Pulled him from my dt over 2 weeks ago and started treating him in a 5 gal qt tank. Have tried everything (nitrofurazone, kanamycin, metronidazole, methylene blue....even Pima/mela fix combo. He is still alive and has not improved. I don't know what else to do for him, was thinking of euthanizing but don't know how.

I have already posted on the fish disease treatment board and have done some research. I can't find a treatment for him and feel his quality of life is poor.

Does anyone know how to properly euthanize a fish?

[SaltyReefs]

The toilet is what I use. :(

[angelfish boy]

Put him in a jar with water and put him in the freezer.

[jimbo78]

put him in a jar with water and put him in the freezer.

+1

[Fish2reef]

Put him in a jar with water and put him in the freezer.

+1
This is the humane way to put them to sleep; the organs shut down slowly and should be no pain involved.

[jimbo78]

I head the same problem years Ago and was told feed them peas. Didn't work for me but might be worth a try.

[angelfish boy]

+1
This is the humane way to put them to sleep; the organs shut down slowly and should be no pain involved.

That is the first time someone agreed with me!

[Siptang]

it was sensible comment. I don't see why not.

[angelfish boy]

it was sensible comment. I don't see why not.

I know just the first time someone has +1 me.

[marke]

No guarantees. But before u flush or freeze. Try this. When we catch a grouper and release it sometimes its air bladder gets full and they can't go down. The solution is to pop a pin hole in the bladder and they swim down. Now it's considered required equipment to have this needle aboard if fishing for grouper when out of season. With a small needle like a sewing needle insert it just below the front pectoral fin. If you hear a pop like a ballon pop it's a good sign. Good luck

[Siptang]

wow, that's a first!! Thanks for the information Mr. Marke!!

[jimbo78]

No guarantees. But before u flush or freeze. Try this. When we catch a grouper and release it sometimes its air bladder gets full and they can't go down. The solution is to pop a pin hole in the bladder and they swim down. Now it's considered required equipment to have this needle aboard if fishing for grouper when out of season. With a small needle like a sewing needle insert it just below the front pectoral fin. If you hear a pop like a ballon pop it's a good sign. Good luck

Another good idea. Done this while fishing many times.

[marlin85]

Have a clown with some sort of swim bladder problem. He is unable to keep himself under he water. He now floats upside down and doesn't eat. I Pulled him from my dt over 2 weeks ago and started treating him in a 5 gal qt tank. Have tried everything (nitrofurazone, kanamycin, metronidazole, methylene blue....even Pima/mela fix combo. He is still alive and has not improved. I don't know what else to do for him, was thinking of euthanizing but don't know how.

I have already posted on the fish disease treatment board and have done some research. I can't find a treatment for him and feel his quality of life is poor.

Does anyone know how to properly euthanize a fish?

The proper way to Euthanize a fish is to use Tricane. Its what I use to sedate fish and sharks when they need to be tube fed because they arent eating. Instead of pulling the fish out of the tricane solution, just leave them in and they will pass away without suffering.

You can buy it at Aquatic eco systems or I can send you some.

[mrx66699]

dave a good boot and a nice stomp should do the trick .....jk

give it a try popping it with a hypodermic needle they do that with bandits when they bring them up

[marlin85]

If you can find a tube small enough to go in the clowns mouth, you can also sedate with the tricane and try sticking the tube down his mouth into his stomach and see if any gas gets released, it will either fix the problem right away or wont do anything. Ive done this with sharks, never a clownfish.

[gatoralum69]

no guarantees. But before u flush or freeze. Try this. When we catch a grouper and release it sometimes its air bladder gets full and they can't go down. The solution is to pop a pin hole in the bladder and they swim down. Now it's considered required equipment to have this needle aboard if fishing for grouper when out of season. With a small needle like a sewing needle insert it just below the front pectoral fin. If you hear a pop like a ballon pop it's a good sign. Good luck

+1

[DRThompson]

Will try the needle tonight after work. Thanks to everyone for your suggestions

[Nemeziz_za]

clove oil from Pharmacy or hospital. It needs to be diluted with ethanol(vodka), so to make a 10% solution, 9 parts vodka, 1 part clove oil.

Use 2ml of this solution for every 5L of aquarium water to heavily sedate a fish. Normally takes about 3minutes to knock out the fish.

To euthanize the fish just follow that recipe, when fish is under tripple the dosage and he will just gently drift away.

[marlin85]

clove oil from Pharmacy or hospital. It needs to be diluted with ethanol(vodka), so to make a 10% solution, 9 parts vodka, 1 part clove oil.

Use 2ml of this solution for every 5L of aquarium water to heavily sedate a fish. Normally takes about 3minutes to knock out the fish.

To euthanize the fish just follow that recipe, when fish is under tripple the dosage and he will just gently drift away.

This Works Too.

[ska d]

I just used clove oil to sedate my figure 8 puffer to do some dental work. It can also be used for euthanizing as well. I only know the correct dose for sedating the fish and wanting it to survive. You could use also with the pin trick. The dose for my puffer was 4 drops of clove oil to 4.5 cups of tank water. The fish is dipped into a bowl with the clove oil and once the fish is under slightly you can net it out onto a paper towel. Leave it in the net while working, ***** the belly and get it into another bowl with straight tank water. As soon as you see some movement transfer the fish to the tank but keeping it the net. The net can be used to circulate the fish in the tank a bit to wake her back up. Is there a doctor in the house. Lol

[lostmyz]

BETTER YET WHY NOT MAKE A AIR LINE HOSE contraption like the 5 year old did for his goldfish with the swm bladder issue...

[rovster]

To,think of all those sardines I kill when I go fishing, and those lady fish I fillet for bait while they're still kicking. Makes me feel like a monster, LOL!

I guess it's different when it's a pet, interesting thread. I would try to vent the swim bladder.

[stagcrazy]

To,think of all those sardines I kill when I go fishing, and those lady fish I fillet for bait while they're still kicking. Makes me feel like a monster, LOL!

I guess it's different when it's a pet, interesting thread. I would try to vent the swim bladder.

ladyfish are the roaches of the sea serves them right lol

[billsreef]

MS-222 (tricaine) or clove oil are the best options for euthanizing fish. Slowly freezing fish is not considered acceptable by the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association). However, quick chilling to 2 to 4 degrees C is considered acceptable for small tropical fish.

https://www.avma.org/KB/Policies/Documents/euthanasia.pdf

the fish section starts on page 67.

marlin85, small fish are typically anesthetized with MS-222 via immersion. Works well, and much easier with small fish, unlike your sharks ;)

[ska d]

In my post earlier I ment to say use the needle trick to (p) rick the belly. But it bleeped me with *****. I didn't know the word (p) rick was so offensive when used properly.

[silver17jo]

No guarantees. But before u flush or freeze. Try this. When we catch a grouper and release it sometimes its air bladder gets full and they can't go down. The solution is to pop a pin hole in the bladder and they swim down. Now it's considered required equipment to have this needle aboard if fishing for grouper when out of season. With a small needle like a sewing needle insert it just below the front pectoral fin. If you hear a pop like a ballon pop it's a good sign. Good luck

Dave I agree with mark, I was actually going to recommend the same thing

[DRThompson]

Tried a needle to the swim bladder, no success :(. It pains me to see the fish this way. Going to euthanize tonight.

[Biggar]

Tried a needle to the swim bladder, no success :(. It pains me to see the fish this way. Going to euthanize tonight.

Sorry to hear Dave.

I hate watching fish suffer too. Or any animal for that matter.

FYI- You are supposed to use a circular hook for catching grouper too.

So bring the pin and circle hooks next time