So guys...what's the easiest way to kill a betta so that they won't suffer? I don't have clove oil on me right now so what are the other options? No need to ask question, just give me an answer. Thanks...

do some research on euthinizing a fish, best ways are.. putting them in the freezer (i've never done it, so I can't go into detail how, but a little research should be good) and.. if you can do this.. chopping off the head. I, and I'm sure most of you, wouldn't be able to do that at all.

No heads please, I'm scared of that, deathly scared.

Freezing a fish is really bad! You are not killing the nerves in the fish quickly, and their brains are still functioning, and they will feel extreme pain, and die very slowly. The most peaceful way to kill a fish, is cutting off their heads, (not many people including me could do it) or clove oil.

I will post a list of some ways to euhanize a fish, give me a few

Is it possible if I put the fish in a ziplock bag with water and put it in the freezer? After it's frozen I could bury the bag in the soil. Would that be humane?

Not really, any way you put the fish in to a freezer it is still going to cause them pain


Right now, I am having trouble finding the info on euthanizing a fish, but as I recall, all of the methods that are quick and painless involve stopping the brain from sending out signals to the nerves so the fish won't feel pain.


Found it!

EUTHANASIA
For the aquarist the saddest job is that of euthanasia. This however is necessary in some cases, to avoid unnecessary suffering and pain to your fish.
A lot has been written about this topic and there are many divided opinions. The opinion that I am about to give you is from an ichylogist point of view.

Acceptable Methods of Euthanasia.
When considering euthanasia bear in mind that fish are capable of experiencing pain and stress and must therefore be destroyed humanely. There are a few acceptable methods and we will run through them one at a time.
1. Anaesthetic- Immersion in an anaesthetic solution such as Benzocaine or Tricaine Methane-Sulphonate is acceptable and may only be available via your veterinary practice. The effective dose will depend to some extent on the species of fish. An exposure to 300mg per litre of Tricaine Methanesulphonate is sufficient to cause the death to most aquarium fish. It is however advisable to leave the fish in the solution for at least an hour after death to prevent any possible recovery by the fish.
2. Decapitation- In many cases, especially with tropical fish this method is quick, clean and easy.
With the aid of a scalpel, or a sharp knife or even a pair of very sharp scissors this job can be carried out with ease. Lay the fish on a flat surface, prevent it from escaping and with one quick motion, slice its head from its body. The body may still wriggle; this is acceptable, as it is just a nerve reaction. The brain will feel no pain. To prevent HYPOXIA, you must destroy the brain as soon as the fish has been decapitated. Simply simply holding the head and penetrating the brain with a sharp instrument does this. This may sound barbaric, but it is humane.
Concussion- This is a method that is preferred by a lot of aquarist. What you do is wrap the fish’s body in a cloth, leaving the head exposed. Picking the body of the fish you then strike the head off the edge of something hard with a hefty blow. This renders the fish unconscious and then again you must either decapitate it or destroy it’s brain to avoid any chance of recovery. Anglers’ use a club, known as a priest to club big fish such as trout, to render it unconscious. I would not advise that you use such a device with tropical fish.

I was told once that an alcohol bath (I think they meant rubbing alcohol) is affective and humane. I haven't researched it so I don't know if it was true or not.

oh lord i think the alcahol whould work

I think the alcohol bath was refering to actual drinking alcohol, and I would not call this method humane. I tried this once out of desperation, and it took the fish about two minutes to die. It was obviously suffering through the ordeal. I would not recomend this method.

If you can't handle decapitation, do you have anyone who lives with you or near you who could do it?

I don't know if this works for fish, but for frogs, if they're really sick and not moving much, you just slather Orajal all over them. Kind of kills all the nerve function so they can't feel pain, THEN you stick them in the freezer.

I'd consider the mose painless way for the fish decapitation... the freezer method is not cool. I did it with one of my girls that was suffering SO horribly... and it's SLOW... takes like 20 minutes... I unfortunately looked in after ten and saw her freaking out in the cup in extreme pain. If you can't do it yourself, see if you can find someone who can.

Orajel, is an option, but it is not always 100% effective, the only anesthetic that is 100% fool proof is an Rx prescribed by a vet. Any method that does not stop the nerve function completely is leaving your fish open for pain and suffering. If they are already in any kind of pain and you are loking to end that, why do anything else that may cause more unnecessary suffering? I know that having to be put in this situation is so difficult on you. I can totally understand what you are going through, but believe me, ending the fishes suffering quickly, and knowing they are not suffering through the ordeal will be the easiest for both of you. I will say a prayer for you both.

I do remember reading somewhere about adding liquid orajel to euthanize a fish painlessly. I had just forgotten about it because the day I was reading it was the day I had to put a fish down.

:rip: I'm sorry for your loss.

Make a trip to the grocery store to find some clove oil.
If you absolutely can not...
I have heard of people using vodka but PLEASE do not freeze it to death.
That makes for hours of painful suffering.

If you MUST kill it, I'd recommend the decapitation method.

I'm sorry you're having to consider this.

Yeah I've heard that the vodka/water method is inhumane compare to the clove oil.

Okay - so have you done the euthanization yet?
Because I just noticed it is now 4 hours past when you first asked...

I'm glad you asked BM. No, I haven't done the euthanization yet. I believe the fish is suffering but...I don't know if I should end it. My friend had the same problem with his and the betta died a week or so later with a big lump on the side of the body.

You must have a reason to do it so try clove oil. Sorry you have to do this and it is very hard.

make him watch an episode of that 70's show.... although he would suffer greatly so i guess that's out of the question

i heard the oil is teh best cause i guess they just go to sleep and never wake up :bye:

Look, I know as of your last response you still hadn't euthanized the fish. I know you didn't want any questions asked, but everyone has put in their input on euthanzing a fish, and I don't forsee any other options for euthanization, so if you don't mind my asking, I am sure we are all wondering why you believe the fish is sufffering? If you still have not done it yet, I am lead to believe you must care for the fish very much and are finding it most difficult to do this, so wouldn't you want to try to keep him alive, and treat him if possible, instead of euthanizing him? He may be able to be saved. It has been my experience that symptoms of one fishes ailment may not be the same disease in both fish

does your problem look like this?

that white spot sticks out a bit and it's a lot worse now then it was when i took that pic, but he eats like a pig and flares at his buddy so i let him be

that is pure heaven i love ashton

the way im cull my fish :( is by puttin them in inch water and adding 2 tablets of alka selzer, it has a chemical that paralizes the fishes nerves

at first the betta will flop :( but then after 5 seconds it just stops, then i put it in the freezer

hardest thing ever.............

I don't want to contradict what everyone else is saying, but as I have said before, unless you cut the nerves off physically, or have clove oil, there is a very good chance the fish will suffer. The few seconds to few minutes it takes for whatever thing you are using to paralyze them will usually cause them pain.

the way I euthinize a fish is by putting them in a cup of vodka. It kills them quickly and painlessly.

Freezing a fish is actually one of the most humane ways for it to go.

For the person above, whom stated pain for the fish, you obiously do not know how teh nervous system of a cold blooded creature works. They do not feel pain as we do, they do not have the brain function for it. In the case of say a hook the fish runs because it is being pulled in a dirrection it does not want to go.

When a fish is frozen its metabolism slowly reduces until it goes to sleep.

On my way to an enviromental engineering degree in water quality with an emphasis in water shed management I took a healthy load of zoology and biology classes.

As I stated in my first post, I am backing up what I am saying! as stated in dictionary.com ichthyologist n : a zoologist who studies fishes. I am not one to give out advice just off the top of my head. I fully research ALL of my advice!


EDIT.

Taken from Report of the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) Panel on Euthanasia Page 687 (pg 19 of the .pdf) http://www.avma.org/resources/euthanasia.pdf

I thought I should make this as a new post to make sure that it was seen

Take a used but freshly cleaned hypodermic needle (one that diabetics use to take insulin) and fill with a supersaturate of salt. You might have to refer to an accurate diagram of a fish's internal organ structure but take the needle and quickly insert it directly into the heart. This will cause a massive heart attack, almost instant death and the salt will make sure it does not suffer.

This has got to be really hard for BettasRfriends.... since his/her name has betta in it... well I just did a little research and I came up with this [QUOTE]One way I have heard was to siphon the unwanted fry into a glass of ice water. This is supposed to be an instant death.[UNQUOTE] may the betta rest in peace

I used to put fish into ice water to kill them, but honestly, it didn't seem like that fast or painless of a death. EVERY fish I have done this with (total of three) began fighting and trying to escape, even when they were totally lifeless in their tanks.

Freezing a fish is not the fast way to go. It takes time for body temperature to lower. Ice water (75f >>32f) is not much of a change.
If one was able to get some dry ice (frozen CO2) or liquid nitrogen... then it would be almost instantaneous.
The other way, cutting off the head, is the easiest. Make sure it is one swift cut... through the dorsal aorta and spinal cord.

Yeah, I guess we'll just all agree on different methods that we like best. No need to get into an argument about if fish can feel pain or not. What I saw when I looked in the freezer looked like she was in pain and freaking out. I think there are quicker and more humane ways to go. Most definitely.

The chances of that are pretty slim, I would go for the blade.

How about slam it real hard on the concrete floor? Just a thought in my head. :hmm:

actullay..........yeeviau are koinda right, that would be an instand death........but it harsh to slam a fish u love :(

From what I know, fish are endothermic - meaning that in order for them to die, their cells start to be destroyed one by one. I can't imagine that it's not painful for them.

Everyone will have a very different opinion on how to euthanize a fish, and I suppose in the end it comes down to what you YOURSELF feel the best about conscience-wise.

Luckily I've not ever had to face this horrible decision, but if I did... I personally would never feel good about using any method other than clove oil.

BRF - how's the fish doing today?

Using a hypodermic needle to euthanize a fish is not that hard once you become experienced with knowing where to put it. Granted that it's much easier on a larger fish. Knowledge of anatomy is a :hmm: must.

Both bettas (yes it's two) are eating fine but their body has weaken dramatically. I've added IAL everytime I do water changes but there hasn't done anything to help them. I"ve hard of the method of slamming the fish but I feel terrible doing that since I love these two bettas since the first time I bought them. There is no clear sign of illness but they appear to be suffering. Should I just let them enjoy their last days and wait till they pass away before burying them?

BRF, I think its been going on for abit to long now so you might as well just let them live out there last days, Im also getting complaints about this thread on how sad it is. IMO if you are going to do it then you might as well do it dude, no point and letting go any longer if you dont know how or cant bring yourself to doing it.

Kimo, I should of explained myself better, I was ment to say that I dont think alot of the people here are experienced enough to get it right in the heart. If they were to miss I dont think they could live with them selfs.