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I was just wondering about poeples views on killing their fish when they are sick (the fish, not the owner).

Recently I lost one of my DG to a swim bladder issue. She was laid on her side on the 'floor' of the tank and when she tried to swim (I tried opening the tank lid to make her think there was about to be a feeding) she swam face down for a short while before returning to lying on her side at the bottom. It was clear to me that something was seriously wrong, but I couldn't bring myself to kill her. It had come on very quickly and I tried to tell myself that maybe it was just a 'funny turn' and she just needed time to get better. Unfortunately she was dead by the next morning. Should I have put her out of her misery when it was clear she was going to die? What is the best way to do it? I considered fishing her out, but I couldn't just leave her to suffocate, and I would find it tough to administer a sharp blow to the head etc. although I guess you've got to do what you've got to do sometimes .

Also when do you consider it in the best interests of the tank to take action? I've got a neon tetra which has half it's body discoloured, it's been like that for some time now and doesn't seem to have any other symptoms, it isn't spreading to any other tank mates and I can't find any disease on the web which would explain this, so I have told myself that he has somehow naturally turned out like this. However, at the back of my mind there is always the point that it could be a disease, and for the sake of the tank should this tetra be removed and killed? (unfortunately I don't have a quarantine tank, and money and space doesn't indicate a likelihood of one anytime soon).

Sorry for going on, but I guess in short what I'm after is people's views on should we kill sick fish? how should we judge when it is in the best interests of tankmates to kill a seemingly sick fish? and what is the most humane way to kill a fish?

First off it sounds like your neon tetra has "neon tetra disease". When you say part of its body is discolored, do you mean its white? is it near it's tail? If so its most likely sick and infectious to other fish. Can you post a picture? This would really help to id the problem and make sure no one acts too hastily.

I had some Koi that sucked the eyes off of another koi. I did some research on a goldfish message board. The best way to euthanize a fish is to either use clove oil or put them in the freezer. It sounds barbaric to put them in the freezer but their metabolism slows down and they slip into a coma and then dont wake up. Whether or not the same is applicable to tropical fish, i do not know. I have also heard that a couple drops of clove oil will put the fish into a coma. I have used the freezer method for a couple goldfish. Hope this helps!

I found something, that to my suprise, works for this. I don't know if you are suppose to use it, or not, but found lidocane really puts them out - and fast. Has anyone else ever used it? I tried in on a sick tetra, when nothing else was available - cannot find clove oil anywhere.

I would say do what you are comfortable with. I personally would and never see and animal/fish/bird, suffer. I have been with animals all my life 68 years and it never gets easy especially if you have had that pet for 20 years.

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The best way to euthanize a fish is to either use clove oil or put them in the freezer

I would have to disagree with this. Anything that requires dosages or temperature has the potential to go wrong and cause distress. For small and medium size fishies, I would use the brick method. I believe that it causes them the least distress, as they are out of water for maybe 2-3 seconds before the end, and they are dead instantly once it is done.

Especially in the UK, where it is nigh on impossible to get hold of antibiotics for fish, infectiosn can set in and be unbeatable. I have no ethical problem in ending a fishes' life if they are untreatable and suffering. My angelfish had a huge gaping abscess in its side, significant secondary infection and was clearly not going to survive. Whilst it was still eating antibiotics and live food, I was prepared to continue, once it stopped eating, it was clearly past the point of help.

In short, I believe I provide the death for my fish that I would like if I was in pain, suffering and terminally ill.

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I like to think that whoever designed marine life was thinking of it as basically an entertainment medium. That would explain some of the things down there, some of the unearthly biological contraptions

Another reply to the second question - about the Neon.

NTD is a fast moving, killer, protazoan disease, comparable to Malaria in humans. There are many other symptoms as well as discolouration - these include paralysis of discoloured area, neurological deficits (failure to remain upright, twirling), bloat and digestive issues.

If your neon is not exhibiting any of these, I would not euthanase. However, I would consider treating the tank with Octozin by Waterlife (in case it is not NTD but Columnaris - a bacterial disease with similar symptoms) In addition, I would maintain strict tank quarantine procedures - feed that tank last, use different utensils to change water, allow no contact between water in that and other tanks etc.

If the Neon does begin exhibiting additional symptoms and does die - do NOT flush it! There is evidence that the protazoa can survive chlorination and could infect native fish populations. If possible, have the body burned. Drop it in a hospital incineration bin, or in a garden incinerator or something.

(edited because I saw you were in the UK)

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I like to think that whoever designed marine life was thinking of it as basically an entertainment medium. That would explain some of the things down there, some of the unearthly biological contraptions

I would have to disagree with this. Anything that requires dosages or temperature has the potential to go wrong and cause distress. For small and medium size fishies, I would use the brick method. I believe that it causes them the least distress, as they are out of water for maybe 2-3 seconds before the end, and they are dead instantly once it is done

I did state that I had only used the freezer with goldfish because they are a coldwater fish. Many goldfish keepers swear by the freezer for fish euthanasia because many goldfish experience severe fish bladder problems. I dont think I could bring myself to smash a fish with a brick.

Here is a link that lists several euthanasia options and their opinion of how ethical it is. http://homepage.ntlworld.com/faustus/nicoldaquaria/euthanasia.htm

Interesting link, especially the temperature shock method (freezing). Any other views on this? I had heard that putting your fish in the freezer was not a humane way, but this method seems different.

I don't want this thread to turn into a hospital thread, but I'm pretty sure it's not NTD. The tetra's tail is brown and has been pretty much since I got him about 5-6 months ago. There are no other symptoms and it hasn't spread to any of the other fish (I assumed that he would be dead by now along with a fair few of his mates if it was some kind of disease).

I personally do not advocate the head cutting off method or the freezer method.
Both are not very nice ways to die, and the brain,
even once the head is cut off, may still function for several minutes.

Crushing the head with a brick is the best way for
non-squeamish people.

I use clove oil myself, 1 part clove oil to 10 parts tank water.
It works very well and is painless.


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how can we tell if anything is really painless? Unless we can somehow do it to ourself, we wouldn't realy know.

Do whatever method u think best, and just don't really think about it.

I think it would be better for the affected fish if we did think about it...

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