the reason for this post is anna rice bowl has sadly had to euthanise her paradise fish
now this must be the saddest job of any aquarist but is the only way to stop the fish feeling any unnecessary pain or prolonged suffering
Accepted methods of EUTHANASIA
Decapitation this is a very quick method as well as a easy one, you will need a sharp pair of scissors or a sharp knife. you will then need to lay the fish on a flat surface restraining it so as it cant escape or fall off then in one cut remove the head from the body. You then need to destroy the brain this can be carried out by penetrating the brain with a sharpe instrument
Another way which the majority of people i have talked to is the concussion method so to speak. To use this method simply wrap the fish in a cloth/towel leaving the head exposed, and by holding the fish by the body/tail strike the head with a hard blow against the edge of a hard surface thus rendering the fish unconscious and then you either destroy the brain with a sharp instrument or decapitate so as it cant come round.
Anaesthetic is probly the best way for the squimish fish keeper as all you need to do is place the fish in a anaesthetic solution if you can get hold of one (may only be obtainable through your local vet) you need to use such as Tricaine Methane-Sulphonate or Benzococaine, the dose required depends on the type of fish, but in general if you use 300mg per litre of Tricaine Methane-Sulphonate is normaly enough to cause the death of most aquarium fish. If you are unsure of the dose to use ask your local vet, it is also a good idea to leave the fish in the solution for at least an hour after death to make sure
Methods Not Acceptable of EUTHANASIA
Rendering the fish unconscious and not destroying the brain
Flushing away in the toilet
Removing from water till they die
Placing in boiling water
Placing in freezing water
Freezing them to death
Feeding them to large predators
Now we have delt with the sad task of Euthanasia we need to dispose of the carcass in a safe and responsible way, the safest and the best way is to wrap the carcass in an old newspaper or similar then place in plastic bag that you can seal and then dispose it with your rubbish, another way is if you have a real fire you could burn the carcass.
DO NOT flush the carcass down the toilet (as this could contaminate other fish in other water ways)
_________________
the only stupid questions are the ones you dont ask
JINKY 1944-2006 R.I.P
