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It's a sad fact of fishkeeping that sometimes, fish take a long time to let go of life. Watching a beloved fish struggle to breathe is tragic and helps no one, including the fish. In some cases, a fish may be carrying a contagious disease that needs to be ended as quickly as possible. Often, putting the poor thing out of its misery is the only humane thing to do. There are several ways to euthanize a fish, some more humane than others.

One method involves flushing the fish, often still alive, down the toilet. Since the fish may live for quite some time after being flushed, this is a cruel way to dispose of your pet. If you do decide on a "burial at sea," make sure the fish is dead before putting it in the bowl.

Another poor method of euthanasia is to put the fish in the freezer, thinking it will gracefully fall asleep and die peacefully in its sleep. The only being this spares is you, as you don't watch the fish struggle while it freezes to death.

Two methods remain, then, for euthanizing your fish: chemical or physical trauma.

The most "peaceful" method for all involved is to chemically put your fish to sleep. You can purchase products for anesthetizing a fish, but then be sure to finish the fish off, or it may wake up later, flushed down the toilet or in some other burial site. Or you can dose it with a small amount of clove oil for 5 minutes, to make the fish sleep, and then gradually add vodka to its water to let it die. The vodka kills the fish by assaulting the neurological system, and must not be used without an anesthetic such as a commercially available fish anesthetic, or clove oil.

If you have some guts (or if the fish isn't your personal pet) and aren't squeamish, you can euthanize using the quickest, cleanest, least painful (for the fish) method: decapitation. This method is used by biologists and aquarium professionals world wide. If you are squeamish and think you might hesitate, first dose the fish with an anesthetic so it won't flip around during this operation. Take the sharpest knife you own and a cutting board. Put the fish on the cutting board. Position the blade just behind the head, just behind the gills. Be confident and unflinching as you bring the knife decisively down.

I have also heard of well-meaning fish-keepers euthanizing a fish through a running garbage disposal, but I don't recommend this at all. If your disposal isn't in perfect condition, it can take more than a few seconds for the fish to die, during which it will suffer.

No matter what method you use, remember to honor the pet whose life has ended, and honor your feelings, be they grief, remorse, or even relief at having done what was necessary to end the animal's suffering.

Learn more about this author, Stephanie Bryant.
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