How to Euthanize a Fish

By Josh Day

The last thing anyone ever wants to do is put down a favorite fish. However, sometimes euthanasia is necessary. Whether you're euthanizing the fish to prevent further infection in your tank or simply putting the little guy out of its misery, there are several ways of painlessly terminating the fish.

The first method is probably the most popular. Simply net the fish and put it in a cup of tank water and then put the cup in the freezer. When the fish is a block of ice, bury the body at sea. In other words, load the fish into your torpedo tube (toilet) and flush.

Another method is introduce a small amount of vodka to a cup of tank water. The fish slowly winds down and just fades away.

A sprinkling of clove oil also works. However, wait at least ten minutes before flushing. (Clove oil is also used to temporarily incapacitate a fish. This is useful for pufferfish which need their beaks trimmed.)

For larger fish, a swift, strong blow to the head will promptly do the trick. A quick slice with a sharp cleaver will sever the head and kill the fish instantly.