"Roger Sleet" wrote in message
...
In article ,
There are a number of methods recommended by various people, they depend
on what is available.

The best is undoubtedly an overdose of anesthetic as the fish can't suffer
if it is unconscious, however getting anesthetic is problematic for most
of us without resorting to a vet.

Clove Oil is a known anesthetic for fish, but not always freely available.


For small fish many people recommend putting in iced water, however there
have been a lot of debates about how much this hurts the fish. I've never
used it.

Not recommended as the fish apparently suffers on several levels. Liquid
nitrogen wouldn't have the same sufferage level, but who can get that?

My preferred methods are not for the squeamish. I put small fish on a
hard surface and hit them with a brick - this is on the basis that being
converted to fish paste in a fraction of a second can't hurt.

I use this method when I have no clove oil. I don't have to euthanase very
often thankfully, but as far as suffering goes, a quick sharp blow between
two bricks seems the least stressful for the fish in the absence of clove
oil.

Oz

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My Aquatic web Blog is at http://members.optusnet.com.au/ivan.smith