for those squeamish about whacking their beloved pets, putting them in
an old sock sometimes helps.

I used to have to kill mice for my pet snake, and I couldn't bear to
look at their cute little furry bodies and then smash them But it's
much more humane than letting my snake squeeze them until they're
paralized and then swallow them while they're still alive.

altho i'm pretty sure even with a sock I couldn't do that to one of my
fish. I'd have to have one of my roomates do it, or go with the clove
oil method.