"thewizardhunter" wrote
in message .com...
Many people use this way but do not realise that is is a slow and
torturing
death for the fish. The quickest and most humane way to euthanize a
fish is
to remove it as quickly as posible from the tank, place it onto a board
of
some sort and sever the spinal column just behide the head with a very
sharp
knife by pressing down hard and quickly. Death is instantaniuos and the
fish
doesn't suffer. As drastic as this might sound it is the quickest and
most humane.

Eew, no! I couldn't bring myself to do that!

Clove oil is the accepted humane method:

"The clove oil must be dissolved in alcohol to allow it to dissolve into the
water. I use vodka. Using
too much vodka will increase the discomfort to the fish, so measure
carefully. If you feel you
must increase the dosage, increase the clove oil only. Leave the fish in the
solution for at least a
couple of hours. Clove oil is a very safe sedative and fish have been known
to revive after an hour
in the solution.
Have a gallon of tank water in a bucket and put the fish in it. In another
container, mix 2-3 ml clove
oil with 8 mls vodka. Pour the clove oil mixture in and mix a little. The
fish will be unconscious
within minutes. I've never had any struggle or distress."

From the fish-a-holics web site.

Oz


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