Euthanizing Coldwater Fish

[sarah5775]

My tai devil crab seems doesn't seem to want to eat- she will not accept any food. The other day, one of my fish died, and I thought to place it in her tank. She immediately devoured it. Fish seem to be the only thing she'll eat.

I tried unsuccessfully to aquire frozen feeders from several pet stores, but they had none. Reluctantly, I had to buy some live minnows and goldfish for her.

I put a few in the tank, but she doesn't seem to be able to catch them. I think I'll leave them in for a few days and see if she catches them when she gets hungrier.

If she does not eat the live fish, I may be in the difficult situation of having to kill the fish for her. I have read online about several methods of euthanization. Please don't flame me- I find this difficult enough.

I can't use alcohol or chemicals because that would be passed on to the crab. I don't think I have a steady enough hand for decapitation. The only thing that sounds doable is the freezing method, but I keep reading contradictory things about it. Is putting a fish in the freezer humane for coldwater fish? One site said that coldwater fish enter a state of dormancy when the water gets very cold. This is like falling asleep, and then they die. Another site said that this is not recommended for ANY fish.

This is a very difficult subject and I understand if some people get upset, but I am not finding it easy either. It is my sincere hope that I can get the crab to take pellets soon. In the meantime, though, I would appreciate any feedback.

[jrp1588]

yeah, you are in a difficult position, but I say you gotta do what you gotta do. You could try dumping it in very cold water then very hot water, or the other way around. I imagine even one of the extremes would almost instantly kill it, switching extremes twice is certain to kill it.

I've euthanized a fish this way before, it died almost instantly from shock.

[Sombunya]

I'd say your crab sounds picky. If it does not eat then maybe it's not hungry enough.

So far, I have never seen an aquarium creature that did not eat blood worms. I have to do special things to get them down to the Crawfish before the Bluegill get them.

Wait a day then drop a clump of worms in front of the crab. If it doesn't eat them, I'd be amazed.

[bs6749]

The cray will eventually eat the fish rather than starve. You may have to ween it onto the fish though. I was also going to recommend bloodworms. Maybe mix the two together and add larger portions of fish with each meal. Then stop feeding bloodworms alltogether.

[Ruadh]

I've been told that the kindest way to euthanize a fish is to put it in enough water to just cover it and put it in the freezer. Hypothermia is a painless way to go, apparently.

Rick

[jrp1588]

I guess I just prefer quick and dirty. I know I'd rather be thrown into a pit of hot lava than put in a meat locker to slowly freeze to death.

[2cvbloke]

Originally Posted by Ruadh

I've been told that the kindest way to euthanize a fish is to put it in enough water to just cover it and put it in the freezer. Hypothermia is a painless way to go, apparently.

Rick

Utter rubbish. If you freeze a live creature, you cause it excruciating pain due to the ice crystals forming in the bloodstream and muscles, this is the most painful way to euthanise anything!!! Also, non-tropical fish go into hibernation if chilled, so they do not die, but still suffer in the process, do not do this at all.

Thermal shock is a kinder way to go, as that is how chefs cook Lobster, Crab, Prawn, Shrimp, Crayfish etc, but it is still not the kindest way of killing a fish.

The kindest way is an overdose of Finquel or Clove oil, these are used as an anaesthetic by aquarists, and just like any anaesthetic, an overdose will stop the heart, but as the fish is asleep, it will not know. This is the most peaceful and painless way to put an ill fish out of it's misery, any other way is in my view unacceptable.

[Phoenixphire55]

She can't use clove oil because the fish will be fed to a crab. I know it sounds scary but I would think that throwing a fish in a pot of boiling water would kill it almost instantly. Don't use goldfish though, they're too cool to be killed. lol
I know its quite a predicament but basically you're going to have to either boil them, freeze them, or do some kind of physical trauma to kill them. one other option would be to put the fish in a zip lock bag with no water in it, and then quickly smack it super hard against a hard surface, like the edge of a counter. I think that would kill it instantly (probably a little bloody though).

[jrp1588]

So does it make me a bad person that the last post made me chuckle a little? hah. Better not let PETA find this thread

[2cvbloke]

Originally Posted by Phoenixphire55

She can't use clove oil because the fish will be fed to a crab.

A long as the fish is thoroughly rinsed, there shouldn't be enough clove oil left to affect the crab, and afterwards the fish can be frozen, to preserve it if they're to be used for food...