Euthanize advice

[Elephant nose 4]

Hi, I have a 6yr old chili rasbora that isn't looking so good, she's struggling to swim and she's gotten steadily worse. I'm starting to wonder if I need to euthanize her as she's looks really thin and can't make it to the top of the tank, I'm not sure if its age as I don't know how long they live.
How can I euthanize her in a humane way?
Thanks

 

[nik_n]

I'm sorry to hear it. You could let it pass away the natural way. If its really 6 years old it shouldn't be surprising.

The most humane way to euthanize fish is using clove oil. Take the fish into a separate tank and pour a few drops in. I don't know the exact formula but I'm sure someone here does.

Another quick way would be to quickly rap the fish in foil and hit it over the head with a hard object. Strong enough to kill it.

Do not boil or freeze your fish alive because it is incredibly painful for the fish.

I recently had to euthanize a fish. I know how hard it can be

 

[Elephant nose 4]

Thanks for the advice, I think I'll just keep an eye on her and hopefully she'll pass herself, I have been seeing my rasboras group getting smaller sadly but I've had them for a while. The thought of having to euthanize her isn't easy, I'm to sensitive.
Sorry for your loss

 

[itiwhetu]

Just let her pass away. 6 years is a good life for any Rasbora

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Culling, for good or bad, is part of the hobby. No one's favorite part, though.

I would probably let it pass naturally too, if there's no sign of contagious disease. I've never used clove oil. I find the quickest way is to put them in a small cup of water with several ice cubes in it; they die very quickly from shock. Diane Walstad recommends dipping them in carbonated water (soda). This works quickly, too, but it's a lot more trouble. I don't know how much pain either of these cause them. But at least it doesn't last long. Hitting them over the head is certainly the quickest way of all, but it tends to be a little harder on the human doing it.

Six years is a long life for a chili. You must be doing something right.

 

[Guest14017]

I wouldn't want to die from shock so I don't think we should accept that as a way of putting down an animal either. The freezing method has never been accepted as humane by any society. No aquatic vets use or recommend that method, and it is widely known as cruel just like dropping the fish in boiling water. I have never heard of using carbonated water but since they are fish, I would assume there is some level of discomfort associated with that method. The most vet approved methods of euthanasia consist of anesthetic overdose for most animals (fish included). The swift whack to the head is considered humane when done properly. Decapitate and pith is also considered humane when done correctly. Most fish pass peacefully without struggle when using the anesthetic overdose method.

 

[Elephant nose 4]

Thanks everyone I'm just going leave her to pass herself, it's not something I want to do. 6 year's is a long time to have them they're such sweet little fish.

 

[seangee]

Diane Walstad recommends dipping them in carbonated water (soda). This works quickly, too, but it's a lot more trouble.

Never heard of this but death by suffocation does not sound very humane.
I use whack it on the head for a single fish and clove oil if its a group (thankfully only had to do a group once). In cases like this where it is obviously old age I tend to let nature take its course unless the fish is obviously distressed.