Topic: euthanizing a betta?

[Amberscotch]

i transfer them to ice water, they die within a few seconds

[flutterby11]

I use aspirin.

[Mugsy]

Despite what many people say, I find that freezing is the best method.  
I believe they lose consciousness before freezing causes any pain.  

[servo]

Being in the country I use a shotgun slug, lucky on very rare occasions (only once or twice through whole fish keeping experience).

I've seen other people place fish in a container of rubbing alcohol.  I see it works really fast, within seconds, but not sure if the initial shock cuases any pain that way.

[Curiosity]

I have been reading these topics with the future in mind.  I have an old betta and I want to be prepared.   couldn't stand to see him suffer.  I want to address clove oil.  I have some on hand I brought home for a toothache.  It contains eugenol, which is an anesthetic.  I don't know how it works, but it is endorsed by veterinarians.  The product I have is 100%, which would be difficult to dissolve in water.  Perhaps shaking would solubilize the droplets enough to reach the gills of a fish.  Alcohol would help dissolve it, but I think it would cause pain to the fish.  If this method is your choice, check with your pharmacy to obtain it.  I work in a pharmacy, and we carry it for toothaches in humans in a 1/4 ounce vial which would be sufficient.  It is very inexpensive.
I sport fish.  I have no problem bashing a salmon, but I may not be able to do the same to my pet fish.  I have heard of shooting, but I don't have that great of an aim.  If it comes to that and I cannot do it, I'll rely on the clove oil and freezing method.  I hope I can physically take out my fish, for I KNOW it will be painless.  I can't say that of chemical means.  We have talked on what to do about our fish if he gives it up.  We agreed that we woud bash in a baggie or euthanize, then burn his remains in a can with a torch.  I don't want any contamination to reach our environment.

[wendyjo]

Yes I just want to point out that any clove oil you buy will be 100% and not diluted in a carrier oil, as someone in another post stated.  

[shadowpheonix]

Yes, I have heard this, too...but Clint brought it to our attention that fish are infact cold blooded, so therefore, they just slip away.  I also doubt that blood freezes in the fashion as it it thicker than water.  I have used the clove oil method a couple of days ago, but the fish was already listless.

Well at what temperature would the fish slip away? According to a study I read, fish blood begins to crystallize at 28 degrees F, whereas water has a freezing point is 32 degrees F. It was the freezing point for those antarctic fish, but as you mentioned, blood is thicker than water, so even though bettas are antarctic fish, they're blood probably does not freeze at a temperature higher than the water would freeze. If they slip away before their blood began to crystallize, then I can't imagine that it would be painful because they're already gone.

Do you happen to know around what temperature they slip away?

[dementedlullaby]

I think a lot of people use the right into freezer method and it's no good. I've heard of bettas thrashing about while the temperature dramatically changes(put outside in the winter). What is best is to put the guy into the fridge first, this will make him go into a dormant sleepy phase. After that have something ready that's icey and put the poor little guy right into that and place it in the freezer. He won't feel a thing from what I hear.

I think it's always better to let the fish go naturally if you can. I think if it's dying from a serious wound or something that can't be cured then it's allright to euthanize but otherwise let nature take it's course as would happen in natural soroundings(or feed it to another fish lol >_>)

[olivetree]

Tonight I had to put my baby boy Finn to sleep. He suffered a lot through this life. His swimbladder disorder never got better and he always seemed to get worse by the day. I couldn't watch him suffer anymore. I read endless articles about what I could do for him, and I read endless articles about euthanizing bettas and figured the best I could do for him was put him out of his misery. I feel so bad, but he's in a better place now, without any misery or problems. May you rest in peace, Finn!  

[frogsnbettas]

Well, I'm sorry you had to do it.  Swim bladder can be a really awful thing to deal with... I understand.  He's swimming up in fishy heaven now.