Topic: euthanizing a betta?

[hakkobetta]

Most humane is chopping the head off, from what I've heard. However, I always freeze I can't bare to do anything else. I'm sorry about your boy Dorn

[wendyjo]

I used clove oil and my poor Indy thrashed all about.  I will never ever use it again.

[danelle]

Most humane is taking sharp scissors and clipping the spine at the base of the head (where the neck would be if it were called a neck), then addling the brains. Sounds gross, I know, but it's what we do in the research lab and it kills basically instantly.

I'm sorry about your Thunder. It's good that you're a strong enough person to do the best thing you can in the end.

[Mollielover]

Sorry to hear about Thunder Dorn

[Snapple]

I cut one of my fishys head off before... will never do it again for the dramatic twitching. Some one suggested just dipping a drop in every few minutes to lessen the trama... also heard of I think vodka used as a ethanizer.

[Lisie]

Freezing is not humane at all, even though it may *look* peaceful... numerous veterinarians have said so. With cold-blooded animals, ice crystals form in their tissues... this is obviously very painful.

I haven't heard anything about boiling.

If you decapitate, you must also destroy the brain in the process. Even when not attached to the rest of the body, the brains of cold-blooded animals can remain alive for some time.

Do NOT use vodka... it is painful.

Clove oil is definitely the best method. It is used by veterinarians for anesthesia in aquatic animals, and even by humans to relieve pain. Just make sure you use enough... instead of using just a few drops, use 1/4 to 1/2 of the bottle. I've heard of people having bad experiences with clove oil, but it turns out they did it wrong... when doing it the right way, the fish died peacefully.

[BettaBelle]

I say the same thing about vodka, if you do it the right way, it is not painful at all.
I am just sorry for you that you have come to the point to having to make this painful decision.

[Guitarchiq]

Just to re-direct, we do have a stickey on all of the things mentioned already. 

[Mumusuki]

I gave her the link on my first post.

[Guitarchiq]

oh yeah!  abraca-duh to me!