> >Taking about Euthanasia for fish other than hitting them with a hammer
> >or letting them breath air. Are there any other humane ways.
If you can get it (I believe it is prescription only in Oz), benzocaine
is a cheap anaesthetic. A more expensive one is ms222. This is probably
the least brutal way of doing it.
> A couple of other methods I haven't seen mentioned yet are putting the
> fish in small container of water then putting it in the freezer.
> Supposably the fish just slows down, goes to sleep and dies. Or you
> can put it in a samll container of water and add Alka Selser. The CO2
> released suffocates the fish rather quickly.
I don't really like either of those too much. I think hot water would be
quicker. I now I wouldn't like to freeze to death or be suffocated
(although the exhaust pipe into the car cabin wouldn't be too bad I
suppose). Not sure though if that is really the same thing for a fish.
> I feel the direct approach is the best. Freezing them is my second
> approach with fish too large to be put down by the net snapping
> method.
A method that I found was pretty good on large fish (like 2ft carp) was
to lie the fish on the ground and stomp directly on their head very
firmly (you need sturdy shoes to do this, runners just don't cut it).
This really stops them dead in their seat. It is very rare to observe
any movement by the fish after the blow is struck. Of course though, you
have to deal with the odd loose eye ball and a somewhat mashed up head,
but look on the bright side, you now have easy access into their head to
examine the internal anatomy of the fish. Thus it can become a wonderful
learning tool. :-)
Tootles
Peter J Unmack peter.unmack at asu.edu
---------------------------------------------------------------
DESERT FISHES RULE: To boldly thrive where no other fish can make it!
Australian desert fishes pages at ozdesertfish.base.org (don't forget to
visit the Desert Fishes Council pages too)
Native Fish Australia pages at nfa.base.org (under construction)
North American Native Fishes Association at www.nanfa.org