19 replies to this topic

[Leo1234]

I don't want to have to this, but having to deal with a large aquarium and a drought... I might need to do euthanize my whole 150 gallon aquarium.  I can't ship and can't find anyone local who can take them. It isn't official that I'm going through with this.

how should I euthanize my whole 150 stock?

Things I can't do: anything that requires me to physically harm the fish, freezer (too little room).

Is there anything I can put in the water?

[Mrfipp]

It's impossible to kill a fish without harming it. You are effectively ending its life.

There's three ways that are humane that you could do at home pretty readily. One method is to bag a fish in a small amount of water (plenty for the fish to breathe) and put it in a cooler full of ice water. Lots of ice. This is basically the freezer method without needing freezer space. This method works better on tropical fish.

Another method is a high dosage of clove oil. Clove oil is also used as a fish sedative. Add it to aquarium water in a bucket or something. Toxic dosages supposedly are above 400 mg/L. It's also listed as a potential carcinogen, so try not to get a bunch on your skin or anything.

The third humane option is a bit more... personal. Decapitation kills fish pretty quickly. Use a big chopping knife and don't be gentle.

Some people may advocate slamming a fishes head into something solid with a lot of force. I do not suggest it as a humane option.

[Matt DeLaVega]

You might be putting the cart before the horse. Hopefully it does not come to that Leo.

 

  However if it does, I am not an authority on this at all, and I would just get the fish and whack them, but maybe you can drain the water down, and give them a heavy dose of MS222 if you can get it. Clove oil and rotenone would do it as well.

[Sean Phillips]

Clove oil is what I'd recommend if you have to. If it comes down to it though is there a reason you can't ship? For now since water is scarce for you my suggestion would be to add a LOT of hardy plants like Hornwort and Java Moss that will help get rid of a lot of nitrates so you don't have to change water nearly as often.

[sbtgrfan]

MS22 and pith is probably most humane. I've never used clove oil but as suggested above, i hear it works well. If you go this route, pith it after it is sedated. I've necropsied fish that have beating hearts even after sitting in a high amount of 222 for a couple hours. Pith between the eyes ends that quickly.

[Leo1234]

If it comes down to it though is there a reason you can't ship? For now since water is scarce for you my suggestion would be to add a LOT of hardy plants like Hornwort and Java Moss that will help get rid of a lot of nitrates so you don't have to change water nearly as often.

I can't ship because I don't have the time or supplies.

You might be putting the cart before the horse. Hopefully it does not come to that Leo.

So far so good... I hope so too.

I did find someone who would take 2-3 fish. I kind of want to change my aquarium stock to just bluegill, redear, warmouth, and some species of suckers, but I will make another thread for that I guess since it would be off topic.

[Josh Blaylock]

I don't want to have to this, but having to deal with a large aquarium and a drought... I might need to do euthanize my whole 150 gallon aquarium.  I can't ship and can't find anyone local who can take them. It isn't official that I'm going through with this.
 

 

I'm not sure I get you here.  I understand the drought and such, but unless things go on for a much longer time, why are you talking about killing all your fish?  There are many options.  You do not have to do water changes.  Ramp up the filtration with sponge filters and/or other methods and just top off periodically.  You also don't have to keep the tank full, let the water level drop if water is in short supply.  Tighten up the aquarium lid so you have less evaporation. 

 

If you're just wanting to change stock, don't blame the drought.  Just kill'em and roll on.

[Leo1234]

 

I'm not sure I get you here.  I understand the drought and such, but unless things go on for a much longer time, why are you talking about killing all your fish?  There are many options.  You do not have to do water changes.  Ramp up the filtration with sponge filters and/or other methods and just top off periodically.  You also don't have to keep the tank full, let the water level drop if water is in short supply.  Tighten up the aquarium lid so you have less evaporation. 

 

If you're just wanting to change stock, don't blame the drought.  Just kill'em and roll on.

It is about the drought and the stock. I didn't know you could do those methods to prevent having to do water changes. I think I made it sound worse than it is at the moment. The drought is still as bad as I said and is getting worse, but I am still allowed to keep the aquarium. I was very depressed the day I posted this because I've lost some of my favorite fish in my 150 and felt like I was terrible at keeping fish (I do also have genetic depression so that might have made things sound worse). I just left this topic up so if I do need to kill them, I have some information about it.

The thing about California it is hard to get natives and get rid of natives. If it does come to the point I do have to take down the 150 right away, I might have to kill off the rest of the stock I would have. Sorry if I created too much worry. I decided to take down all my other aquariums except the 33 and the 150.

I also read that the drought won't affect people as much. Their main concern is the native animals. I really wish I could help the native animals, but all I can do is save water.

[mattknepley]

" I really wish I could help the native animals, but all I can do is save water. "

Just keep doing what you can until you can do even more.


Water changes are standard excellent fish husbandry but as Josh said, you have options. He offered you some good ones. Truth be told, most of my water changes consist of topping off the tank every so often. Ideal? No. Capable of maintaining a healthy environment? Yup, if you don't overfeed, et cetera.

[Betta132]

Freezing method is only humane with tiny fish. Clove oil is probably best, they basically just go to sleep and don't wake up. Worst case scenario, the fish realizes there's clove oil and freaks out a bit before passing out. It's probably best to physically destroy the brain in some way after that, but leaving the fish in a very dense concentration of clove oil overnight should shut them down for good. I've used this method for sick or badly injured fish, and I've never seen any further signs of distress, aside from the initial "OMG I'M IN A CUP" reaction. 

I'd really just suggest stuffing a lot of java moss, hornwort, and such into your tanks. That'll cut down on nitrates without water changes. Also, fish don't always need to be fed daily, depending on the species. Do you mostly have large predators? 

[Irate Mormon]

 but I am still allowed to keep the aquarium.

 

Are you saying that you need permission to keep an aquarium, and that there are people who know you have the aquarium and may decide that you are NOT ALLOWED to keep it?

[Matt DeLaVega]

His parents and their water bill Irate. Over a certain amount of usage the price per gallon goes up substantially. Water changes take a back seat to showers. California.

[gzeiger]

Java moss is hardy but slow growing. If you can get water lettuce that is the absolute best thing. Other floating plants like Azolla and duckweed can become annoying, but floating plants are best because their growth is basically limited by either nitrogen or light, and it's easy to provide enough light when there's no water above the plant to attenuate it. Submerged plants will be limited by either light or carbon, both of which are fairly difficult to supply. Floating plants are the way to keep your water clean in this situation.

[Leo1234]

Good news. We are suppose to get a lot of rain in the fall and winter. While this might not take us out of the drought, I think that it will make it so I don't have to worry as much about having to take down my aquariums because of water bills.

[Matt DeLaVega]

That is good news, but don't count on it. Add plants to cut your water changes just in case. That is what I would do anyway. Good luck and let's hope for rain in the west.

[jacktaylor900]

Steal a baby river otter from its mom and put it in the tank. That will solve all your problems. 

[Matt DeLaVega]

ODNR might not be too happy with that. I am just glad I grew up a fisherman. Euthanasia is just a soft word for killing a fish, and after killing hundreds, it gets fairly easy.

[jacktaylor900]

Wish you guys could have some of our rain, gosh it's rained more days this summer than it hasn't. 

[Matt DeLaVega]

Killing hundreds to eat. Not in the hobby.

[Betta132]

Besides, there's a difference between a fish that you just pulled out of the river and a fish that you've been keeping for awhile. Fish, particularly the more intelligent ones like sunfish, tend to grow on their keeper after awhile.