Difference between revisions of "Euthanasia"

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Revision as of 22:07, 9 March 2014

Euthanasia is the deliberate ceasing of an animals life functions in a painless way so as to relive the suffering of the animal when medical aid has not helped. It is also used when culling fish that have a malformation or are not up to standards when breeding.

In the aquarium hobby various methods are used. Here is a current list.


Anesthetic Overdose

These include: Finquel, Tricaine methanesulfonate (TMS), Benzocaine hydrochloride, MS-222, etc. Pros:

Easy, and believed to be painless.

Cons:

Can be difficult to find. Vet prescription often required.
If animal is removed too soon they can be revived.
Fish have shown a stress response to some of these chemicals.

Carbon dioxide

This can be put into the water via airstone, Sodium bicarbonate (Bicarbonate of soda, baking soda), health salts (Alka-Seltzer). It is not recommended for amphibians.

Pros:

Easy, and painless.

Cons:

Certain species of fish (surface breathers) and amphibians can survive in extremely low oxygen environments so the use of CO2 may not be a quick method for anaesthetising.

Clove oil

Pros:

Quick, easy, and painless.

Cons:

Some may have trouble finding it.

Freezing or Boiling

Pros:

Easy.

Cons:

May not be painless. Freezing not recommended for cold water species.

Alcohol

Pros:

Easily available.

Cons:

May not be painless.


Physical violence

Examples: Sudden blunt trauma, Decapitation, Pithing, feeding to larger fish, etc.

Pros:

If done properly can be quick.

Cons:

If not done properly can cause the animal to suffer.
Most methods require the animal to be removed from the water first which stresses them.


Flushing down the toilet

Pros:

No special equipment needed.

Cons:

Akin to putting a puppy in an outhouse.
Can introduce disease to your septic system and the environment.
Animal may not die.

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