It’s never an easy decision, but it’s our duty as pet owners to act in our fish’s best interest.
If you’ve got a sick fish and want to gently put it out of misery so it can rest peacefully, read this guide to learn how to euthanize your fish in a humane manner.
How to Humanely Euthanize Fish
Overdosing fish on prescription level anesthetics is the best way to make sure that they don’t suffer.
But, these drugs aren’t available to the public and many of us don’t have a local veterinarian that treats fish.
So let’s go over how to euthanize fish with things that are readily available to the public. This is a fairly controversial topic that’s endlessly debated online in aquarium forums.
I’m presenting you with what are, in my opinion, some of the best ways to euthanize fish at home so that they don’t suffer needlessly.
From here, it’s up to you to decide which method you are most comfortable with.
Clove Oil (Must Contain Eugenol)
Clove oil is an essential oil derived from the buds, leaves and stems of the Syzygium aromaticum plant. The active ingredient is a compound called eugenol that has numbing properties.
You can buy clove oil from specialty health food stores, herb shops or even on Amazon.
Make sure to buy clove oil for teeth and gums containing eugenol. Basic essential oils will not put your fish to sleep.
Clove oil is used to anesthetize fish so that minor surgery can be performed while they’re asleep.
But, if you leave the fish long enough, the eugenol will kill them.
This is a great way to painlessly euthanize a fish, but you have to make absolutely sure that you leave the fish exposed to the clove oil long enough.
Otherwise, the fish might seem dead but really it’s just deeply, deeply asleep and capable of waking back up.
Equipment:
- Container to put your fish in, appropriate to size
- Clove oil
- 2 ounce jar or container with water tight lid
- Warm water
- Medicine dropper
- Air pump
- Airstone
- Airline tubing
Steps:
- Figure out exactly how much water the container you plan to use for the fish holds. You’ll need to know this so you can dose the clove oil properly.
- Fill the container with enough tank water so that the fish can rest comfortably.
- Set up the airstone, airline and pump so that there are continuous bubbles in the water. This will keep the clove oil dispersed in the water column.
- Half fill the small jar/container with warm water.
- Use a medicine dropper to drip clove oil into the jar. You’ll need 0.5 ml (about 10 drops) per liter of water in the big container. That’s roughly 2 ml (½ teaspoon) per gallon.
- Put the lid on your jar and shake it vigorously until the liquid becomes milky looking.
- Net the fish and place it into the container.
- Slowly pour the clove oil mixture into the container with the fish. It’s best to do this slowly over a 5 minute period. Adding clove oil in too fast can stress your fish.
- The fish will calm down, then gently go to sleep, turning belly up.
- Leave the fish in the container for at least an hour to make absolutely sure that it has died.
Pros:
- Painlessly puts fish to sleep and then kills them.
Cons:
- Takes a long time.
- Risk of not fish not dying and waking up later.
Alka Seltzer
Adding Alka Seltzer will also quickly euthanize a fish. When you drop the tablets into the water, there is an instant chemical reaction between the citric acid and the sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) that causes carbon dioxide (CO2) bubbles to rapidly form.
The CO2 quickly depletes the oxygen in the tank, killing the fish.
I have used this method several times over the years and can attest that it works very, very quickly, within seconds in my experience. I always leave the fish in the water for at least 10 minutes to make sure that it has died and won’t revive if put back in an oxygenated environment.
I’ve never had a fish revive, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.
The one con to this method is that the fish does briefly thrash. Some argue that this is evidence that the fish goes through some level of suffering before it dies.
Look, I can’t give you absolute scientific proof that the fish does or does not suffer. But I can say that within seconds the fish stops moving altogether and dies.
So I definitely don’t think there is any prolonged suffering. I do leave the fish in the Alka Seltzer water for at least 10 minutes to make absolutely sure that they’ve died.
This is probably overkill, like literally, but it makes me feel better.
Equipment:
- Container to put your fish in, appropriate to size
- Alka Seltzer tablets (8 tablets per gallon/ 2 tablets per liter)
Steps:
- Fill the container with tank water, net fish and place it in the container.
- Add 8 tablets per gallon of water.
- Tablets will fizz strongly as they dissolve, fish will thrash for a few seconds and will then float to the top of the water.
- Leave fish in the container for at least 10 minutes to ensure it has died.
Pros:
- Very quick method of killing fish
- Alka Seltzer is readily available
Cons:
- Fish briefly thrashes
How to Dispose of Dead Fish
I know a lot of people think that you should just flush dead fish down the toilet. Well, little ones at least.
But I don’t recommend this. Flushed fish can end up in local waterways.
Then they might pass the bacteria, virus or parasites that killed them to native fish. This can have devastating effects on local fish populations.
Instead, I would recommend placing the fish in a plastic bag and disposing of it in the garbage.
It’s better to be on the safe side and protect wild fish whenever we can.
Methods I Don’t Condone
There are some methods that pop up on the internet that are just ridiculous, and frankly, downright cruel in my opinion.
Please, don’t use these methods:
- Throwing fish on the ground to stun them.
- Flushing them down the toilet while they’re still alive.
- Leaving them out of water until they suffocate- this is slow and very uncomfortable.
- Bashing fish in the head with a hammer – you could miss and cause a great deal of pain.
- Putting fish in the freezer – this is slow and can be painful for fish.
- Putting fish into boiling water – terribly painful way to die.
I can’t believe that anyone would even think that last one was an option, but I did come across it online.
Some people do recommend decapitating fish. This would kill them very quickly, but if you get it wrong, this could lead to a lot of suffering for the fish.
So unless you’ve got some experience with decapitating fish, and know you can quickly cut off the fish’s head completely, I don’t recommend this method either.
Final Thoughts
I hope I’ve given you some insight into how to best euthanize your fish so that you can minimize their suffering.
The decision to euthanize a fish is never an easy one. But, it’s our duty as pet owners to always act in our fish’s best interest, even if that means ending their life to prevent further pain.
If you’re reading this article, then you probably have a very sick fish and you’re looking for ways to put it out of its misery.
I’m sorry you’re going through that. That’s awful, and I wish you all the best.
I know that I get very attached to my fish and it can be really difficult for me when one is so sick that I have to euthanize it.
Luckily, it’s been rare in my years of fishkeeping, but that doesn’t make it any easier.
Thank you so much for this thoughtful article. It helped me a lot. Everyone has told me to just freeze my fish, but my heart couldn’t bring me to doing it because it didn’t feel right. I think I’ll use the alka seltzer method if he’s still alive in the morning. Thank you
I, like so many others really appreciate this article. I was wondering though if I purchase clove bud oil should I change the dose since it is supposedly stronger. I have a 6yrs old cichlid who is getting to that point and I just want him to go peacefully. Any feedback would be appreciated.
Thank you so much! You are awesome
Thanks for this article. I just had to euthanize my 7-year-old serpae Tetra. I used clove oil so he wouldn’t suffer.
Thank you for writing this article. My husband and I had to put down our blue hippo tang tonight, and I am grateful for the information. We had taken in this tang from a local fish store, where he got dumped in horrible condition – covered in lateral line disease, underfed, and malnourished. After more than a year in our aquarium, he was doing fantastic, ate like a horse! Until recently, when he stopped eating and swimming. We have tried to hand feed him, with no luck, and he was basically wasting away at this point. The rest of the aquarium is healthy, so I believe he had something fatal, whatever it may be….
We chose to use the clove oil followed by Alka seltzer after he was “asleep,” and it was certainly the least tragic option we could have used. Big hugs to anyone else going/gone through this.
Thank you so much for your very compassionate article. I saved it on 11/18th when my husband was out of town after having a good cry. We’ve put off euthanizing Goldie, our 20 year old very large goldfish who lives in our backyard pond, but I think tomorrow is the day. 🥲 We’ve chosen the Alia seltzer method, and I am so happy that I came across your post, thank you! 🙏
Could I use both methods – anesthetize the fish with the clove oil then put in the alka seltzer? Thanks
That’s a good idea. The clove oil to make sure it doesn’t suffer.
The Alka Selzer to make sure it doesn’t wake up buried somewhere out of the water.
Thank you for the article and as you point out anyone here is because they have at least one fish that is suffering and will have tried everything they can to save them.
Hi everyone,
Just wanted to add my 2 cents as I’ve been keeping tropical fish for about 5 years and have had to sadly euthanize a few fish along the way.
I too was outright disgusted by the thought of freezing my fish, regardless of how sick they were. I am also much too squeamish to stun/decapitate – and then if course there’s the fact that I probably wouldn’t do it correctly.
I have successfully used the clove oil method many times with very little apparent discomfort to the fish. I am not quite as accurate as the above article states. I have a small Mason jar which I fill with about 2 inches of tank water. I then take roughly 10 drops of clove oil (you can buy pure clove oil on Amazon or at a local health food store) and mix it vigorously with a tiny bit of tank water in a separate container (think tiny Tupperware) I then add my sick fish to the Mason jar of tank water and very slowly add the mixture of clove oil/tank water. The fish almost immediately falls unconscious and stops breathing. I always leave my fish in the jar for an hour to ensure he/she has passed. I also monitor the fish every 10 mins or so to ensure he/she has actually died and is just not unconscious. If it’s a slightly bigger fish (think Molly or adult gold barb) i generally add another round of clove oil once the fish is unconscious to ensure death and little suffering.
I was a total novice when I started fishkeeping and followed advice online to use the clove oil method. Hopefully this helps someone!
I just want you to know how much I appreciate your straight forward, compassionate, & educational post. I have been struggling about what to do with my poor fish. You’d think as an RN this wouldn’t be such an issue, but my heart breaks every day I see it swim every which way, but the thought of causing any trauma in a attempt to bring it peace has had me paralyzed. My friend actually found a tutorial to euthanize his fish on YouTube,, by I don’t know who, gave me his leftover clove oil, & told me to research exactly how to do it. That is how I found your article. I’m going to use the alka seltzer as well.
So,, thank you.
Thank you for this. The clove oil did the trick. Very sad to have to help my fish along. Totally treatable parasite but the vets are pretty strict about the metronidazole and the jumping through the hoops of bringing an already sick fish in for an exam were too stressful for it in my opinion.
Thank you! I’ve been going through trauma for the last 2 weeks watching my 20+ year old pleco dying. Today I went to Shoppers and got a pack of 36 alka seltzer, sucked most of the water out of the tank and went for it. I really appreciate your thoughtful advice.
Thank you very much.
I have used your clove oil method and my little chap is asleep At the moment.
He is only tiny (danio) but has been the life and soul of my tank.
I think the heat recently did for him.
Although I kept them out of sunlight and freshened the water as often as I could but he is very tiny. 😢
I want to thank you for the guidance provided in this posting. I sadly had to let my 13 year old black ghost knife go this evening – he was about 11 inches long, so a bigger fish. He had been sick for several weeks and medications weren’t helping. His situation deteriorated to where I could see he was suffering and would eventually die. I used a mixture of the clove oil to relax him and then the Alka Selzer tabs. It was hard to bring myself to do it, but he has lived a long life and I could not let him suffer any longer. Thanks again.
This is a great article, well done. I always use a smaller dose of clove oil to first put the fish to sleep, then add a larger dose to the container to finish the process. This has always worked.
i never in my life thought i would be crying over a 25 cent goldfish, but here i am!!! “Dale” has been with us for 14 years! ( my husband kept a clean tank! ) he is suffering so it is time to let him go. thank you for this article, reading the comments made me feel like im not alone. Loss is hard. Heres to you Dale!! Swim in peace…..
I just want to join in the other commenters to thank you for this thoughtful and straightforward advice. My little boy’s betta was suffering so tonight I had him say goodbye to the fish in his hospital tank, and then I used the clove oil method after he went to bed—it was quick and peaceful, but I’m still having a little cry by myself over this little fish! Thanks for the kind words at the end of this post, truly helped me muster up the nerve to go through with it. 😪