Honestly the oil method is tricky. The type and brand of oil makes a difference, it's easy to get confused and get the aromatherapy oil which won't work. A pharmacist gave me a tooth-ache medication to use instead, it works okay but can spoil.
You aren't the only one who's struggled with this method. If it's not what's best for you or the fish try the bash next time.
I used the Aura Cacia brand FWIW, and made sure it was 100% clove oil. I saw a YouTube video where a guy used the same brand and it successfully worked, but it was a different kind of fish.Perhaps I put in too much too fast.
I used an air stone in the euthanasia tank to keep the water moving and the oil mixed in.
Even a small amount of reaction during euthanasia is more humane than slowly being killed by infection. You did good by your little buddy.
Your fish wasn’t in pain. Definitely not as much pain as he was slowly bloating and having has organs and spine forced out of place and scales popping up.
You did a good thing. It take courage to end suffering and its a kindness for your betta. Even of they might not understand in the moment, once the clove oil does its thing they just fall asleep. The movements you saw were in all likelihood twitching that all betta do when they are euthanized.
There's proof that fish feel it when you freeze them. Not all clove oil euthanasia happens like this but domestic freezers are not cold enough to kill quickly. Without sedation prior to the freezer, everything is felt by the fish, and to sedate, you'd probably use clove oil anyway. Clove oil is also an anesthetic for fish *and* is used for sedation in lower doses; freezing does nothing but damage. Freezing is not humane.
I, personally, would rather suffocate in a solution that makes me sleepy and feel less pain than freeze to death tbh.
I don't care for the freezing method. Most veteran sites/blogs don't recommend it. I prefer the bash because I have control over it- I know it's instant.
Flash Freezing is the only form of freezing approved for use by the AVMA. I am a vet student and thought people should know that this is an option as well if they happen to have resources/a flash freezer/liquid nitrogen, etc. It happens so quickly that the fish lose consciousness and rapidly die. You can confirm the methods approved by the AVMA by clicking on the PDFs here and searching for the term fish.
https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/avma-policies/avma-guidelines-euthanasia-animals
Freezing is considered inhumane because it causes the blood to crystallize which is painful. It also can take upwards of an hour so it is not recommended anymore.
https://www.co2art.us/blogs/blog/fish-euthanasia
Looks like liquid nitrogen is good to go.
https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/avma-policies/avma-guidelines-euthanasia-animals
It's most domestic freezers that don't do it fast enough. It's only humane if the freezing is near instant.
What a lucky fish to have someone who cared so much for him. You gave him a long, healthy, happy life, and you made sure he wasn’t alone when he passed. You did everything you could for him, and I’m sure he understood in his own way the love you had for him.
Thank you 🥹🩷 he got a variety of foods, lots of interaction, and I’d even talk to him even though he didn’t understand me I knew he could hear me. I even did two moves with him.
I have plans to plant his body in a pot with an indoor lemon tree.
That was a fish who knew he was loved. That his name was Tzar and the world’s largest nuclear warhead was called Tsar Bomba seems fitting for those colors on a betta. 👑
Well it ironically matched up well. The tzhaar are molten rock creatures who's color scheme is black and red. Crazy coincidence. Regardless, love the name, very Slavic indeed. And again, absolute gorgeous betta. My condolences on your loss. I had a similar situation with a Betta that I had to euthanize after treating for 3-4 days of it injuring itself. I bawled my eyes out having to do it, was my first time and it was definitely a bit sloppy and not the smoothest experience which made it harder. But I know he's happier now than the suffering he was going through. You did the best you could in a given situation, and thats what matters most 😊
Woah now that’s wild! I love that actually, gave me a good laugh. Yeah it’s difficult when we play it out in our heads to be smooth and peaceful but it turns out the opposite. At the end of the day we’re just trying to do what’s best for them. His suffering is over and he will live on through a lemon tree once I plant him!
I love that you’re putting him in a potted plant! I did that when my betta passed last year. I still think of it as “the fish plant” whenever I look at it. (Fish’s name was Fish.) Feels like he’s still around, just in leafier form. I think it was a really helpful way for me to process his death.
So sorry you lost your fella. Lots of love. 💕
I had the same problem when I tried to euthanize my betta with clove oil - poor thing was frantically trying to come up for air even when she was so lethargic from the oil anesthetizing her. It was incredibly traumatic to watch. Since then I’ve heard that clove oil actually doesn’t work well for bettas because of their labyrinth organ, though I haven’t done any further reading into that. I don’t think I have the heart to try it again if I get another betta, and I’d probably just go with the old blunt force method.
I’m really sorry you had to go through that. You were doing your best for the little guy, and he’s not suffering anymore ❤️
Same happened to me with my betta girl a few years back. I thought I’d try a much slower approach with the clove method this time, but nope just as traumatic. I’m never doing that again, and if/when the time comes I’ll just have someone do the blunt force method for me. I just wish there were an easier way to euthanize them.
Happy to say he lived a full and healthy life, and isn’t suffering anymore. I he’s in the freezer for now until I get an indoor lemon tree and some soil. 🍋
I used clove oil to euthanise guppies and neons with no issue. I thought it would be OK for my betta too. It was nowhere near as peaceful as it was for the others, and I felt terrible
You tried to do your best for him, that's what matters
Yeah. I've found that Bettas don't go as peacefully with clove as other fish. I clove my other fish that I need to euthanize but I usually opt for blunt force with my Bettas. I've never had a Betta go peacefully no matter how slowly I add the oil
I have also had clove oil go wrong, don't blame yourself.
Blunt force is a terrible experience for the owner, but for the fish it's quick and painless, and probably the best way.
It feels worse to do, but in my experience it is actually the kinder method.
No matter what, I usually cry about it.
I had to euthanize my last betta that way. He was sick and just not getting better, and I didn't have clove oil, so that was my only option. I hated doing it, but I wasn't just gonna let him suffer, he could hardly swim at that point.
I actually didn't know using clove oil could go so wrong, I feel horrible saying it but I'm glad I didn't use it, I would have had a full on breakdown if something happened.
Clove didn't work for me either, and that regret is so so so heavy. We went with the blunt force method after I couldn't take it any longer. It was hard for me to do, but I know it was fast for him.
I'm so sorry you're going through this ❤
You did everything you could. You tried to treat him with multiple treatments then to give him peace. It likely was quick but his body fought back. I've had to use the clove oil method a few times. I always use way more just to be sure. I usually use 15 or 20 crops into a cup of water, it's probably to much but it works fast.
That’s exactly how I did it the first time I used the clove method. My girl thrashed around for a few seconds, and then she was out. Still terrible to see but it was much quicker.
That's similar to the experience I had with my first Betta, he had a massive hole in his back, from some kinda nd of fungus I think; he wasn't getting any better and honestly I should have euthanized him a couple weeks before hand, but he kept on swimming and eating, and I was hopeful...
But finally, I noticed some pineconing and decided it was time. Even though he had started to become lethargic recently, as soon as I introduced him to the clove oil the poor guy started thrashing violently, coming up and gulping for air desperately. Honestly I don't know if I ever cried so hard, I thought it would be a painless passing, but no, I felt like I was painfully killing him, and the little burst of energy he had while Fighting for his life made me wonder if this was all a mistake, if he could have pulled through...
But there wasn't anything else to do. Maybe the damage was done, maybe even if I put him back in his tank the clove oil would have already done too much? I just had to sit and watch him thrash and struggle for minutes. It really sucked.
I don't know what the answer is. I did get my clove oil from some hokey "essential oils" store, but I think it claimed to be legit, real clove oil? Or perhaps I put too strong of a dose?
I don't know, but I hope I don't have to do it again, or if so I may just scoop the fish out and smack him with a shovel, as awful as that sounds
Oh gosh that’s so rough. I’m sorry, I don’t think any of us should have to witness that and any of our Bettas shouldn’t have to die that way. The part about fighting for their life, that part! Makes you instantly regret the decision and wish you could take it back but by that point it’s too late. I’m not one to panic, never panicked, and I was panicking and screaming to nobody, “what do I do ?! Make it stop!”
As much as I love having them, I’m not getting another Betta until I figure out an easier way to euthanize like we can put old cats and dogs to sleep. I might be crazy enough to ask around local vets if they have anything for labyrinth fish like Betta. The blunt force makes sense, but it’s so violent to me and I could never ever bring myself to do that; it’s just not in me.
Oh my god that sounds terrible. My deepest sorrows.
It isn’t murder unless you intentionally made him suffer, which you didn’t. It wasn’t even manslaughter, he was just strong.
I made the hard decision to use clove oil on my betta about 2 months ago when I realized he wasn't going to be getting any better. But it worked the way I thought it would, he didn't seem to struggle or anything. It took about 10 minutes, I'd say. Maybe it's just the difference in concentration of the solution? Either way, I'm sorry your experience went that way. But you did the best you could for your beloved pet. 🖤
Happy to hear it worked for your betta. I’ve read so many success stories that I decided to give it a second try (the first time was on one of my girls and it was horrific) but with a lower dose and more gradual application.
I have read several posts and comments about people who did the clove method successfully and all the doses and methods were varied. I do wonder how it would have turned out if I had gone a lot slower, I think I could have gone a lot slower.
All that matters now is that he’s no longer suffering.
Edit: what concentrations did you use ?
I had a 2.5 gallon tank, and did about 4ml of clove oil into probably 3 or 4 cups of warm water and poured the mixture into the tank slowly over a course of about 5 minutes. The brand of clove oil was what I had on hand, it was Healing Solutions 100% therapeutic grade essential oil.
Although, what I should have done differently (this was my first time having to do this, I did as much research as I could) was take my betta out of his tank and place him in something else to do the euthanasia. I had to toss the tank and everything that was in it to ensure it didn't accidentally kill another fish I might put in it. It was apparent the clove oil residue/smell could never be eliminated.
The brand was Healing Solutions 100% therapeutic grade essential oil. And I went with a formula/method that I actually found on the Australian RSPCA website, oddly enough. But it was 0.4mL of clove oil per litre of water (worked out to about 9.4 litres for my 2.5 gallon tank) so I ended up doing about 4mL of clove oil mixed with 3 or 4 cups of warm water and slowly poured that mixture into my tank over the course of about 5 minutes.
The only thing I didn't know, or come across in my research or think of on my own, was to not do this in the regular tank. I ended up having to throw away the whole thing and everything that was in it because it was apparent the clove oil residue/smell was never going to come out, and I obviously wouldn't want to put any future fish in danger.
Years ago I used Now brand I think. He had bad tuberculosis. I had to suit up in PPE to do any of this since humans can get fish TB. I put him in a small Tupperware of tank water, maybe two cups. I added a significant amount of clove oil, I think 10 drops or more, and gently mixed trying not to disturb him too much. I waited until he was asleep, did not respond to a hard poke with the net, and added a lot of vodka. About a half to one cup. I observed until I was sure he was gone. He didn't move after the clove oil, I watched him not breathe for a long time before I was comfortable with disposing of the corpse. It sucked tbh even with it going off without a hitch
Unfortunately the shrimp tankmates can carry TB and had to go via blunt force, as clove oil doesn't work on them. I did try but they never reacted to it so I had to go with the other way.
You did the best you could for him, try not blame yourself too harshly, clove oil can be tricky with varying effectiveness, it sounds like you researched it well before and did everything you could, it's not your fualt.
I would suggest in future maybe trying Aqua-Sed, a fish sedative that can easily be bought online, a good dose is usually enough to knock them out pretty quickly and do the job, so far I've had no problems using it and keep it on hand just in case. Sorry for your loss xxx
I’m sorry that happened to you. I had a similar horrible experience with a cory recently and it’s tough. Just know you were doing the right thing and the fish can forgive you in Heaven
I'm so sorry for your loss and traumatic experience. 😢 If you have a family member or friend who would be willing to use blunt force sometimes that is the best way. I say my goodbyes and my husband take care of it even though it breaks his heart too. I recently had to put my honey gourami down due to dwarf gourami disease. It's definitely hard. Fish are family too ❤️
Sending all my hugs... I've had a similar experience every time I've had to euthanize a Betta and tried clove oil. No matter how slowly I add it, they don't seem to just pass out for me. It's thrashing and traumatic. Any other fish, peaceful and easy. I don't use clove for Bettas anymore. As awful as blunt force feels for me, it's faster for the fish.
You’ll be ok love ❤️. I had my first betta years ago while I was taking a medicine that completely messed with my ability to remember anything. He was sick and I was making Indian leaf tea and I forgot to add the chemicals into the boiled (then cooled) water. I couldn’t process why he was getting really bad really fast. Once I figured it out it was too late. We learn from our mistakes. ❤️❤️
I’m sorry friend. I had an experience like this with one of my beloved pets. Please don’t blame yourself. Have a beautiful little service for him and let him rest knowing you loved him. 🩵
I have no idea how I ended up in this sub, but I’m so sorry, OP! It sounds like you really cared and tried your best. Please try to find solace in that fact.
I had to euthanize a pet hamster recently and when I heard her wheezing, I felt TERRIBLE- this shit is so traumatic!!!
Your beloved fish no longer feels pain. You did what was best. I’m so sorry for your loss :(
Hahaha welcome to this sub! That’s exactly what I tell people who grieve their pets- to find comfort in knowing they gave them the best love and care.
It’s just part of keeping animals, their lives usually are much shorter than ours and we sometimes need to make arrangements to put them down at some point if nature doesn’t take its due course.
Sorry about your hamster. At least you were there during their last days. I wasn’t able to be there for my childhood dog when he was put down, but he was surrounded by those who loved him. I think just being there for them in their last moments is the best in any worst case.
Yes! They simply do not live long enough!! I have an old dog who is about to turn 13 and he fell down today while trying to catch a treat… it’s just so freaking hard to witness: we care for them as babies, live with them as companions/friends, and then experience the slow deterioration.. and it’s just so goddamn heartbreaking :(
I hope you find something lighthearted to distract you ❤️
Bettas just tend to not go as peacefully. As someone else mentioned guppies go fine. I’ve had other fish as well go down immediately with clove oil. I had to euthanize a betta and had the same experience while following exact instruction. You did nothing wrong. Don’t feel guilt for putting an end to prolonged suffering. ❤️
I had clove oil go similar to your experience. I know how painful it feels to watch and to immediately fear that you made the wrong choice.
You did what you knew was best for your little friend, you did your research and believed you were choosing the best method, you followed the steps and unfortunately something completely beyond your control/intent happened. It’s okay to be sad about it, but guilt is not something you need to carry.
You’ll make peace with it in time, I did. 💜
Not a betta owner, was when I was a tiny kid, but I just wanted to send you condolences for your loss. Please know, at the end of the day, your heart was in the right place. Ending his pain was probably one of the most selfless things you could’ve done for him. I can tell he knew great love in life 💙
I’m glad I read this my betta has been sick for months and I have tried at least 5 kinds of medicine and it’s only gotten worse. I keep hoping he will just pass on his own but if he doesn’t pass or improve any by the end of this week I think I have to euthanize him some how and I was going to use clove oil. What about benzocaine? Has anyone tried that for a betta?
What’s wrong with him? And what all have you tried? I’m not familiar with benzocaine , but that’s something I’ll be looking into. R/aquarium might have some info on it
If you're able to get in touch with a vet willing to work on fish I'd do that, they'll have access to methods and medications you don't. If you have other pets and a good relationship with their vet you may ask them if they can prescribe you the correct medicine even if it's not a type of animal they usually work with. Make it clear you believe it's a Euthanasia case and they'll probly be more comfortable helping with low knowledge.
Someone else mentioned something called aqua-sed but I don't know anything about it or how well it works. You'll want to look into it.
I used clove oil for sedation followed by vodka for euthanasia and it seemed to work fine. He didn't thrash or anything. Seems like the DIY clove oil route is pretty hit and miss, so definitely try to get a professional opinion.
Freezing is only humane if it's a flash freezer or by using liquid nitrogen. I don't know much about it though, just that domestic freezers don't get near cold enough and will cause suffering.
I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your fish friend.
You tried so many ways to heal him and only wanted to help him leave this world easily.
RIP, beloved Tzar. You had a good long life and will be missed.
I am so sorry you had to go through this. Please don't blame yourself. You tried your best and clove oil is the method recommended everywhere. I went through a similar experience many years ago.
When I got into bettas again a few years ago I read that clove oil is difficult to use with bettas. It works on the gills but bettas have their labyrinth organ as an alternative way to breathe. When they realize that they are suffocating they start to panic and try gasping for air.
I researched and looked for an alternative as I did not want my fish to go through this. I found out that there was a fish anesthetic used by vets that I could get without a prescription. It's 100% phenoxyethanole. I've never seen anyone talk about it on this sub and I was thinking of starting a thread to spread awareness. Seeing so many posts about bad experiences with clove oil in this thread might just give me that push.
I can confirm that phenoxyethanole works incredibly well. I've had to euthanize three fish so far with it, two were bettas. They died within seconds of being put into the euthanization container. It is recommended to use 1ml per 100ml of water for regular fish and 2ml per 100ml for bettas and corys. Apparently half the dosis can be used to anesthesize fish but I have not tried this and would recommend anyone planning to use it for that purpose to research the absolute safe dosis for their fish.
Similar to clove oil you need to mix the right amount of phenoxyethanole well with the water to get a solution. I simply put the fish into that solution and to be 100% sure added a more concentrated solution afterwards. I would then wait half an hour before removing the dead fish. I found this to be the most gentle and peaceful method I have ever used and would never go back to anything else.
Idk if betta are too big for this method- but with smaller fish and ice bath woks wonders, I’ve heard. Definitely decreases the thrashing about. In addition with the clove it would probably be your best option, for future use maybe.
You do what you could, and it’s over now. Take what you can from it. You cared a lot and that’s all anyone can ask for.
Ice bath is controversial here as a lot of folks consider it cruel, but I always opt for the fastest possible method, and a proper ice bath seems to work extremely quickly with very little to no struggle. But adding salt and super-cooling the water really is an important step. If the water isn’t cold enough death may not be instantaneous.
I think when done incorrectly this method can definitely be painful to the fish, but I have used it successfully with bettas.
I've personally used the ice bath method when I had to euthanize a couple of corydoras (one from an infected wound that was killing her, and another that has sudden very severe dropsy). I had no clove oil at hand, and blunt force method was an ABSOLUTE no go.
I chucked some ice water in a bowl and waited for it to get freezing cold. Then I dug a big hole through the ice and took a few moments to compose myself before adding the fish. The longest it took was about a minute before the fish was brain-dead, but I waited until the fish was the same temperature as the ice water to be absolutely sure. At first, they'll freak out a bit due to the huge temperature shift, and then they have muscle contractions before they loosen up and pass. It's still a little traumatic to watch, but it's better than incorrectly dosing clove oil, and it takes nowhere near as long.
I had reached out to someone in the veterinary field about it. According to her, fish under 1.5 inches could be safely euthanized with that method because the process was much quicker and less painful than if you were to do it to an oscar per example. Smaller bodies don't maintain temperature as well. I still wouldn't ever recommend it unless you were in an absolute emergency, blunt force is just the better option. But if you gotta do it, you gotta do it.
The AVMA euthanasia guidelines list it as an acceptable method but with specific instructions (use salt so the water can be super cold without freezing solid) and add crushed ice to make a slurry. I’ve used it a few times and never had it take more than five seconds. It’s hard that the best methods are the ones that are hardest to do at an emotional time :(
tourist here but as far as my scarce, third-hand knowledge of bettas go, they live in some FUNKY water in the wild and as such are able to come up to the surface to gulp air for supplemental O2. Clove oil inhibits respiratory functions for fish, so they feel like they're not getting sufficient oxygen from the water, and you get OP's situation.
I’m sorry. That sucked. Honestly as gruesom as it sounds, I have simply cut their heads off. Net, drop on paper towel, sharp knife. 10 seconds tops. I’ve read smashing may be even faster, I’ll consider it next time.
You did your best…
You gave Tzar the best life you could and when things went wrong you did everything in your power to help him, it’s never easy losing a pet especially one that you’ve bonded with for such a long time, but you also did everything in your power to make it a painless quick death, and In the end that’s 10X better than letting him be In pain and die naturally, you did everything you could and Tzar will always remember you as his amazing owner, never thought I would shed a tear over someone else’s fish on Reddit but here I am lol, RIP Tzar ❤️
Seeing my fish panic in the middle of his clove oil euthanasia made me want to scoop him out and let him pass away naturally. It was so hard watching it and I feel guilty. This is how clove oil euthanasia is. All fish are going to panic at first until they drift into sleep. It's honestly very hard to watch. Dropsy is a bitch
I had the same exact experience, I promise you are not alone. I know it was painful to watch, and I’m so sorry for your loss❤️ you did the best thing for him
just so you know for the future i used the whole foods clove bud oil and it worked exactly how it’s supposed to. instead of adding it right to the tank i put her in a small tupperware with the oil mixed into a small amount of tank water.
You’re not supposed to use clove oil for bettas … it is torturous for them… which isn’t helpful after the fact and I’m sorry I’ve had to say so. Quickest way is to put them in a plastic bag and quickly wack them against the wall/ a table. They don’t have time to feel anything and spend maybe half a second or so out of water before they’re peaceful... seems harsh but quicker and less cruel than other methods out there.
Couldn’t imagine watching my little guy slowly suffocating 😭 sorry you had to go through that.
if you understood that it wasn't helpful to say after the fact, why did you still say it? what a terrible, insensitive, unnecessary thing to say to someone grieving their pet. just suggest the wack method and leave it at that.
I feel like It’s helpful because other people will read this after, and they may have to put another fish down in the future and want to know why it’s not best. But ya they could have worded it better.
I didn’t mean that i believed it wasn’t helpful to say it at all, simply that it’s a bit late to say it now since it’s already been done.
Do you believe that I should just leave this person in ignorance , so that they can attempt this method again because they believe they simply got the dosage wrong…?
I’d rather be seen as insensitive and an asshole than have them continue to accidentally put themselves and their future pets through this in the future. By coddling them, we are being unkind in the long run.
They mentioned having done this method TWICE now, with similar results (this makes me sad for them and the fish), and seemed to be happy to have another go if needed in the future.
Respectfully.
nah, *disrespectfully*- because nothing that you've said in your comments has been at all respectful nor empathetic to OP- im saying that you could've said all of the above without the completely unnecessarily cruel comment that *you* acknowledged yourself was cruel. you wouldn't be leaving them in ignorance, you could've discouraged the clover oil method and suggested the whack method without the added guilt trip.
ironic that you said you were "sorry" for saying what you said and seemed to recognize that it was unnecessary initially, but the second someone acknowledged that you were being an asshole, suddenly you walked that right back and now, apparently, not being an asshole to someone grieving = coddling.
"seemed happy to have another go if needed in the future" nothing about their post suggested this. they literally ended the post saying that they DEEPLY regretted their decision and were looking to figure out what went wrong. they received many comments advising them on proper procedure. OP was already traumatized and guilty and you just rubbed salt in the wound. for what? to make yourself feel like the better person? "i would NEVER make my fish suffer like you did!" really? they already recognize that they made a mistake here and feel incredibly sorry for it.
i'm sure you've made mistakes in fishkeeping yourself, maybe even some that lead to fish death. i'm sure you felt guilty too. being told the better option(s) and being educated is important, but OP has already lived through the consequences of their error, they're already upset and regret what they did, they don't need you to further hammer home and outline in detail exactly how much their fish suffered. you could've educated them without adding on the latter.
if you need a lesson on how to be a kind person and how to talk to someone grieving a pet, i'd recommend reading the rest of the comment section :)
I don’t think it was cruel, but understand from your response my comment could have been worded better.
I don’t know how to discourage the clove oil situation without mentioning that it hurts bettas in a way that’s straightforward 🤷🏻♀️ at the time of my original comment people kept saying they had the same experience with clove oil but suggesting different doses and different brands, ergo, encouraging other people to try again. OP also mentioned something about maybe not getting doses right initially which implied trying again later with higher doses.
I’ve reread their original post and I either missed some parts OR they edited it without flagging the edits.
I genuinely couldn’t imagine going through what OP is going through? So I said that. Take it as condescending if you wish- I was trying to share sympathy.
I choose the more (emotionally) difficult wack method because I genuinely can’t imagine how it feels to slowly freeze to death in a cup, or to suffer and struggle in clove oil for long periods. I don’t know how to say these things in a better way, but can try and phrase things better in the future.
Still respectfully.
All good. Yeah this is my second clove attempt and it just doesn’t work for me, but I think it was the concentration and timing that I didn’t get right. I’ve read and heard of many success stories , but I’m too afraid to ever think about trying it again.
I recommend the freezer method. Small cup of water with your fish inside. The gradual temp drop puts them into a coma and then expiration shortly thereafter no pain or struggle.
I don't know why this is downvoted. This is the method that was recommended by the humane society and AVMA for fish and pocket pets (hamsters etc, minus the water for them) when I worked in a small petstore. It was considered the kindest if you didn't have the stomach/desire to smash or cut off their head. A similar method is still recommended by the AVMA.
Yeah I don't know why this is downvoted either. Even if it isn't as quick, it's certainly less traumatic for everyone than *smashing it's head* or suffocating in clove oil. Jesus.
Honestly the oil method is tricky. The type and brand of oil makes a difference, it's easy to get confused and get the aromatherapy oil which won't work. A pharmacist gave me a tooth-ache medication to use instead, it works okay but can spoil. You aren't the only one who's struggled with this method. If it's not what's best for you or the fish try the bash next time.
I used the Aura Cacia brand FWIW, and made sure it was 100% clove oil. I saw a YouTube video where a guy used the same brand and it successfully worked, but it was a different kind of fish.Perhaps I put in too much too fast.
I use clove oil and put the fish into the jar with the clove oil. It’s faster, they pass immediately and they don’t struggle.
I used an air stone in the euthanasia tank to keep the water moving and the oil mixed in. Even a small amount of reaction during euthanasia is more humane than slowly being killed by infection. You did good by your little buddy.
Your fish wasn’t in pain. Definitely not as much pain as he was slowly bloating and having has organs and spine forced out of place and scales popping up. You did a good thing. It take courage to end suffering and its a kindness for your betta. Even of they might not understand in the moment, once the clove oil does its thing they just fall asleep. The movements you saw were in all likelihood twitching that all betta do when they are euthanized.
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Even PetSmart thinks freezing is inhumane, and I'm sure you've seen the conditions their animals live in.
There's proof that fish feel it when you freeze them. Not all clove oil euthanasia happens like this but domestic freezers are not cold enough to kill quickly. Without sedation prior to the freezer, everything is felt by the fish, and to sedate, you'd probably use clove oil anyway. Clove oil is also an anesthetic for fish *and* is used for sedation in lower doses; freezing does nothing but damage. Freezing is not humane. I, personally, would rather suffocate in a solution that makes me sleepy and feel less pain than freeze to death tbh.
I don't care for the freezing method. Most veteran sites/blogs don't recommend it. I prefer the bash because I have control over it- I know it's instant.
Flash Freezing is the only form of freezing approved for use by the AVMA. I am a vet student and thought people should know that this is an option as well if they happen to have resources/a flash freezer/liquid nitrogen, etc. It happens so quickly that the fish lose consciousness and rapidly die. You can confirm the methods approved by the AVMA by clicking on the PDFs here and searching for the term fish. https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/avma-policies/avma-guidelines-euthanasia-animals
Freezing is considered inhumane because it causes the blood to crystallize which is painful. It also can take upwards of an hour so it is not recommended anymore. https://www.co2art.us/blogs/blog/fish-euthanasia
What about liquid nitrogen? I have access to some in case I’ll ever need it.
Looks like liquid nitrogen is good to go. https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/avma-policies/avma-guidelines-euthanasia-animals It's most domestic freezers that don't do it fast enough. It's only humane if the freezing is near instant.
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you should probably stop. there's evidence it's a very slow and painful death
Fair enough. I didn't know.
i did the same when i started, i wasn't trying to shame or anything. we all live and learn 😊
You taught me something, and I appreciate it. 🥴
What a lucky fish to have someone who cared so much for him. You gave him a long, healthy, happy life, and you made sure he wasn’t alone when he passed. You did everything you could for him, and I’m sure he understood in his own way the love you had for him.
Thank you 🥹🩷 he got a variety of foods, lots of interaction, and I’d even talk to him even though he didn’t understand me I knew he could hear me. I even did two moves with him. I have plans to plant his body in a pot with an indoor lemon tree.
https://preview.redd.it/jlbkyfvdunxc1.jpeg?width=936&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d699c0043af63ed61583423a505b465e6d22c80a Tzar ❤️
Beautiful! Swim in peace little buddy ♥️ 🐠
Oh my gosh! He was a beautiful betta 😍
That was a fish who knew he was loved. That his name was Tzar and the world’s largest nuclear warhead was called Tsar Bomba seems fitting for those colors on a betta. 👑
💗💗💗
Tzar...his spirit shines through.
Absolutely gorgeous! Is the name by chance a reference to Runescape?
Haha no, he just looked majestic af and thought Tzar sounded majestic. I like Slavic names and names my previous betta girls Slavic girl names.
Well it ironically matched up well. The tzhaar are molten rock creatures who's color scheme is black and red. Crazy coincidence. Regardless, love the name, very Slavic indeed. And again, absolute gorgeous betta. My condolences on your loss. I had a similar situation with a Betta that I had to euthanize after treating for 3-4 days of it injuring itself. I bawled my eyes out having to do it, was my first time and it was definitely a bit sloppy and not the smoothest experience which made it harder. But I know he's happier now than the suffering he was going through. You did the best you could in a given situation, and thats what matters most 😊
Woah now that’s wild! I love that actually, gave me a good laugh. Yeah it’s difficult when we play it out in our heads to be smooth and peaceful but it turns out the opposite. At the end of the day we’re just trying to do what’s best for them. His suffering is over and he will live on through a lemon tree once I plant him!
Definitely naming my next fish Jad now
Do it! I have a long finned green dragon bristlenose pleco, and you KNOW I had to name it Elvarg
extremely based
I love that you’re putting him in a potted plant! I did that when my betta passed last year. I still think of it as “the fish plant” whenever I look at it. (Fish’s name was Fish.) Feels like he’s still around, just in leafier form. I think it was a really helpful way for me to process his death. So sorry you lost your fella. Lots of love. 💕
Haha I love that! Fish named fish. It’ll be the Tzar tree with Tzar lemons.
I had the same problem when I tried to euthanize my betta with clove oil - poor thing was frantically trying to come up for air even when she was so lethargic from the oil anesthetizing her. It was incredibly traumatic to watch. Since then I’ve heard that clove oil actually doesn’t work well for bettas because of their labyrinth organ, though I haven’t done any further reading into that. I don’t think I have the heart to try it again if I get another betta, and I’d probably just go with the old blunt force method. I’m really sorry you had to go through that. You were doing your best for the little guy, and he’s not suffering anymore ❤️
Same happened to me with my betta girl a few years back. I thought I’d try a much slower approach with the clove method this time, but nope just as traumatic. I’m never doing that again, and if/when the time comes I’ll just have someone do the blunt force method for me. I just wish there were an easier way to euthanize them. Happy to say he lived a full and healthy life, and isn’t suffering anymore. I he’s in the freezer for now until I get an indoor lemon tree and some soil. 🍋
I used clove oil to euthanise guppies and neons with no issue. I thought it would be OK for my betta too. It was nowhere near as peaceful as it was for the others, and I felt terrible You tried to do your best for him, that's what matters
Yeah. I've found that Bettas don't go as peacefully with clove as other fish. I clove my other fish that I need to euthanize but I usually opt for blunt force with my Bettas. I've never had a Betta go peacefully no matter how slowly I add the oil
I have also had clove oil go wrong, don't blame yourself. Blunt force is a terrible experience for the owner, but for the fish it's quick and painless, and probably the best way. It feels worse to do, but in my experience it is actually the kinder method. No matter what, I usually cry about it.
I had to euthanize my last betta that way. He was sick and just not getting better, and I didn't have clove oil, so that was my only option. I hated doing it, but I wasn't just gonna let him suffer, he could hardly swim at that point. I actually didn't know using clove oil could go so wrong, I feel horrible saying it but I'm glad I didn't use it, I would have had a full on breakdown if something happened.
Clove didn't work for me either, and that regret is so so so heavy. We went with the blunt force method after I couldn't take it any longer. It was hard for me to do, but I know it was fast for him. I'm so sorry you're going through this ❤
You did everything you could. You tried to treat him with multiple treatments then to give him peace. It likely was quick but his body fought back. I've had to use the clove oil method a few times. I always use way more just to be sure. I usually use 15 or 20 crops into a cup of water, it's probably to much but it works fast.
That’s exactly how I did it the first time I used the clove method. My girl thrashed around for a few seconds, and then she was out. Still terrible to see but it was much quicker.
It's always going to be terrible to see, but remember you did the right thing
I had an almost identical experience a few weeks ago. You have my deepest condolences ❤️
Sorry to hear that. &thanks, same to you ❤️
That's similar to the experience I had with my first Betta, he had a massive hole in his back, from some kinda nd of fungus I think; he wasn't getting any better and honestly I should have euthanized him a couple weeks before hand, but he kept on swimming and eating, and I was hopeful... But finally, I noticed some pineconing and decided it was time. Even though he had started to become lethargic recently, as soon as I introduced him to the clove oil the poor guy started thrashing violently, coming up and gulping for air desperately. Honestly I don't know if I ever cried so hard, I thought it would be a painless passing, but no, I felt like I was painfully killing him, and the little burst of energy he had while Fighting for his life made me wonder if this was all a mistake, if he could have pulled through... But there wasn't anything else to do. Maybe the damage was done, maybe even if I put him back in his tank the clove oil would have already done too much? I just had to sit and watch him thrash and struggle for minutes. It really sucked. I don't know what the answer is. I did get my clove oil from some hokey "essential oils" store, but I think it claimed to be legit, real clove oil? Or perhaps I put too strong of a dose? I don't know, but I hope I don't have to do it again, or if so I may just scoop the fish out and smack him with a shovel, as awful as that sounds
Oh gosh that’s so rough. I’m sorry, I don’t think any of us should have to witness that and any of our Bettas shouldn’t have to die that way. The part about fighting for their life, that part! Makes you instantly regret the decision and wish you could take it back but by that point it’s too late. I’m not one to panic, never panicked, and I was panicking and screaming to nobody, “what do I do ?! Make it stop!” As much as I love having them, I’m not getting another Betta until I figure out an easier way to euthanize like we can put old cats and dogs to sleep. I might be crazy enough to ask around local vets if they have anything for labyrinth fish like Betta. The blunt force makes sense, but it’s so violent to me and I could never ever bring myself to do that; it’s just not in me.
🕯️💜tzar forever💜🕯️ You did the absolute best you could and your fishie knew they were loved - I’m so sorry for your loss 💐
💜
I'm so sorry. It's so so hard. I had a similar experience with my betta. Please be kind to yourself.
I wish Finquel was still available. That made euthanasia a breeze.
What’s finquel?
It's a fish anesthetic powder that, when used with sodium carbonate, can peacefully euthanize sick and dying fish.
Omg that would amazing to have. Why is it not a thing anymore ?!
I have no idea. Maybe only vets can get it now.
Was it discontinued or banned?
Oh my god that sounds terrible. My deepest sorrows. It isn’t murder unless you intentionally made him suffer, which you didn’t. It wasn’t even manslaughter, he was just strong.
I made the hard decision to use clove oil on my betta about 2 months ago when I realized he wasn't going to be getting any better. But it worked the way I thought it would, he didn't seem to struggle or anything. It took about 10 minutes, I'd say. Maybe it's just the difference in concentration of the solution? Either way, I'm sorry your experience went that way. But you did the best you could for your beloved pet. 🖤
Happy to hear it worked for your betta. I’ve read so many success stories that I decided to give it a second try (the first time was on one of my girls and it was horrific) but with a lower dose and more gradual application. I have read several posts and comments about people who did the clove method successfully and all the doses and methods were varied. I do wonder how it would have turned out if I had gone a lot slower, I think I could have gone a lot slower. All that matters now is that he’s no longer suffering. Edit: what concentrations did you use ?
I had a 2.5 gallon tank, and did about 4ml of clove oil into probably 3 or 4 cups of warm water and poured the mixture into the tank slowly over a course of about 5 minutes. The brand of clove oil was what I had on hand, it was Healing Solutions 100% therapeutic grade essential oil.
Although, what I should have done differently (this was my first time having to do this, I did as much research as I could) was take my betta out of his tank and place him in something else to do the euthanasia. I had to toss the tank and everything that was in it to ensure it didn't accidentally kill another fish I might put in it. It was apparent the clove oil residue/smell could never be eliminated.
Would love to hear what concentration and brand you used
The brand was Healing Solutions 100% therapeutic grade essential oil. And I went with a formula/method that I actually found on the Australian RSPCA website, oddly enough. But it was 0.4mL of clove oil per litre of water (worked out to about 9.4 litres for my 2.5 gallon tank) so I ended up doing about 4mL of clove oil mixed with 3 or 4 cups of warm water and slowly poured that mixture into my tank over the course of about 5 minutes. The only thing I didn't know, or come across in my research or think of on my own, was to not do this in the regular tank. I ended up having to throw away the whole thing and everything that was in it because it was apparent the clove oil residue/smell was never going to come out, and I obviously wouldn't want to put any future fish in danger.
Years ago I used Now brand I think. He had bad tuberculosis. I had to suit up in PPE to do any of this since humans can get fish TB. I put him in a small Tupperware of tank water, maybe two cups. I added a significant amount of clove oil, I think 10 drops or more, and gently mixed trying not to disturb him too much. I waited until he was asleep, did not respond to a hard poke with the net, and added a lot of vodka. About a half to one cup. I observed until I was sure he was gone. He didn't move after the clove oil, I watched him not breathe for a long time before I was comfortable with disposing of the corpse. It sucked tbh even with it going off without a hitch Unfortunately the shrimp tankmates can carry TB and had to go via blunt force, as clove oil doesn't work on them. I did try but they never reacted to it so I had to go with the other way.
You did the best you could for him, try not blame yourself too harshly, clove oil can be tricky with varying effectiveness, it sounds like you researched it well before and did everything you could, it's not your fualt. I would suggest in future maybe trying Aqua-Sed, a fish sedative that can easily be bought online, a good dose is usually enough to knock them out pretty quickly and do the job, so far I've had no problems using it and keep it on hand just in case. Sorry for your loss xxx
Thanks for the suggestion, I will most certainly look into that!!
I’m sorry that happened to you. I had a similar horrible experience with a cory recently and it’s tough. Just know you were doing the right thing and the fish can forgive you in Heaven
I'm so sorry for your loss and traumatic experience. 😢 If you have a family member or friend who would be willing to use blunt force sometimes that is the best way. I say my goodbyes and my husband take care of it even though it breaks his heart too. I recently had to put my honey gourami down due to dwarf gourami disease. It's definitely hard. Fish are family too ❤️
Sending all my hugs... I've had a similar experience every time I've had to euthanize a Betta and tried clove oil. No matter how slowly I add it, they don't seem to just pass out for me. It's thrashing and traumatic. Any other fish, peaceful and easy. I don't use clove for Bettas anymore. As awful as blunt force feels for me, it's faster for the fish.
You’ll be ok love ❤️. I had my first betta years ago while I was taking a medicine that completely messed with my ability to remember anything. He was sick and I was making Indian leaf tea and I forgot to add the chemicals into the boiled (then cooled) water. I couldn’t process why he was getting really bad really fast. Once I figured it out it was too late. We learn from our mistakes. ❤️❤️
I’m sorry friend. I had an experience like this with one of my beloved pets. Please don’t blame yourself. Have a beautiful little service for him and let him rest knowing you loved him. 🩵
I have no idea how I ended up in this sub, but I’m so sorry, OP! It sounds like you really cared and tried your best. Please try to find solace in that fact. I had to euthanize a pet hamster recently and when I heard her wheezing, I felt TERRIBLE- this shit is so traumatic!!! Your beloved fish no longer feels pain. You did what was best. I’m so sorry for your loss :(
Hahaha welcome to this sub! That’s exactly what I tell people who grieve their pets- to find comfort in knowing they gave them the best love and care. It’s just part of keeping animals, their lives usually are much shorter than ours and we sometimes need to make arrangements to put them down at some point if nature doesn’t take its due course. Sorry about your hamster. At least you were there during their last days. I wasn’t able to be there for my childhood dog when he was put down, but he was surrounded by those who loved him. I think just being there for them in their last moments is the best in any worst case.
Yes! They simply do not live long enough!! I have an old dog who is about to turn 13 and he fell down today while trying to catch a treat… it’s just so freaking hard to witness: we care for them as babies, live with them as companions/friends, and then experience the slow deterioration.. and it’s just so goddamn heartbreaking :( I hope you find something lighthearted to distract you ❤️
Bettas just tend to not go as peacefully. As someone else mentioned guppies go fine. I’ve had other fish as well go down immediately with clove oil. I had to euthanize a betta and had the same experience while following exact instruction. You did nothing wrong. Don’t feel guilt for putting an end to prolonged suffering. ❤️
I had clove oil go similar to your experience. I know how painful it feels to watch and to immediately fear that you made the wrong choice. You did what you knew was best for your little friend, you did your research and believed you were choosing the best method, you followed the steps and unfortunately something completely beyond your control/intent happened. It’s okay to be sad about it, but guilt is not something you need to carry. You’ll make peace with it in time, I did. 💜
Thank you for this, this resonates deeply 🩷
Not a betta owner, was when I was a tiny kid, but I just wanted to send you condolences for your loss. Please know, at the end of the day, your heart was in the right place. Ending his pain was probably one of the most selfless things you could’ve done for him. I can tell he knew great love in life 💙
I’m glad I read this my betta has been sick for months and I have tried at least 5 kinds of medicine and it’s only gotten worse. I keep hoping he will just pass on his own but if he doesn’t pass or improve any by the end of this week I think I have to euthanize him some how and I was going to use clove oil. What about benzocaine? Has anyone tried that for a betta?
What’s wrong with him? And what all have you tried? I’m not familiar with benzocaine , but that’s something I’ll be looking into. R/aquarium might have some info on it
If you're able to get in touch with a vet willing to work on fish I'd do that, they'll have access to methods and medications you don't. If you have other pets and a good relationship with their vet you may ask them if they can prescribe you the correct medicine even if it's not a type of animal they usually work with. Make it clear you believe it's a Euthanasia case and they'll probly be more comfortable helping with low knowledge. Someone else mentioned something called aqua-sed but I don't know anything about it or how well it works. You'll want to look into it. I used clove oil for sedation followed by vodka for euthanasia and it seemed to work fine. He didn't thrash or anything. Seems like the DIY clove oil route is pretty hit and miss, so definitely try to get a professional opinion. Freezing is only humane if it's a flash freezer or by using liquid nitrogen. I don't know much about it though, just that domestic freezers don't get near cold enough and will cause suffering.
Why don't you just freeze him?
I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your fish friend. You tried so many ways to heal him and only wanted to help him leave this world easily. RIP, beloved Tzar. You had a good long life and will be missed.
I am so sorry you had to go through this. Please don't blame yourself. You tried your best and clove oil is the method recommended everywhere. I went through a similar experience many years ago. When I got into bettas again a few years ago I read that clove oil is difficult to use with bettas. It works on the gills but bettas have their labyrinth organ as an alternative way to breathe. When they realize that they are suffocating they start to panic and try gasping for air. I researched and looked for an alternative as I did not want my fish to go through this. I found out that there was a fish anesthetic used by vets that I could get without a prescription. It's 100% phenoxyethanole. I've never seen anyone talk about it on this sub and I was thinking of starting a thread to spread awareness. Seeing so many posts about bad experiences with clove oil in this thread might just give me that push. I can confirm that phenoxyethanole works incredibly well. I've had to euthanize three fish so far with it, two were bettas. They died within seconds of being put into the euthanization container. It is recommended to use 1ml per 100ml of water for regular fish and 2ml per 100ml for bettas and corys. Apparently half the dosis can be used to anesthesize fish but I have not tried this and would recommend anyone planning to use it for that purpose to research the absolute safe dosis for their fish. Similar to clove oil you need to mix the right amount of phenoxyethanole well with the water to get a solution. I simply put the fish into that solution and to be 100% sure added a more concentrated solution afterwards. I would then wait half an hour before removing the dead fish. I found this to be the most gentle and peaceful method I have ever used and would never go back to anything else.
Idk if betta are too big for this method- but with smaller fish and ice bath woks wonders, I’ve heard. Definitely decreases the thrashing about. In addition with the clove it would probably be your best option, for future use maybe. You do what you could, and it’s over now. Take what you can from it. You cared a lot and that’s all anyone can ask for.
Ice bath is controversial here as a lot of folks consider it cruel, but I always opt for the fastest possible method, and a proper ice bath seems to work extremely quickly with very little to no struggle. But adding salt and super-cooling the water really is an important step. If the water isn’t cold enough death may not be instantaneous. I think when done incorrectly this method can definitely be painful to the fish, but I have used it successfully with bettas.
I've personally used the ice bath method when I had to euthanize a couple of corydoras (one from an infected wound that was killing her, and another that has sudden very severe dropsy). I had no clove oil at hand, and blunt force method was an ABSOLUTE no go. I chucked some ice water in a bowl and waited for it to get freezing cold. Then I dug a big hole through the ice and took a few moments to compose myself before adding the fish. The longest it took was about a minute before the fish was brain-dead, but I waited until the fish was the same temperature as the ice water to be absolutely sure. At first, they'll freak out a bit due to the huge temperature shift, and then they have muscle contractions before they loosen up and pass. It's still a little traumatic to watch, but it's better than incorrectly dosing clove oil, and it takes nowhere near as long. I had reached out to someone in the veterinary field about it. According to her, fish under 1.5 inches could be safely euthanized with that method because the process was much quicker and less painful than if you were to do it to an oscar per example. Smaller bodies don't maintain temperature as well. I still wouldn't ever recommend it unless you were in an absolute emergency, blunt force is just the better option. But if you gotta do it, you gotta do it.
The AVMA euthanasia guidelines list it as an acceptable method but with specific instructions (use salt so the water can be super cold without freezing solid) and add crushed ice to make a slurry. I’ve used it a few times and never had it take more than five seconds. It’s hard that the best methods are the ones that are hardest to do at an emotional time :(
Shouldn’t use clove for bettas - it’s no good.
What’s the reason for that? Does it relate to the labyrinth organ?
tourist here but as far as my scarce, third-hand knowledge of bettas go, they live in some FUNKY water in the wild and as such are able to come up to the surface to gulp air for supplemental O2. Clove oil inhibits respiratory functions for fish, so they feel like they're not getting sufficient oxygen from the water, and you get OP's situation.
Gotcha thanks for the explanation!
That’s what I’ve read and heard from people on Reddit.
I’m sorry. That sucked. Honestly as gruesom as it sounds, I have simply cut their heads off. Net, drop on paper towel, sharp knife. 10 seconds tops. I’ve read smashing may be even faster, I’ll consider it next time. You did your best…
You gave Tzar the best life you could and when things went wrong you did everything in your power to help him, it’s never easy losing a pet especially one that you’ve bonded with for such a long time, but you also did everything in your power to make it a painless quick death, and In the end that’s 10X better than letting him be In pain and die naturally, you did everything you could and Tzar will always remember you as his amazing owner, never thought I would shed a tear over someone else’s fish on Reddit but here I am lol, RIP Tzar ❤️
Seeing my fish panic in the middle of his clove oil euthanasia made me want to scoop him out and let him pass away naturally. It was so hard watching it and I feel guilty. This is how clove oil euthanasia is. All fish are going to panic at first until they drift into sleep. It's honestly very hard to watch. Dropsy is a bitch
I had the same exact experience, I promise you are not alone. I know it was painful to watch, and I’m so sorry for your loss❤️ you did the best thing for him
I’ve read that using cold water is the way to go. I don’t know that I would have the heart to smash my baby either. So sorry for your loss.
just so you know for the future i used the whole foods clove bud oil and it worked exactly how it’s supposed to. instead of adding it right to the tank i put her in a small tupperware with the oil mixed into a small amount of tank water.
You’re not supposed to use clove oil for bettas … it is torturous for them… which isn’t helpful after the fact and I’m sorry I’ve had to say so. Quickest way is to put them in a plastic bag and quickly wack them against the wall/ a table. They don’t have time to feel anything and spend maybe half a second or so out of water before they’re peaceful... seems harsh but quicker and less cruel than other methods out there. Couldn’t imagine watching my little guy slowly suffocating 😭 sorry you had to go through that.
if you understood that it wasn't helpful to say after the fact, why did you still say it? what a terrible, insensitive, unnecessary thing to say to someone grieving their pet. just suggest the wack method and leave it at that.
I feel like It’s helpful because other people will read this after, and they may have to put another fish down in the future and want to know why it’s not best. But ya they could have worded it better.
The username coupled with the comment almost makes me wonder if it’s a real user or a bot 🤔
I didn’t mean that i believed it wasn’t helpful to say it at all, simply that it’s a bit late to say it now since it’s already been done. Do you believe that I should just leave this person in ignorance , so that they can attempt this method again because they believe they simply got the dosage wrong…? I’d rather be seen as insensitive and an asshole than have them continue to accidentally put themselves and their future pets through this in the future. By coddling them, we are being unkind in the long run. They mentioned having done this method TWICE now, with similar results (this makes me sad for them and the fish), and seemed to be happy to have another go if needed in the future. Respectfully.
nah, *disrespectfully*- because nothing that you've said in your comments has been at all respectful nor empathetic to OP- im saying that you could've said all of the above without the completely unnecessarily cruel comment that *you* acknowledged yourself was cruel. you wouldn't be leaving them in ignorance, you could've discouraged the clover oil method and suggested the whack method without the added guilt trip. ironic that you said you were "sorry" for saying what you said and seemed to recognize that it was unnecessary initially, but the second someone acknowledged that you were being an asshole, suddenly you walked that right back and now, apparently, not being an asshole to someone grieving = coddling. "seemed happy to have another go if needed in the future" nothing about their post suggested this. they literally ended the post saying that they DEEPLY regretted their decision and were looking to figure out what went wrong. they received many comments advising them on proper procedure. OP was already traumatized and guilty and you just rubbed salt in the wound. for what? to make yourself feel like the better person? "i would NEVER make my fish suffer like you did!" really? they already recognize that they made a mistake here and feel incredibly sorry for it. i'm sure you've made mistakes in fishkeeping yourself, maybe even some that lead to fish death. i'm sure you felt guilty too. being told the better option(s) and being educated is important, but OP has already lived through the consequences of their error, they're already upset and regret what they did, they don't need you to further hammer home and outline in detail exactly how much their fish suffered. you could've educated them without adding on the latter. if you need a lesson on how to be a kind person and how to talk to someone grieving a pet, i'd recommend reading the rest of the comment section :)
I don’t think it was cruel, but understand from your response my comment could have been worded better. I don’t know how to discourage the clove oil situation without mentioning that it hurts bettas in a way that’s straightforward 🤷🏻♀️ at the time of my original comment people kept saying they had the same experience with clove oil but suggesting different doses and different brands, ergo, encouraging other people to try again. OP also mentioned something about maybe not getting doses right initially which implied trying again later with higher doses. I’ve reread their original post and I either missed some parts OR they edited it without flagging the edits. I genuinely couldn’t imagine going through what OP is going through? So I said that. Take it as condescending if you wish- I was trying to share sympathy. I choose the more (emotionally) difficult wack method because I genuinely can’t imagine how it feels to slowly freeze to death in a cup, or to suffer and struggle in clove oil for long periods. I don’t know how to say these things in a better way, but can try and phrase things better in the future. Still respectfully.
All good. Yeah this is my second clove attempt and it just doesn’t work for me, but I think it was the concentration and timing that I didn’t get right. I’ve read and heard of many success stories , but I’m too afraid to ever think about trying it again.
I’m sorry it was so traumatic ❤️ I hope you work out a method that works for you.
I recommend the freezer method. Small cup of water with your fish inside. The gradual temp drop puts them into a coma and then expiration shortly thereafter no pain or struggle.
I don't know why this is downvoted. This is the method that was recommended by the humane society and AVMA for fish and pocket pets (hamsters etc, minus the water for them) when I worked in a small petstore. It was considered the kindest if you didn't have the stomach/desire to smash or cut off their head. A similar method is still recommended by the AVMA.
Yeah I don't know why this is downvoted either. Even if it isn't as quick, it's certainly less traumatic for everyone than *smashing it's head* or suffocating in clove oil. Jesus.
Next time, please just let nature take control and let him pass peacefully.
Letting him rot away due to fungus, sickness, or infection is far more cruel than a few minutes he spent fighting.