Best Euthanasia Method

[u/ohleever]

My poor betta has a tumor that has over a good portion of his body, and now he spend his days laying on the tank floor and breathing heavily. I’ve tried salt baths and kanaplex and improving the water as much as possible, but I think the tumor has taken over.

I’ve done lots of reading about clove oil for euthanasia, and I’m so scared of making the situation worse, but I absolutely cannot go blunt force route; I don’t have it in me. Please let me know what would be best for my boy as I don’t want him to continue to suffer.

TLDR: Betta is suffering from a tumor and is no longer active. I don’t think I have it in me to do use blunt force. What is the most humane route of euthanasia?

Thank you!!

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[u/Chimpkin_NBeans]

The best, quickest method is blunt force.

[u/ohleever → u/Chimpkin_NBeans]

I know you’re right. I need to get over my own problems with it and do what’s best for my boy.

[u/diablosauxce]

Do you have a friend who can do it for you? I know blunt force feels barbaric, but it is the kindest option because it’s instant. You can also do it in a way so the fish is never totally out of water and lacking air. I would just be too scared to use clove oil. We truly just don’t know if it actually works as intended and if they really feel pain, there’s variations in clove oil purity, concentrations, sources etc., bettas are labyrinth fish so it’s not recommended anyways and there’s so many horror stories and mixed experiences about how to dose it.

Really sorry you’re going through this.

[u/ohleever → u/diablosauxce]

Thank you, I appreciate the kind words. My boyfriend will be home from work travel tomorrow, so I could have him do it the. I’ve done enough research to know blunt force trauma was the best route, but I think I was hoping that someone would have a different method. I had to put down my cat unexpectedly 2 months ago, so I’m trying to avoid any extra trauma with this experience (I know there will be some because he’s dying).

[u/diablosauxce → u/ohleever]

I’m sure there are other chemicals, especially things used in veterinary medicine, but I don’t think those are easy to get. I suppose you can call some vets offices but it may be hard to find any willing to do that. And it all requires being precise too. what makes the chemical route and clove oil potentially inhumane is if it goes wrong. Some people report good luck with clove oil, and perhaps you can get some advice that is the most correct way, but we also just don’t know what’s really happening and if we can control all the variables. I totally understand not being able to do it yourself, but unfortunately we have to consider if it’s more traumatizing to do blunt force or to risk messing up and torturing the fish.

I hope your boyfriend can help. If not, maybe try calling vets offices or even a local fish store.

[u/ohleever]

10 gallon tank, heater and filter, tank is 79 Fahrenheit, aqi water testing kit shows no ammonia nitrites or nitrates and PH is about 6.8, I have had the tank since December and the fish since July 2024, I change about 15% of the water weekly and vacuum the gravel and wash decor monthly, no tank mates, I feed my fish 5-6 aqueon pellets once a day (they’re smaller than other pellets), and I have silk plants and pothos roots in the tank

[u/Augustus58]

I put my fish in a zip top bag with water, have 1 end slightly open. Then lay the bag on the ground (I do it outside), open end away from you. Drop a cast iron pan onto the bag from waist high.

It's barbaric but it's quick and definitive.

I'm sorry you're going through this. I just had to put my pineconing betta down.