The most effective and humane method of euthanizing a betta fish is either by using clove oil or anesthetics (for larger fish).
As an experienced fishkeeper, I’ve had to euthanize plenty of fish over the years, building my certainty and confidence to speak on this matter.
In this article, I’ll explain how to euthanize a betta fish and walk you step-by-step through the entire process.
5 Things To Consider Before Euthanizing
Once you euthanize your betta fish, there’s no going back. That’s why you’ve got to ensure you’ve done everything you can before you decide it’s time to throw in the towel and undergo the euthanization process.
Here are some key elements to watch out for when determining whether or not you should put your fish down:
Quality of Fish Life
It’s crucial to observe your fish’s behavior throughout the day and determine if it’s acting differently from before.
Be on the lookout for these common signs:
- Poor appetite
- Discoloration
- Lack of response
Now, just because your betta fish exhibits one or more of these indications doesn’t mean you should immediately jump the gun. It’s possible that your fish could recover within a few days with some homemade remedies.
The best course of action to take when your fish shows any of these symptoms is to consult your vet or try to treat the fish yourself. If your pet’s condition remains the same or worsens over time, it may be dying.
Age
Betta fish live an average of two to five years. If you know that your fish’s age is leaning towards or past the latter half of the average life expectancy, your fish will probably begin to experience some of the previously mentioned signs of illness.
At this point, you can do nothing to treat your fish other than euthanize it.
Note that your betta fish may slow down naturally due to aging. If it’s still eating well and doesn’t seem to have trouble keeping afloat, there likely aren’t any underlying problems with your fish, and you can let it finish the course of its life organically.
Illness
If your betta fish has one or more distinguishable illnesses that cannot be treated, you’re left with no choice but to put it down.
Here are the illnesses that betta fish are most susceptible to:
- Dropsy: This condition is characterized by bloating in the fish’s underbelly and a lack of appetite. Dropsy is when the soft tissue of the fish becomes full of liquid that cannot be removed. The most common cause of this alignment is bacteria that grows from an unclean tank.
- Advanced fin rot: You can tell a fish has this disease when there are numerous red sores on the fin caused by bacteria eating away at it. Like dropsy, it is often caused by poor water conditions.
- Severe swim bladder disease: This is an illness in which the bladder of your fish doesn’t function properly and may cause them to swim upside down. Some causes of swim bladder disease are overeating, bacteria, parasites, and low-water temperatures.
- Late-stage tumors: Betta fish can get tumors anywhere from their fins to their organs. Typically, you can tell a fish has a late-stage tumor when you see large, swelling bumps on its flesh. This cancer is usually genetic but can also stem from a viral infection.
- Intestinal parasites: Parasites may make their way into the betta fish’s intestine and lower its immune system. Some common signs of parasites are loss of appetite, lesions on the fish’s scales, and lethargy.
- Acute bacterial infection: When bacteria infect your fish, it may become lethargic and susceptible to dropsy, fin rot, and swim bladder disease.
- Organ failure, such as kidney failure: Whether caused by poor care or one of the other illnesses on this list, organ failure will likely cause your fish to die.
Many of these illnesses are treatable if you catch them during the early stages of development. That’s why you should always remain diligent in caring for your fish and pay attention to any deviations in their behavior.
Did You Do Enough Treatment?
Have you done everything you possibly could to treat your betta before you decided there was no other choice than to euthanize it?
For example, did you:
Clean Your Aquarium Tank?
One of the top causes of disease in fish is bad water quality. If you have a tainted filter or fail to frequently clean a tank, harmful bacteria and parasites can infect the water and hurt your fish.
Administer Homemade Remedies?
Sometimes, credible sources online, such as veterinarian blogs and betta fish experts, have solutions that can help heal your fish. Have you tried the relevant remedies to ensure your fish has a chance to improve?
Used Antibacterial, Antiparasitic, or Antibiotic Medication as Prescribed by a Vet?
If you’re unsure whether your betta fish has a life-threatening alignment, take it to a veterinarian and get a professional opinion. Sometimes, they can prescribe medication to improve your fish’s condition and help it recover.
If you’ve gone through all the available treatments recommended by professionals and/or have noticed that your fish is subject to one of the illnesses in the previous point, then you can go on to ask yourself the final question: has your fish given up?
The Fish Gave Up
The one surefire way to know that your fish is suffering is if it has given up on living. When a fish is in pain to the point where it doesn’t eat, move, or react to anything, you should take it upon yourself to relieve it as soon as possible.
The 2 Most Humane Ways To Euthanize a Betta
After you’ve considered everything and have determined your betta fish is suffering to the point where euthanization is the best option, you can use one of these two humane methods of disposing of a pet fish: clove oil and anesthetics.
How To Euthanize a Betta Fish With Clove Oil
As the American Veterinary Medical Association recommended, clove oil is one of the most painless and effective methods of ending a pet fish’s life.
Here’s how to euthanize a betta fish using clove oil:
- Add four drops of clove oil to a small container, such as a pill box or tiny Tupperware. Add a few more drops if your fish is larger than 4 inches.
- Next, add distilled water to the container with the clove oil.
- Close the container tightly and mix by shaking it until the oil has been incorporated evenly into the water. You can tell the mixture is ready when it’s developed a milky color throughout.
- Put the fish into a 1-gallon tank filled with clean water from its original living space. Do this as gently as possible, so you don’t cause the fish added stress.
- Pour the clove oil mixture into the tank and lightly stir the water with a long utensil. After about two minutes, the fish will begin to grow tired. Eventually, it will stop moving.
- At this stage, the fish is still alive but unconscious. You can tell it’s alive by looking at its gills, which will pulsate to indicate breathing. Concoct another clove oil mixture, this time with 10 drops of clove oil, and stir into the tank.
- After about 10 minutes, the fish shouldn’t be moving, and the gills will have stopped breathing. If you notice it’s still alive, administer another dose of the clove oil mixture and wait until its living functions have entirely ceased.
- Finally, it’s time to dispose of the fish. The best way to get rid of the fish’s body is to bury it since flushing it down the toilet can cause whatever disease it had to spread into the ecosystem.
You can usually find clove oil at your local supermarket.
How To Euthanize a Betta Fish With Anesthetics
If you don’t have access to clove oil or are uncomfortable with this method, your next best bet is to use anesthetics.
Tricaine methanesulfonate (TMS), also known as MS222, is the only FDA-approved substance you can euthanize a fish with. While this substance is, at its base, an anesthetic for aquarium fish, you can euthanize most fish by doubling the dosage of TMS you would give for anesthesia.
You can purchase TMS from various online pet stores, but note that it’s sometimes expensive and difficult to obtain. Your best bet is to get it from your local veterinarian, who should also be able to remind you of the proper way of administering it.
If you purchase TMS online, you’ll want to follow a similar progression as the clove oil method. Move your fish to a separate, 1-gallon tank of clean water, and then add 1g of TMS per liter of water. Watch the gills to ensure the fish is fully deceased and not just unconscious. Administer additional TMS as needed.
Once you have administered the anesthetics and your fish is dead, collect the body and bury it. Burying it ensures that no diseases spread to other pets and animals.
Key Points
As a reminder, here are some key points:
- Watch the gills to ensure the fish is fully dead before disposing of the body. Removing the fish from the water while it’s still alive may cause additional suffering.
- Always bury the body to prevent the spread of disease.
- Take your time and be thorough. Don’t be afraid to administer additional doses if you think the fish is still alive.
Ways of Killing a Fish You Should Avoid
We’ve named the two most humane methods of euthanizing a fish, but now it’s time to go over the least humane ways of killing a betta fish:
- Using alcohol: This method will burn the gills before the fish dies and is more painful than most other methods.
- Freezing: Exposing your fish to temperatures it’s not used to will cause extreme discomfort before death. Additionally, the process is slow.
- Stabbing: While this method can be humane if done right, it’s hard to execute efficiently, especially with small fish. This method should only be done by those who know what they’re doing.
- Flushing down the toilet: When you flush your pet down the toilet while it’s still alive, it inflicts more suffering on the fish for an extended period.
- Boiling: While boiling doesn’t take long to dispose of a fish, it can still cause immense pain before death and is a stressful way to kill a fish.
- Suffocation: The process is prolonged and painful if you take your fish out of the water and leave it to die. It’s even worse for betta fish because they have a labyrinth that allows them to breathe oxygen from the air directly.
Final Thoughts
Sometimes, the most humane route to take is euthanization. You might be apprehensive about taking your beloved pet’s life, but rest assured that doing so is a much better alternative than letting it suffer for the remainder of its time.
In this article, we’ve explained how to euthanize a betta fish in the most painless way. If you follow these steps correctly, you’ll effectively put your fish down without causing it any stress, and you can rest easy knowing you did the right thing.
Want more handy tips about caring for betta fish? Check out our beginner-friendly guides on how to properly keep your water-dwelling friends.
