If you bought your fish from a particular local store, start by contacting that store first. They might be more likely to take the fish back from you than a random pet shop. Certain types of exotic fish, like lionfish, will probably be easier to sell than something common like a goldfish.
For example, there might be a Facebook page for local aquarium enthusiasts that you could check out. If you’re still keeping an aquarium, but just want to get rid of certain fish, you can ask people if they’re willing to trade fish or maybe some aquarium accessories, so you get something out of the deal too! You could also check groups or forums dedicated to the adoption of unwanted pets in general.
For instance, you might know that your local dentist has a saltwater aquarium in the waiting area. If you have saltwater fish you want to get rid of, ask your dentist if they have any room for them in their aquarium. Other types of businesses you could try inquiring with about donating your fish include zoos, nursing homes, aquariums, and museums.
This applies for both freshwater and saltwater aquariums. Invasive species can kill off local, native fish populations because they are predators or can introduce foreign diseases. Flushing a fish down your toilet can also amount to an inhumane method of killing them.
For example, these types of organizations might be able to point you in the direction of a nearby aquarium or fish enthusiast group that you hadn’t heard of that could take your fish off your hands. There is also a Habitattitude branch in Canada that you can reach out to if you happen to live in Canada. You can also try reaching out to local environmental organizations via social media.
For example, you might feel like your goldfish would be happier swimming around in a local pond until the end of his days, but it could easily get snapped up as a snack for a larger fish. Or, your fish could become invasive and hurt the local fish population and ecosystem, which wouldn’t be good either. Putting your fish down humanely will give you a chance to say goodbye and reflect on the time you’ve had together. You can be confident that your fish will go to sleep painlessly and won’t suffer as they pass on to wherever fish go when they die.
If there are any local fishery biologist or marine biologist institutions, this could be another option for euthanization.
Clove oil is a natural sedative which will painlessly put your fish down at high doses. If your fish are still moving after 30 minutes, add more of the clove oil to increase the dosage. Don’t worry—just because the first dose didn’t work, it doesn’t mean your fish are suffering. They just might need a bit more sedative to lose consciousness and stop breathing peacefully. This is the only at-home euthanasia method that is widely agreed upon to be humane.
This applies if you use the clove oil euthanasia technique or if you choose to watch your fish pass on at a vet’s office or pet store.
The death of an aquarium fish can be sad. When it happens, it’s important that you don’t leave the deceased fish in your aquarium or else it could pollute the water and expose your other pet fish to bacteria and disease. That’s why it’s so important to remove the body as soon as you notice it, to protect the health of your other fish and help ensure they live long and happy lives. Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly to remove any bacteria after handling your deceased fish.
If there is a bad smell coming from the bag after you seal it up, place it inside another one and seal that up as well to help reduce the unpleasant odors. If you had your fish euthanized at a vet’s office or pet shop, they will most likely be able to dispose of the body properly for you.
The deeper the hole, the better, because neighborhood critters might smell the body and try to dig it up if the hole is too shallow. If you can’t dig a deep hole, you can place a heavy rock over top of the grave to discourage scavengers. You could even decorate the rock to act as a memorial stone for your fish that has passed on. [12] X Research source If you choose burial but you don’t have a backyard or garden, you could bury it somewhere out in nature like by a river or pond. Just make sure that it’s not on private property. You can even build a small casket out of eco-friendly, biodegradable cardboard or wood if you want to give your fish a big sendoff and bury it that way.
