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Whacking Day

Posted By: Martin Thoene <martin.thoene@lakenheath.af.mil>
Date: Tuesday, 11 May 1999, at 5:47 p.m.

In Response To: Re: article about ethics and fish pain etc. (Dr. Momfish)

One of my favourite Simpsons episodes, plus my preffered method of fish euthanasia. I don't drink, so I've never got alchohol in the house, so the mutual booze method is out of the picture for me. I'm not sure I like the idea anyway, because I think there's a world of difference between us drinking the stuff and a fish basically breathing it. Surely it must hurt the gill membranes?

I too don't like the idea of whacking the fish over the head with something big and heavy. Too much chance of a squishy mess going where you don't want it.

I hold the fish belly down in my palm, gripping it around the body with all my fingers, and place my thumb on it's back to secure it. Then there's a swift downward stroke into the loo, aiming so that the fish's skull impacts the front of the inside of the bowl. It then slides neatly down into it's watery grave. I always double check for life signs (no, I don't check for a pulse!) before flushing.

This works for all small fish. Something like an Oscar or whatever, might indeed need a whacking stick because you wouldn't be able to hold it correctly, and certainly wouldn't want to be flushing something that big.

Martin.
 

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