Most Humane Way to Kill a Fish?

[Carcharodon]

I'm conducting some minor research on fish chromatophores at the moment, and I would really like a skin sample for some microscopy work.

I don't know that I'll actually go through with it, but I had been considering offing a staghorn sculpin for skin samples to make slides. The thing is, I really don't like killing things. Even spiders I find in my apartment or house.

So, even if I don't end up going through with it, what do you guys think the most humane way to kill a fish is? Bleeding it out? Decapitation? Suffocation?

I'd love to gain access to some fish tranquilizers to intentionally overdose it on, but I have a feeling that it would be rather expensive and the staff at this facility may be antsy about giving it to an unaffiliated student.

EDIT: Yes, I do appreciate the irony that my username is also the genus of the great white shark...something that (at least early in its life history) preys on fish.

 

[VanillaLando]

I am an advocate of the 'firecracker in the mouth' method. Although, the 'firecracker in the rectum' could be just as effective.

 

[WompuM]

 

[VanillaLando]

^I couldn't help but notice your avatar WompuM. I only have one question:

Did they use protection?

 

[Carcharodon]

I am an advocate of the 'firecracker in the mouth' method. Although, the 'firecracker in the rectum' could be just as effective.

Perhaps you missed the bit about needing a viable skin sample? t:

Yeah, thought about that....just might be the best way. Although, all I have are tiny scalpels and rubber mallets in the lab.

 

[VanillaLando]

Perhaps you missed the bit about needing a viable skin sample? t:

There would still be some good skin samples for you. Only half of the fish would be affected by the firecracker, so I've heard.

 

[The Geek Vault]

I'd say the best way is to take em out of the water and put it in the freezer it lowers the body temp slowly.

 

[Carcharodon]

I'd say the best way is to take em out of the water and put it in the freezer it lowers the body temp slowly.

Hmmm...yeah, I could do that. There is a freezer in one of the labs. Besides, it might maintain the chromatophore structure. My only hope would be that the cells don't rupture.

 

[VanillaLando]

Quit being such a wuss and just cut the f'n head off!

 

[Carcharodon]

Quit being such a wuss and just cut the f'n head off!

I don't have anything to cut it off with. I don't think my roommates would appreciate me stealing one of our kitchen knives.

Besides, I don't want to deal with the clean-up that would inevitably occur due to decapitation.

 

[VanillaLando]

I don't have anything to cut it off with. I don't think my roommates would appreciate me stealing one of our kitchen knives.

Besides, I don't want to deal with the clean-up that would inevitably occur due to decapitation.

Why not? Just wash the knife off. If you don't do this you will never be ready for the zombies.

 

[Carcharodon]

Why not? Just wash the knife off. If you don't do this you will never be ready for the zombies.

That's survival, though. This is my own curiosity loosely based upon my research. It's not even necessary, really. I've been waiting for one to die, but somebody keeps feeding them lol.

Besides, I've already survived one zombie epidemic.

 

[VanillaLando]

That's survival, though. This is my own curiosity loosely based upon my research. It's not even necessary, really. I've been waiting for one to die, but somebody keeps feeding them lol.

Besides, I've already survived one zombie epidemic.

Just use the kitchen knife and wash it off. Your friends will never know, hahahah.

 

[Logan's Runt]

I don't have anything to cut it off with. I don't think my roommates would appreciate me stealing one of our kitchen knives.

Besides, I don't want to deal with the clean-up that would inevitably occur due to decapitation.

So...kitchen knives are meant for something other than cutting up animals?

 

[Carcharodon]

So...kitchen knives are meant for something other than cutting up animals?

Well, they can be used for juggling, too.

 

[Logan's Runt]

Well, they can be used for juggling, too.

Uh..sure.

You're fidgeting about using a knife for what knives are supposed to be used for. Cutting meat. How is cutting up a fish for science more 'icky' than cutting it up for food?

 

[Carcharodon]

Uh..sure.

You're fidgeting about using a knife for what knives are supposed to be used for. Cutting meat. How is cutting up a fish for science more 'icky' than cutting it up for food?

They're kinda cute.

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

Sex it to death.

 

[Logan's Runt]

They're kinda cute.

Fish? Or knives?

Also, I used to cut up frozen carp with a hacksaw, you could go that route.

 

[Carcharodon]

Sex it to death.

But...the thing is like half the size of my fish-stick. I'm pretty sure that

1) The insertion would be physically impossible

and

2) If the insertion were to succeed, I'd proceed to rupture virtually every blood vessel in its body, causing massive bruising and ruining my sample.

I do appreciate the input, though. It had crossed my mind once or twice.

 

[Carcharodon]

Fish? Or knives?

Also, I used to cut up frozen carp with a hacksaw, you could go that route.

Yeah; I'd have to carefully monitor the freezing process, though.

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

But...the thing is like half the size of my fish-stick. I'm pretty sure that

1) The insertion would be physically impossible

and

2) If the insertion were to succeed, I'd proceed to rupture virtually every blood vessel in its body, causing massive bruising and ruining my sample.

I do appreciate the input, though. It had crossed my mind once or twice.

I didn't really mean it.
It was just an homage to a classic thread from a long, long time ago...before "The Dark Times".

 

[Carcharodon]

I didn't really mean it.
It was just an homage to a classic thread from a long, long time ago...before "The Dark Times".

OH, I remember that! t:

 

[SuperFerret]

If you just need a skin sample, why not just take a bit off it's tail fin, and not kill it? Seems to me to be the best way to go if you don't want to kill it.

Anyways, I'd say that freezing may be one of the worst ways to die, but fish, being cold-blooded, would likely succumb faster than a warm-blooded animal, therefore limiting the suffering relatively.

 

[Carcharodon]

If you just need a skin sample, why not just take a bit off it's tail fin, and not kill it? Seems to me to be the best way to go if you don't want to kill it.

While I know that chromatophores do exist on the fins of many (if not all) bony fishes, I have no idea what their distribution is on these species.

I can guarantee a good sample by taking a dermal sample from the head or dorsal surface, though. On a somewhat related note, we're enlisting the help of a vet for another section of this study. He's qualified to take living skin samples from fish, without actually harming the fish. He's not available to help with this part, though.