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euthanizing a fish

Hi folks,

Which is the most humane way of euthanizing a fish?  I know that 
opinions range from gradually chilling the water, to severing the 
spine, to a blow to the head, to ... ; but I don't know which is the 
'best' way, and how exactly it is done.  I have a very old female 
Blue Gularis which has lived its entire life with a badly curved 
spine, and lately has become a host for all kinds of bacterial 
infections (eyes, skin, etc.).  I have kept it alive (and treated its 
ailments) for a long, long time, but I'm starting to get the feeling 
that it may be suffering more than it needs to.  Besides, it is so 
sluggish and awkward that all the other fish in the tank (a pair of 
Ap. Lineatus and a trio of J. Floridae) are picking on it 
relentlessly.  Honestly, I'm a bit of a softie and thus disinclined 
to put the fish down, but if that's what's best for it, I guess I'll 
do it.  Any advice?

While we are in the subject, I'm curious to know if curved/crooked 
spines are  any more frequent in killies than in other fish (or in 
some killi species more than in others).  Is it always a genetic 
trait or could it be caused by environmental/nutritional factors? 
I've already seen it in Fp. Filamentosum and in the aforementioned 
Sjo --despite the fact that I haven't been keeping killifish for very 
long.

Thanks.

Alberto


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