My experience with clove oil.

[Cathy G]

Sounds like it might have had some alcohol in it... also, the tap water - chlorine? This would burn the heck out of the fishes gills...

I used clove oil, it was over in less than 2 seconds. The real clove oil is oily, very oily. I put a few drops in a small plastic container with my poor fishes tank water, stirred it up like crazy. Netted my fish and put him in the doctored water, and his body went limp. He was out like a light. I actually think he stopped breathing then, but put him in the freezer to make absolutely sure.

The real clove oil is made from the bud of the clove, it might say something like clove bud oil on the bottle. You can find it at organic and health food stores.

I'd be worried about finding substitutes - they might have additives which wouldn't bother us, but would hurt the fish.

Sorry you had such a bad experience and sorry you still have a suffering fish!
Cathy G

 

[Roan Art]

Pato,

Try health food stores, herb stores, stores that sell stuff for making soaps and candles. Clove oil is also a fragrance and there may be some hobby shops that carry it as well.

Roan

 

[chefkeith]

I've been dealing with some sick fish lately also. For Euthenizing them, I've been using the Whole Cloves that are in my spice cabinet. I'd put the fish in a container with about 32oz of tank water, then add about 20 cloves. The fish drifts off very slowly, doesn't fight, and dies in about 1 hour.

 

[Roan Art]

I've been dealing with some sick fish lately also. For Euthenizing them, I've been using the Whole Cloves that are in my spice cabinet. I'd put the fish in a container with about 32oz of tank water, then add about 20 cloves. The fish drifts off very slowly, doesn't fight, and dies in about 1 hour.

I was thinking that myself, but hadn't tried it and didn't want to recommend if it didn't work. Glad to hear that it does as it's often easier to find cloves than clove oil.

I wonder -- if you boil the cloves will the oil seep out into the water? Perhaps that may work as well. Boil a bunch of cloves and use that water -- cooled, of course -- as the solution?

Roan

 

[patoloco]

I was thinking that myself, but hadn't tried it and didn't want to recommend if it didn't work. Glad to hear that it does as it's often easier to find cloves than clove oil.

I wonder -- if you boil the cloves will the oil seep out into the water? Perhaps that may work as well. Boil a bunch of cloves and use that water -- cooled, of course -- as the solution?

Roan

The worst part it trying it, though

 

[Roan Art]

The worst part it trying it, though

I agree, but if it's just clove oil than the worst it could do is knock him out for a while instead of having him fall asleep permanently.

I may try this myself next time I need to euthanize one of my fish. It's a good idea, but you are right, it needs to be tested and I'd rather test it myself than ask someone else to run an "experiment".

Roan

 

[Dangerdoll]

poor pato.... I'm sorry for what you went through already with this fish and what you thought was the stuff.... I can totally understand your apprehension to anything except what you know is the right stuff at this point.

 

[mishi8]

Doll, The product I used is made here in Costa Rica, so I can't really think you'll find the same presentation where you live. I got a 2oz. plastic bottle, labeled "Espíritu de Clavo". The product itself is a brown non oily substance that smells and tastes like when you go to the denstist.

patoloco, it sounds like you bought clove tincture instead of clove oil. The ticture would have a combination of oil, alcohol and water. Definitely a much diluted form of clove, and would explain why it didn't have the desired effect.

 

[TheMightyQueenPixie]

I always put vodka in with the clove oil... Helps to disolve it... On the rare occasion that I put one "down" it goes down quick...An hour long wait is not good...It should be over in less then a minute if done right. I have done Bettas and large Oscars this way...

After doing the deed" drink whatever vodka you then have left over... :sad:

 

[daveedka]

I was thinking that myself, but hadn't tried it and didn't want to recommend if it didn't work. Glad to hear that it does as it's often easier to find cloves than clove oil.

I "imagine" this would work in either method. One of the things I was told by a very reliable source is that Clove oil remains stable once it is mixed in water. this meaning it would not settle out or denature over time. When I first learned about clove oil, I thought it might be useful as an anesthetic for netting large fish but was cautioned against adding it to my main tanks because it would not be removable without a 100% water change. The down side to this stability would be the upside in the Euthanization process. Once you get the clove oil into the water by any means, you can probably count on it staying there for the euthanization purposes. Testing of course is the best way to know, but Testing euthanization methods is a nasty task which I have no intention of trying if I can avoid it.
Dave