Tell if Your Fish Is Dead

Ever walk up to your aquarium and can't tell if your fish are dead or not? Read this to figure out if it is that loved pet's time to go.

Steps

  1. Do not panic. You can get too overworked, and overreact. If it's a family pet you should stay calm to avoid creating too much stress.
  2. Begin to investigate. After you are have calmed yourself down, look at the gills, if the fish is not moving then it is not breathing. Betta fish or other labyrinth fish breathe through their mouths, so check the fins for any movement as well.
  3. Tap. If the fish is anywhere near the side of the glass, tap the glass gently. Don't tap too hard or you might shock it which could cause death. If it doesn't respond to the tapping, chances are it is about to die within the next day. You might want to stick the fishnet in the water and try to nudge the fish. Do this very gently as you don't want to hurt your fish, and make sure your skin never comes in contact with the fish.
  4. Shake. Gently twist the bowl a few times back and forth. Alive fish will respond to this movement and move around, even if they had previously been sleeping. If it doesn't respond, the fish may have passed on.
  5. Lift. If the fish doesn't respond to your touch, it is probably on the verge of death. Try lifting its back out of the water for a second. If it doesn't struggle this is a very serious sign that your fish might be dead.
  6. Check for whiteness. If your fish is partially to fully white colored that means it has begun to rot and is dead.
  7. Make sure the fish isn't sick. Sick fish sometimes can look dead. If the fish is in the same position for a long while, and hasn't moved, then the fish is most likely dead.
  8. Your fish may be sleeping. Sometimes, fish stop moving for a while and just sit in one particular location. They are probably just resting. Their colors may also fade while they rest. If your fish are like this when you turn on the lights, don't panic. If you have a goldfish, note that they sleep by "lying down" on the bottom of the tank.
  9. Did you just do a water change?
    • If so, did you remember to add water conditioner? If not, the chlorine, chloramine, and heavy metals may be affecting your fish. If it is not already dead, or there are other fish in the tank, add water conditioner immediately to curb the effects.
    • Also, what temperature is the water? Your replacement water should always be the same temperature as the water you took out. Otherwise, your fish may go into shock from the sudden change. This should wear off soon as the water returns to its normal temperature.

Tips

  • If your fish is missing, check under your decorations, in the filter, and on the floor around the tank.
  • If you have a larger tank, use a net and very gently touch it. Use your net to take it out. Keep it very close to the water just in case it's sleeping, because it will flop around when it wakes up. If not, then look closely to see if the gills and mouth are moving. If not, dispose of it immediately and wash your hands, so you won't get a disease.
  • If your fish starts tilting side to side, it has been overfed and is a signal that the fish could be at risk of dying!
  • Sometimes they stay on the ground of the tank. They are likely to be tilted, or resting in an unusual position.
  • You can tell when your fish is dead because it doesn't move. Check for everything but they DO rest so be careful and pick it up by the tail. See if it moves because if it doesn't it is dead.
  • Leave it in there for half a day and if it hasn't moved its dead but sometimes they are just resting.
  • You will know if your fish is dead if it has floated to the top or sunk down to the bottom of the aquarium.
  • Most fish sink when they die, but float to the top as they begin to rot. With small fish, this can happen in as little as 24 hours.
  • If your fish is at the bottom of the tank and you have more than one fish, check the fin, because sometimes one fish will try to eat the other fish while it is still alive, this results to your fish sinking and dying.
  • If you have a betta fish, it might swim fast to the top and then float down. That is a sign of dying.
  • Leave it in the tank for about a day. When you return check its gills and mouth for breathing. If its motionless, even after a soft prod with the net, it's dead. They will always react if they are alive.
  • If your fish has cloudy eyes is is a definite sign your fish is dead..
  • If your better fish swims to the top and then sinks, and he can't eat, then talk to him, and just spend some time with him before he passes on.

Warnings

  • Do not hesitate too long to remove a fish. Dead fish can harbor sickness, and they can foul up the water killing other fish.
  • NEVER dispose of fish using the toilet. This can bring many tropical diseases to non-tropical areas and all-in-all is just bad for the environment. Dispose of them in the garbage or burying them outside. If the fish is large, burying is usually best, but make sure to check with your city's laws before doing so.
  • Do not remove your fish unless you are certain that they are dead.

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