How to Know Your Fish is Dead

You see your fish floating in the tank or jumping out of the tank. Perhaps your first reaction is to grieve or start disposing of the carcass, but the fish may still be alive. Either way, take steps to identify it by checking the fish for signs of life, disposing of dead or dying fish, and looking for other problems in fish that look dead.

Table of Contents

Check the fish’s vital signs

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Use a racket to pick up the fish. Look for signs of resistance as the racket encloses the fish’s body. If your fish is just sleeping, they will wake up and try to wiggle out of the net. If the fish is motionless, it may be dead or seriously ill.

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Breathe detection. Check fish gills. If they don’t move, the fish stops breathing. Betta fish (fighting fish) and gorillas usually breathe through their mouth. If your fish is of this type, observe the up and down movement of their body. ^{[1] X Research Source}

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Check fish eyes. Look into the eyes. If the eye is sunken in, the fish is dead or dying. Cloudy pupils are also a sign of death in most aquarium fish. ^{[2] X Research Source}

If your fish is a puffer, bass, snout, or caper, sometimes cloudy eyes can be normal. However, you should contact your veterinarian if cloudiness persists for several days. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Handling dying or dead fish

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Spend time with the dying fish. Look for symptoms such as not being able to eat or sinking soon after swimming to the surface. It will be quite sad, but you should treat the fish like any other pet. Sit by the fish tank, talk to the fish, if that’s what you usually do.

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“Rescue” for a fish in pain. Clove oil is a sedative and the most humane way to end the pain of a dying fish. You can get it at most drug stores. Just put the dying fish in 1 liter of water. Add 400 mg of clove oil to the water. Within 10 minutes, the fish will lose oxygen and die peacefully. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

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Remove dead fish from the tank, if possible. Use a racket to pick up the fish carcass. If you can’t find the body, don’t worry. Dead fish will not harm other fish and will decompose naturally.

Fish diseases and parasites require a living host. If you think your fish is sick and dies, the rest of the fish may also be infected. Watch for symptoms on them. If they don’t get sick or symptoms develop after a few days, it means they are healthy enough to fight the disease. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

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Do not flush fish down the toilet. Discarded fish carcasses can harm marine life. Dispose of fish carcasses in trash or bury them outdoors. If the fish are large, it’s best to bury them. Check your local laws to make sure you are allowed to bury an aquarium fish. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Consider other issues

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Treat constipation with peas. Constipation will cause fish to float on the water. Peas (or any variety) contain enough fiber to help the fish return to its normal state. If the fish has not had a bowel movement in the past few days, feed them two to three fresh or thawed peas per day. Crush the beans or remove the small pieces that settle to the bottom of the aquarium. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Avoid canned beans, as they contain sodium and spices that can hurt the fish.
Soften beans. You can soften the beans by placing them in filtered water and boiling over the stove for about a minute. Remove the beans from the pot and let cool. Microwaves should not be used, as this can destroy essential nutrients.
Peel them by hand to remove them. Make sure to wash your hands first!
Cut beans into small pieces. First, cut them in half if they don’t separate on their own when you peel them. Then cut into four parts. If your fish is small, cut the beans into even smaller pieces.

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Reduce food intake as needed. If the fish are not constipated, they may have overeaten. Eating too much can cause the fish’s stomach to swell and make them float. If the fish has recently defecated, do not feed them for three to four days. ^{[9] X Research Source}

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Research on how fish sleep. When fish sleep, they stop moving. For example, bettas and goldfish sleep by lying on the bottom of the tank. Search online and read books on fish care to learn about fish sleeping habits. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Look for this information on veterinary websites or at your local veterinary clinic. Go to public libraries or pet stores to check out books that are packed with useful information. If you have access to an academic database, search for articles in veterinary journals.
Some fish like to play dead just to see you freak out. Remember to double check.

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The condition of the water in the aquarium. Chlorine, chloramine and heavy metals in tap water can cause disease and kill fish. Add the dehydrating solution to the aquarium, following the instructions on the package. You can purchase a dehydrating solution at your local pet store. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Check the chlorine, chloramine, and heavy metal concentrations in the tank water before adding the dehydrating solution. You can purchase test kits at your local pet store. Follow the directions on the package to avoid misdiagnosis.
Alternatively, you can buy distilled water from your local grocery store and use it in your aquarium instead of tap water.

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Check the water temperature. If you have just done a water change, any sudden change in temperature can shock the fish. Measure the temperature with an aquarium thermometer. If the temperature is above or below the ideal range for the fish, adjust the thermostat on the aquarium heater. ^{[12] X Research Source}

Monitor the fish to make sure it returns to normal once the temperature has stabilized.
Going forward, be persistent in changing the water little by little to avoid sudden changes in temperature or pH.
If you need a large water change, remove the fish from the tank before doing the water change. Place the fish (and their water) in a plastic bag and then release the bag into the tank to allow the fish to acclimate to the new temperature.

Warning

Do not remove fish from the tank unless you are certain they are dead. Most animals cannot survive on land for too long.

Steps

Check the fish’s vital signs

Handling dying or dead fish

Consider other issues

Warning

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