Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Check your fish's vital signs
• Method 2 of 3: Dealing with a dying or dead fish
• Method 3 of 3: Consider other potential issues
• Warnings

Your fish is floating on the surface of the water or has jumped out of the aquarium. A feeling of sadness is likely to take hold of you immediately or you may be tempted to get rid of the fish. However, the fish may not be dead. You can take steps to determine with certainty whether your fish has actually died. In this article, you will learn how to monitor the vital functions of the fish, how to deal with a dead or dying fish, and what other causes may play a role when your fish appears dead.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Check your fish's vital signs

1. Remove the fish from the water using a scoop net. See if the fish struggles as soon as the net comes into contact with the body of the fish. If your fish was asleep, it will wake up and try to escape from the net. If the fish makes no attempt to escape, it is either dead or seriously ill.
2. See if the fish is breathing. You can check this with most fish species by looking at the gills. If the gills don't move, the fish is no longer breathing. Siamese fighting fish and other labyrinth fishes breathe through their mouths. If your fish belongs to this family, see if the body is moving up and down.
3. Check the fish's eyes. View the eye as a whole. If the eyes appear sunken, your fish is dead or nearly dead. Cloudy pupils are also a sign of death in most aquarium fish.
   • In a pufferfish, broad-beaked fish, rabbitfish or scorpionfish, pupils that occasionally appear cloudy are usually normal. However, if the cloudy eyes have not recovered after a few days, you should contact a vet.
4. Examine the fish's scales. Do this when your fish has jumped out of the tank. Look for cracks in the skin when you pick up the fish. Feel if the body is dehydrated. These conditions are only visible when the fish is dead.

Method 2 of 3: Dealing with a dying or dead fish

1. Keep a close eye on the dying fish. Watch for symptoms such as inability to eat or sinking to the bottom after the fish swim to the surface of the water. It's not fun seeing your fish like that, but you should treat it like any other pet. Sit by the aquarium. If you usually do, talk to the fish.
2. Put the fish out of its misery if it doesn't make it. Clove oil is a sedative and can be used to humanely put the fish out of its misery. This oil is available at drug stores. Place the dying fish in a gallon of water. Then add 8 ml of clove oil to the water. After about ten minutes, the fish can no longer extract oxygen from the water and will die peacefully.
3. Remove dead fish from the tank immediately. Use a scoop net when removing a dead fish. If you don't find the body of the dead fish, don't worry about it. The body itself does not endanger the health of the other fish and will decompose naturally.
   • Parasites and diseases need a living host. If you suspect that your fish has died from a disease, the other fish may already be infected. Also keep an eye on the other fish and see if they show any signs of disease. If the other fish don't appear to be sick or show signs of disease after a few days, they were strong enough to fight the disease.
4. Do not flush the fish down the toilet. An alien species that ends up in water where this species does not usually occur can cause problems for native species. Place the fish in the waste bin or bury it. If it is a large fish, you would be wise to bury it. Consult the Flora and Fauna Act to determine whether you can bury a fish.

Method 3 of 3: Consider other potential issues

1. Treat constipation with crushed, unpeeled peas. Constipation leads to bloated sides of the fish's body. Crushed, unpeeled peas (regardless of type) contain enough fiber to combat constipation. If your fish hasn't pooped for days, feed it two to three freshly crushed peas or thawed frozen peas every day. Crush the peas or let small chunks sink to the bottom of the tank.
   • Avoid canned peas as such peas contain sodium and spices that can be harmful to your fish.
   • Soften the peas. You can do this by boiling them in filtered water for a minute. Then let the peas cool after removing them from the pan. Do not heat the peas in a microwave to avoid losing their nutritional value.
   • Remove the peel with your fingers. Do wash your hands before doing this.
   • Cut the peas into small pieces. Cut them in half first if you haven't split in half on their own. Then cut the halves in half again. If it is a small fish, cut the peas into even smaller pieces.
2. Feed the fish less, if necessary. If your fish isn't clogged, it may have eaten too much. An excessive amount of food can inflate the fish's stomach and cause them to float on its side. If your fish has recently defecated, don't do it for the next three to four days.
3. Research how your fish sleep. When fish are asleep, they stop moving. For example, goldfish sleep by lying on the bottom of the aquarium. Sometimes the colors fade a bit, especially when you turn off the aquarium lights. Try to get information online and read books about fish care and sleeping habits your fish has.
   • Look for this information on veterinary websites or check with your vet.You can also look for books on this topic in the library or bookstore. If you have access to scientific databases, look for scientific articles.
4. Ensure optimal water quality. Chlorine, chloramines and heavy metals in tap water can sicken and kill fish. Add a water conditioner to the water in the aquarium, following the instructions on the package. Water conditioners are available at pet and pet stores, among others.
   • Test the water in the aquarium for chlorine, chloramines and heavy metals before adding the water conditioner. You can purchase a test kit from your local pet store or specialty store. Follow the instructions on the package to avoid false positive or negative results.
5. Check the temperature of the water. It is possible that your fish will go into shock because of too great a temperature difference if you have recently changed the water. Measure the temperature of the water with an aquarium thermometer. When the temperature is below 24 to 27 ° C, reset the aquarium heater to raise the temperature. Adjust the temperature downwards if it is higher than the above values. The shock will disappear once the water has returned to normal temperature.

Warnings

• Do not remove your fish from the tank unless you are sure it is dead. Most fish species die fairly quickly if they are not in the water.