Everyone who keeps an aquarium dreads a dead fish sight in their tank. Some of them don’t even know what they are supposed to do with a dead fish. Most people believe that flushing is adequate to dispose of the fish. However, this isn’t the right method to hand the dead fish.
Even though the incident of fish loss is a sad experience for everyone, knowing the necessary steps to dispose of a dead fish is imperative to keep other aquarium pets healthy.
A comprehensive guide on how to dispose of a dead fish properly
Do you want to know the steps you should take to dispose of your lost fish? Have a look at the step-by-step guide we have given below to understand things better.
So, here we go:
Remove the dead fish from your tank quickly
When you see a dead fish floating in your fish tank, it is imperative to act swiftly. Removing the fish from your tank impulsively is important to save other organisms from catching something terrible.
The fish decompose quickly after dying. The toxins it removes can make other organisms in the tank fall ill. If the fish is died because of a contagious problem, the other fish in your tank will be more likely to follow that fate.
- Use a net to remove the dead fish from your tank safely. Using a net will reduce your body’s direct contact with the dead fish.
- However, if you don’t have a net at home, it would be better to wear disposable gloves to do the job.
*Important information*
A dead fish can inflict havoc in the aquarium. It is truer if it stays in the tank for a few hours. Within that time, it will leach toxic compounds like ammonia and may become a tempting snack for others in the tank. So, it is necessary to remove a fish if you feel it is dead quickly.
Confirm if it is dead
It is alive if the fish has started squirming once you removed it from the aquarium. However, if the fish doesn’t squirm, check for gill and eye movements to ensure it is dead.
The last thing you can do here feels its body. If your fish’s body is right, it is dead.
Place the dead fish in a Ziploc bag.
After removing the fish from the tank and ensuring it’s dead, place it in a Ziploc or paper bag. Seal the bag properly to avoid any bad odor.
Consider different burial options to dispose of your dead fish
When it’s about disposing of a dead fish, burying the fish is the most appropriate method to consider. Here are two options that you can consider to bury a deceased fish:
Bury the fish in your backyard
Any homeowner having a backyard can consider burying a dead fish there. You can choose a burial location under bushes, trees, or flowers. Dig a hole using a hand trowel or shovel to bury the deceased fish. Put the fish in a container made with biodegradable material. Put the bagged fish into the hole and cover it properly with the soil.
Bury your dead fish in a potted plant.
You can consider burying your fish in a potted plant if you don’t have a backyard. As a dead fish contains higher nitrogen content, it will also benefit the growth of your potted plant.
Take a large pot, place the deceased fish inside it, cover it with soil, and add a plant.
*Important Information*
It would be better to bury your fish in an outdoor plant to keep your house from stinking.
In addition, you should dig a hole as per the size of your fish to bury it properly.
Put the dead fish in waste disposal.
If you can’t bury your fish anywhere, putting it in waste disposal is also a suitable option. Wrap the dead fish in the paper bag, and put it in a cardboard box.
It is important to avoid stink and keep the sanitation workers safe from touching the dead fish.
Cremation is also a good way to dispose of your dead fish
If you can’t dispose of your fish in any of the above ways, consider cremation a good alternative. Here is the cremation process you need to follow:
- Leave the dead fish in the oven for about 15 minutes to dry it out completely.
- Now bring it out of the oven and let it cool down.
- Build a fire in any fireproof container and let the embers get hot.
- Take a ceramic plant pot, put the dead fish inside that, and put it on the fire.
- Once the fish turned into aches, scatter that
Clean the tank to remove toxins.
To avoid other fish in the tank, meet their end sooner; cleaning your tank is necessary. Tank cleaning after removing a deceased fish can help you remove deadly toxins from it.
Change the tank’s water after cleaning it, and check for any symptoms of parasites. It would be better to check if any remaining fish has caught the disease. If yes, applying quarantine measures is imperative to secure others in the tank.
Remove the sick fish from the tank and put it in a separate bowl. Consult your vet to learn what possible actions you should take next.
Don’t flush your dead fish in the toilet.
You should never flush your deceased fish as it can harm local wildlife and waterways. Not all drainage
systems lead to septic plants. Some of these are out in the oceans and rivers. Adding captive-raised fish to such an ecosystem will expose other species to harmful diseases.
Final Verdict
Diseases such as parasitic infections can end up destroying a complete ecosystem within no time. Therefore, it is always important to dispose of your dead fish properly and avoid flushing it anyway.
Besides that, you should also spend some time learning the reason why your fish died and protect others from that fate.
thanks for reading our article. If you would like more articles like this, check out our other fish articles.