Is my betta dead?

If you see the cloudy pupils on your better fish eyes, it is the sign of death for most betta fish. In addition, when you touch the betta fish, you need to make sure the betta's gills & mouth are moving. Even if betta fish are sick, they will breathe slowly. When betta fish are dead, their skin becomes dry and solid.
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Is my betta fish sleeping or dead?

To put it simply, dead fish don't breathe. So, look closely at your betta's mouth and gills. Even during sleep, you should notice your betta draw water in through its mouth and out through the gills. Speaking of which, during sleep, the mouth and gill movement of your betta will be much slower than when it is awake.
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Can you revive a dead betta fish?

While you can stop the rot from spreading, you often cannot reverse the damages. As a result, ensure you understand how to properly care for your Betta Fish before getting one as a pet, so you can prevent any fatal conditions.
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Do betta fish play dead?

Yes, betta fish play dead. In fact, betta fish tend to sleep in positions that make them appear to be dead. Don't be afraid when you see your betta fish floating upside down, it's probably just sleeping. You can try waking it up with some food or toys to ensure it's alive and healthy.
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Why is my betta not moving but still alive?

Resting or Sleeping

Like all living creatures, betta fish rest and even sleep. According to Betta Fish Facts, bettas are tropical freshwater species who sleep when it's dark. A betta who is not moving may simply be taking a rest or sleeping.
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10 ways to tell if a betta fish is dying - Betta fish informational video



What does a betta fish look like when it's dying?

Other signs that offer a clue to knowing when a betta fish is about to die include discoloration along the fish's body, such as white or brown spots. Strange swimming movements or a shortening / eating away of the fins can also point to severe illnesses.
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Why is my betta laying at the bottom?

They're Sleeping

Believe it or not, Betta fish sleep just like any other animal! They actually follow the same general sleep rhythm as humans. They like to rest at night and stay active during the day. If they don't get enough sleep at night, you might find them snoozing at the bottom of the tank!
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Why is my fish playing dead?

Some species play dead to fool other fish, often targeting scavengers as a food source. The Central American cichlid is a perfect example. In other species, though, this behavior might hint at a health issue.
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What should I do with my dead betta fish?

Steps For Disposing of a Dead Fish
  1. Remove The Fish.
  2. Place The Bag in the Freezer Until Burial.
  3. Select The Casket and Burial Location.
  4. Hold a Mini-Funeral Service and Bury the Fish.
  5. Clean the Tank.
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Does putting a fish in the freezer revive it?

Certain species of fish do survive in frozen or near-freezing temperatures, during what is called an “overwinter” by the NOAA. They will go dormant, often burrowing into sand or hovering in large groups, and “revive” when the water warms up or thaws.
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Do bettas lay down?

Betta fish, like most other animals, do need rest and will sleep. The fish will often find a comfortable place on the bottom of the aquarium where it will lay and take a nap during the night.
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How do you revive a dead fish?

Place the goldfish in a container filled with cool water from his tank. The cool water contains oxygen and will help to revive your fish. Some experts also suggest placing your goldfish right back into the water in his tank, even if he appears dried out.
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Is it OK to flush dead fish down the toilet?

While your septic system and plumbing are designed for disposing of undesirable materials, dead fish are not on the list of flushable items. Septic systems are only meant to handle human waste, water and toilet paper. Plus, if it gets stuck in the pipes, a blockage or infestation could occur.
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Where do I put my dead Betta Fish?

  1. Remove the dead fish from the aquarium. Image Credit: Maverick Ace, Shutterstock. ...
  2. Place the fish in a paper bag. Image Credit: BRRT, Pixabay. ...
  3. Place the bagged fish in the freezer. This will preserve their body until you are ready to bury them. ...
  4. Bury your fish (don't flush). ...
  5. Create a special monument.
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Do dead fish always float?

It should also be noted that fish don't necessarily always float when they die. For example, if a fish dies with little to no air in its swim bladder, the act of dying doesn't magically make this bladder expand to increase buoyancy. In these cases, the fish will often sink, at which point decomposition will begin.
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Why is my fish not moving at the bottom of the tank?

When the water temperature inside your aquarium drops too low, your fish might lay motionless at the bottom of the tank to conserve energy. On the opposite spectrum, if the water temperature rises dangerously high, fish will stay on the bottom because that's where oxygen levels will be higher.
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Why is my betta staying at the top of the tank?

A fish may linger near the surface because he's trying to breathe more easily. Remember, fish breathe dissolved oxygen—not oxygen that is already combined in the H2O molecule. Naturally, these dissolved oxygen levels tend to be higher near the surface, where interaction between air and water takes place.
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Can you bury a dead fish in a potted plant?

You can bury fish in a potted plant as it provides a rich source of nitrogen fertilizer that encourages foliage growth. You will need to bury it deep and keep the pot outdoors till the fish decomposes and the smell disappears. This is a good method to lay rest to a dead pet fish or leftover meal.
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Do fish have feelings?

Fish Have Feelings, Too: The Inner Lives Of Our 'Underwater Cousins' : The Salt Jonathan Balcombe, author of What A Fish Knows, says that fish have a conscious awareness — or "sentience" — that allows them to experience pain, recognize individual humans and have memory.
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Do fish know when another fish is dying?

The majority of the animal kingdom, including fish but not dolphins, do not have a sense of identity or self-recognition [1]. So they likely do not experience an abstract awareness of their eminent demise.
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Should I do a water change after a fish dies?

A 50–60% water change should be conducted every 5–6 weeks to prevent any type of nitrate accumulations. If a fish dies or there is an outbreak of some disease, go for a 10% water change.
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How can you tell if a fish is in shock?

Symptoms of pH Shock

Some fish succumb to pH shock immediately. Others may exhibit symptoms including thrashing, darting, gasping, swimming near the water's surface and trying to jump out of the tank. Such symptoms are the same as those that indicate toxins in the water -- either cause is serious.
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Why is my fish barely moving?

If fish are experiencing acute stress (i.e., gasping up at the surface, lying on the bottom and not moving, or darting around the aquarium), you can be pretty sure that the water has been poisoned in some way. Maybe cleaning sprays got into the aquarium, or something released toxins into the water.
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Why is my betta hiding and not swimming?

The reason this happens is that they don't feel safe. In the wild, betta fish can quickly become prey to bigger fish, so they prefer being in areas with a lot of hiding holes. If your betta feels like he's too out in the open and he has nowhere to hide then he's going to stick to his same hiding place all the time.
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