Why is my fish dead but isnt?

Unfortunately, in many cases, the fish isn't actually dead, but rather suffering from a problem with their swim bladder

swim bladder

The swim bladder, gas bladder, fish maw, or air bladder is an internal gas-filled organ that contributes to the ability of many bony fish (but not cartilaginous fish) to control their buoyancy, and thus to stay at their current water depth without having to expend energy in swimming.

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Swim bladder - Wikipedia

due to overfeeding. There are plenty of warnings about overfeeding fish, but many people are unaware of just how easy it is to overfeed.

Why is my fish dead but not floating?

After the fish dies there is no more DO being ingested and the air in the bladder starts to dissipate, causing the fish to sink to the bottom. After a few days, the internal organs of the dead fish decompose and a gas is formed.

Is it normal for fish to play dead?

Let's revisit the example of the 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.

Why is my fish dead but still breathing?

The reasons behind that can be the pressure from a swollen belly, too much air swallowed, injury, or bacterial infection. Sometimes after eating too much fish may gulp some air on purpose, to regulate its buoyancy. To cure your fish you need to investigate the reason behind its bizarre behavior.

Is my fish asleep or dead?

If he is lying at the bottom of the tank in the substrate, he may also be dead. Observe your fish for any signs of life, including the movement of his gills as he breathes. If your fish is still moving, he may be sick but he isn't dead. If you are still unsure as to whether your fish is alive or dead, touch him gently.

TOP 3 signs your fish is going to die

How do you bring a fish back to life?

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.

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

Look at the eye as a whole. If they're sunken, your fish is dead or near death. Look for cloudy pupils, which is also a sign of death in most aquarium fish. If your fish is a pufferfish, walleye, rabbit fish, or scorpionfish, occasional eye cloudiness might actually be normal.

Why are my fish just staying still?

One common cause is improper water temperature. If your fish's water is too hot or too cold, they will be very inactive. Check your heater and verify that your aquarium is at the right level. Other possible causes are overfeeding and improper water quality.

Why is my fish laying on its side?

Swim bladder disease is a common fish illness and it's often the reason why your betta fish is laying on its side. Swim bladder disease refers to a condition that means the swim bladder can no longer function correctly.

What to do if a fish is laying on its side?

If you find your fish floating on its side, not feeding it for three or four days can often solve the problem as the fish's body recovers from the gorging and rights itself again. Feeding crushed green peas can help alleviate constipation, which in turn will help the fish's swimbladder to work effectively once more.

What does it mean when your fish dies?

The two biggest reasons for fish illness are stress and dirty water. While some healthy fish can fight off the infection and get healthy, the weak ones may die. Therefore, it is important to watch for the signs of stress in your fish. Ich– It is a parasitic infection that passes in one fish from another fish.

Why do dead fish float upside down?

"As the fish decomposes, gases fill the body cavity." The belly becomes a guts-filled balloon and the fish floats to the surface. Most of a fish's mass is bone and muscle on its dorsal side, so as the belly balloon rises, fish tend to flip upside down.

Why is my fish bent and floating?

If a fish has a bent or curved spine, it is most likely infected with a Gram-positive mycobacteria (Mycobacterium marinum or M. fortuitum). This is commonly referred to as fish tuberculosis, piscine tuberculosis, acid-fast disease or granuloma disease.

Will dead fish sink?

Most fish sink to the bottom of their habitats when they die but they become more buoyant as the process of decomposition takes over. Most fish are slightly denser than water, so sink immediately after death.

How does a fish just disappear?

Another reason a fish may be missing is that the fish jumped out of the aquarium. Even if the tank has a cover, if there are any openings, it's possible for the fish to jump out. Unfortunately, when a fish jumps, that usually spells doom. Unless you find them shortly after the escape, the fish will soon die and dry up.

What to do if your fish is sitting at the bottom of the tank?

They could also be bottom sitting due to water conditions, parasites or bacteria, stress, or gastrointestinal problems. If they are bottom sitting due to water conditions, then this needs to be corrected with checking the water daily and doing large water changes until the water is within appropriate parameters.

Why do my fish stay in one corner of the tank?

Heat. While most quality aquarium heaters are good at disbursing heat in such a way that the water stays at a constant temperature, you may find fish hanging out on one side of the tank rather than another because they prefer the temperature.

How do you save a dying fish?

What to do after fish dies?

Remove. Any dead fish should be removed, as its body will quickly rot in the warm, bacteria-laden water. A corpse will pollute water, risking the health of other fish in the tank. If it died from disease the last thing you want is other fish consuming its body parts, so remove immediately.

Does freezing a dead fish 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.

What does a fish in shock look like?

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.

Can you freeze a fish and bring it back to life?

The fish in the video was likely not completely frozen through but merely left in crushed ice at a temperature of -2.10 C (28F) for a short period of time. Fish can survive this kind of freezing cold because they contain 'antifreeze' proteins in their blood.

Why is my fish not 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.

Why is fish laying at bottom of 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.

Why is my fish sinking to the bottom?

Causes of Swim Bladder Disorder

Rapidly eating, overeating, constipation, or gulping air may occur with floating foods to cause an extended belly and displace the swim bladder. Eating freeze-dried or dry flake food that expands when it becomes wet can also lead to an enlarged stomach or intestinal tract.