Perhaps your fish is floating on its side or you have noticed that it has jumped out of the aquarium. Although your first reaction may be to cry over its death and think about disposing of its body, in reality the fish may still be alive. You can put in place procedures to know its condition by checking its vital signs, handling a dead or dying fish, and evaluating any other problems that only make it appear dead.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Check the vital signs
Step 1. Try to collect it with an aquarium net
See if he breaks free from the network that surrounds him; if he is simply asleep, he may wake up and try to escape, but if he does not react, he may be dead or very ill.
Step 2. Check your breathing
In almost all species, you need to check the gills; if they don't move, it means the animal is not breathing. Betta fish and other labyrinths breathe through their mouths; if your specimen belongs to these families, check if its body moves up and down.
Step 3. Look at the eyes
Observe them as a whole; if they are sunken, the fish is dead or about to die. See if the pupils are dull, as this is another sign of death in most aquarium fish.
If your friend is a puffer fish, a Sander vitreus, a rabbit fish or a scorpion fish, it is perfectly normal for your eyes to become cloudy from time to time; however, contact your vet if this symptom persists for several days
Step 4. Look at the flakes
This control is advisable when the fish jumps out of the aquarium; pay attention to the cracking of the skin when you take it in your hand and feel the body to see if it is dry. These are all signs that only show up on a dead fish.
Method 2 of 3: Treating a Dead or Dying Fish
Step 1. Spend time with the dying fish
Check for symptoms, for example if he is unable to eat or sinks immediately after swimming on the surface of the water. It's certainly not a pretty sight, but you should treat the fish like any other pet; stand near the aquarium and talk to him if you are used to it.
Step 2. Proceed with euthanasia if he is in pain
Clove oil is a sedative and is one of the least cruel ways to put an end to the suffering of a dying fish; you can buy it at the main pharmacies. Put the animal in a container with only one liter of water and add 400 mg of clove oil; within 10 minutes the fish runs out of oxygen and dies painlessly.
Step 3. Remove any dead specimens from the aquarium if possible
Use a net to collect all the corpses; however, if you can't find the body, don't worry as it doesn't harm other fish and decomposes naturally.
Parasites and diseases need living beings; if you think the minnow has died from an illness, its mates are probably already infected. In this case, check for symptoms; if you don't see any signs of illness and you don't develop unusual ailments within a few days, it means they are strong enough to be able to fight and overcome the health problem
Step 4. Don't flush the fish down the toilet
If a dead specimen enters a habitat other than the one it belongs to, it can damage native marine species. Instead, throw it in the garbage can or bury it; if it's big, the best thing to do is bury it. However, check your local regulations to make sure you can do this.
Method 3 of 3: Evaluate Other Possible Problems
Step 1. Treat constipation with peeled peas
This disturbance causes the fish to float on their side. Peeled peas (of any variety) contain enough fiber to restore the animal's intestinal regularity. If your little friend hasn't defecated in the last few days, give him two or three fresh or thawed peas daily; you can crush them to make a puree or let them float until they reach the bottom of the aquarium.
- Don't give them canned peas as they contain potentially harmful sodium and spices.
- Soften the legumes; you can boil them for a minute in filtered water, but wait for them to cool after taking them out of the pot. Do not use the microwave, as it can destroy vital nutrients.
- Remove the peel with your fingers; make sure you wash your hands first though!
- Cut the peas into small pieces. First cut them in half, if they didn't break naturally when you peeled them, then divide them in half again; if the fish is small, cut them into even smaller pieces.
Step 2. Ration food as needed
If the fish is not constipated, it may have eaten too much; overfeeding can cause your stomach to swell and float on your side. If he's been able to defecate recently, don't feed him for three to four days.
Step 3. Research your sleep habits
A sleeping fish does not move. For example, the goldfish sleeps "lying down" on the bottom of the aquarium; sometimes its colors fade, especially when you turn off the tub lights. Do some research online and read books that explain how to care for fish and learn about your specimen's habits.
Look for this information on aquarium sites or ask your veterinarian; go to the library or pet store to find texts dealing with this topic. If you have access to university databases, you can search for these articles in veterinary journals
Step 4. Purify the tub water
The chlorine, chloramines and heavy metals found in tap water can be harmful to fish and kill them. Add a specific product to treat the water, which you can buy at pet stores, and follow the directions on the package regarding the method of application and dosage.
Check the quality of the water by testing the levels of these substances before adding the product to purify it. You can purchase a kit at pet stores; follow the instructions on the package to avoid false positive or negative results
Step 5. Measure the temperature inside the tank
If you have changed the water recently, any sudden change in temperature can shock the fish; check it with a thermometer. If it is below 24-27 ° C, the level of the heater thermostat increases; reduce it instead if the temperature exceeds this limit. As soon as the water returns to normal temperature, the shock symptoms should disappear.
