Hello, I'm not sure if this has been asked before and please forgive me as this may be a stupid question but I am just wondering. Why is it when fish are sick or are dying they seem to float to the top? Then why do they float to the bottom after they do die? Is this something to do with the air in there body. I just wonder because my cories can stay almost perectly still at the bottom with nothing in there way to float up but when my other one was sick it just floated to the top until it pasted away. Thanks
Why do fish float when...
- Thread starter Needeles
- Start date
Most fish have an organ called a swim bladder which is basically like a little bag of air. The organ enables the fish to have "neutral bouyancy" (no tendency to drift up or down) so they can stay at the level that they are comfortable with no effort (e.g. cories don't have to constantly swim down to stay on the bottom).
Sometimes when fish get sick, they loose control of this organ and either float to the top or sink to the bottom. On death, the organ usually empties and the fish sinks to the bottom. During the process of decay, gases are produced througout the body that can cause it to float again.
Sometimes when fish get sick, they loose control of this organ and either float to the top or sink to the bottom. On death, the organ usually empties and the fish sinks to the bottom. During the process of decay, gases are produced througout the body that can cause it to float again.
Cut and paste from this forum during a search:
When a fish dies.
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When a fish dies, the bacteria in the abdomin produce gases that extend the
addomin. The fish floats on the top of the water. Later the pressure builds
up so much that the abdomin ruptures, releasing a mixture of bacteria and
necrotic tissue. The fish then sinks to the bottom. Gross.
When a fish dies.
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When a fish dies, the bacteria in the abdomin produce gases that extend the
addomin. The fish floats on the top of the water. Later the pressure builds
up so much that the abdomin ruptures, releasing a mixture of bacteria and
necrotic tissue. The fish then sinks to the bottom. Gross.