If a fish decomposes in the tank will it harm the other fish?

Question

A fish died in the tank and when we went to scoop out the fish it split in half, guts going everywhere, you can't get it out.

What will it do to the other fish?

Answer 1

Get out as much as you can with a fine net.   If you have a good filtering system and a large enough body of water, it should be okay.    

Answer 2

Ewww....why would you wait so long to take it out? Letting it decompose to this state could potentially harm your fish by them breathing in the toxins given off from the decomposition of the dead fish...next time take out the dead or dying fish before it gets to that state. Gross.

Answer 3

I had 3 White Cloud Mountain Minnows & 6 Zebra Danios.

Two of the White Clouds died but they disappeared into the (presumably into the filter) Zebra Danios too big to eat them.

That was a week ago & the tank looks and still tests all healthy.

So in my case it's been fine.

Ideally of course you'd like to get them out just in case.

Answer 4

Yes, it might harm certain species of fish over time.  It's sorta' like a leaving a dead animal to rot in a yard.

When decompisition takes place, there's a (chemical?) reaction, and when things decompose, heat is also released.  It also leaves behind ammonia (as stated in above answer) and dirties the tank.

However, there might be some fish that will feed on the carcass remains.  If it's hard to remove by net or hand, there's this tube (not sure what it's called) that sucks out dirty water and left-behinds in the gravel.

Answer 5

Yes, it can foul your water.

Test your ammonia, nitrites and nitrates.

I suggest using a gravel cleaner to try to get as much out as possible.

The results of your tests will tell you if a water change needs to be done.  Ammonia and nitrites should be at zero.  Nitrates should be 20 or lower (preferably lower).

Do not do a full water change, you'll crash your cycle.

If the readings are really bad, You could do a 40%, then 10% every other day until the readings are where you need them.

Another thing to try if the test readings are bad is boosting your beneficial bacteria by adding some Bio-Spira.   This can be found in most Pet Cos in the fish food fridge.

Answer 6

yes i think that might have happenend to me cuz it will get parasites and other diseases in the tank

Answer 7

i dont think it will do any harm to the other fish, i've left dead fish in my pond and it did'nt do any harm.

Answer 8

It could possibly be harmful. Decomposing fish release a ton of ammonia, which is bad for the other fish. Clean it as best you can, or if you really can't, do at LEAST a partial water change, maybe a full one depending on how bad it is. And if it's really bad, get your water tested. (I know petsmart will do it for free if you don't have the materials)