Do dead fish usually eventually float?

[spiff44]

Anyone in a scientific field that can give any detailed info on any various stages that a dead fish go through? I’m curious if all or most dead fish eventually float as long as their entrails stay intact.


From my own experience it appears that dead fish that initially stay on the bottom will eventually accumulate gases that make them float. I’m wondering how consistent this is…

 

[alecrromine]

Yes. I know it's different, but most of my experience of bodies in the water are human. I would assume that similar decay processes happen in each species. If you watch the news it seems like most of the cases where the body can't be located initially, they reach the surface in the next county. Or, they are just found in similar areas after a little time, in lakes and low current areas. I think based on a fishes natural buoyancy the process would require much less decay for the fish to reach the surface again.

 

[spiff44]

That's good info...thanks. Reinforces the thought that they probably usually float, just what I was wanting to hear.

 

[PonDgUrU]

they all float lol trust me i learned the hard way

 

[spiff44]

they all float lol trust me i learned the hard way

can you elaborate?

 

[PonDgUrU]

I had my pond water go to **** on me and all 30 of my fish floated up to the surface one at a time..

 

[PonDgUrU]

over the course of a few days

 

[smitty03281964]

Yes they do and matter of fact that is how I found out a couple times I had lost a fish.

 

[Wailua Boy]

When a fish dies, oxygen is trapped in swim bladder in addition to other gases that are formed and results in a fish floating belly up.

 

[Ihsnshaik]

When a fish dies, oxygen is trapped in swim bladder in addition to other gases that are formed and results in a fish floating belly up.

I've had fishes swallowed so when they died I had no idea so not all fish float lol haha