Flushing Your Fish Farewell Can Mess Up Your Septic System

A floating fish in your pond or tank is always a sad sight, but deciding what to do with the body requires more thought than you might expect. If the thought of bidding your friend farewell via the porcelain throne crosses your mind, we have one thing to say: Step away from the toilet — especially if you have a septic system.

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Septic systems and pet disposal don't mix. In this article, we'll explain why flushing fish into a septic system is a bad idea and what to do instead.

How Can Flushing a Dead Fish Damage Your Septic System?

Your septic system is designed to handle human waste and toilet tissue only. The carefully balanced bacteria inside your septic system dispose of the waste, and they're not intended to tackle fish or other organic materials. Introducing a dead fish to your septic system could alter the bacterial balance, potentially preventing your system from breaking down pee and poop effectively.

Flushing a fish into a septic system could also cause a blockage if it becomes lodged inside a pipe. A blocked pipe can cause various plumbing issues, such as leaks, slow drainage and flooding.

Disposing of a dead fish in the toilet could impact more than just your septic system. If your fish is dead, it may contain harmful bacteria or parasites. Flushing your fish could introduce potentially dangerous pathogens into your local water system, causing harm to humans and wildlife.

Finally, consider whether your fish is actually dead. While a fish floating belly up in the tank is often dead or extremely sick, even the smallest eye or gill movement indicates that it's still alive. Flushing a live fish down the toilet into your septic system could cause it significant suffering.

What Are Some Alternatives to Flushing a Fish Down the Toilet?

Before disposing of your fish, determining whether it's alive or dead is crucial. An easy way to do this is to observe its gills for around 30 minutes. If the gills don't move at all during this period, you likely have a dead fish on your hands. Other signs of a deceased fish include cloudy eyes, rigid fins and visible decomposition.

If your fish is dead, you can dispose of it in your regular trash after sealing it in a bag or container to prevent it from contaminating your garbage can or living space. Consider freezing your fish in a sealed container until collection day to prevent unpleasant smells and deterioration.

Alternatively, you could consider burying your fish in your backyard. You should bury your fish at least a foot deep to stop other animals from digging it up.

If your fish is alive but appears extremely unwell, you may wish to euthanize it to prevent further suffering and reduce the risk of infecting other, living fish. A veterinarian can advise you on the most humane ways to euthanize a sick fish.

You should never release a sick fish into a body of water, such as a lake or river. First, the water conditions in these areas are rarely suitable for domestic fish and could cause distress or discomfort. Furthermore, your fish could pass infections to wild species.

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How Can You Repair Your Septic System After Flushing a Fish?

It's worth calling a professional to inspect your septic system if you've already flushed your fish, especially if you notice signs of a blockage or another septic system problem. Symptoms of a broken septic system include:

• Sewage backing up into your toilets, sinks and other plumbing fixtures

• Unpleasant smells near your septic system

• Slow drainage

• Strange gurgling or bubbling noises coming from your septic system or plumbing

A professional plumber can use specialized cameras to look inside your septic system, identify fish-related issues and recommend the most suitable repairs. Your septic system contains harmful waste and bacteria, so attempting to inspect it yourself is never a good idea unless you have significant plumbing know-how.

Prevention is better than cure, so it's worth familiarizing yourself with what not to flush into a septic system. Sharing this information with your family can help you prevent blockages caused by fish and other non-flushable waste.