Many people ask is it possible for the aquarium fish to drown in the water. Fish live and survive in aquarium water by utilizing the dissolved oxygen in the respiration process.
Can a Fish Drown in Water? Fish can drown in water, but technically it suffocates due to an inadequate supply of water dissolved oxygen to their gills. As a result, its breathing organs become immobile, and the fish feel suffocation and dies. Also, it can drown in the aquarium within 5 to 6 minutes due to small tank setups, the presence of algae, reduced fresh air, and overcrowding. In addition, warm water, inadequate space for swimming, broken air pump, and accumulation of residual waste can reduce the oxygen levels.
In addition, small to large aquariums contain around 3 to 9 parts per million of oxygen, and it is far less amount than the air. Also, they cannot inhale oxygen like many other mammals.
Contents
How do the fish breathe underwater?
Fish do not have defined lungs for respiration like other mammals.
However, they breathe through the gills on their bodies. In addition, the aquarium pets take water in their tiny mouths and pass it to their gills.
The mobile organs can inhale the minute dissolved oxygen levels.
The breathing organs are present on both sides of their bodies behind their head. In addition, they have tiny blood vessels that can extract a high amount of dissolved oxygen.
In these circumstances, the tiny creatures take oxygen from tank water. Moreover, they release carbon dioxide in the aquariums, and the breathing cycle continues.
In addition, their gills have a tiny flap that opens and closes during the respiration procedure.
Is it possible for a fish to drown in water?
Technically, the fish do not drown in large or small water tanks. In addition, they take oxygen through the gills, but an injured breathing organ cannot perform this activity.
In addition, the sharp rocks, plants with edges, and hooks can damage the fish gills. Moreover, the injured organs cannot intake enough oxygen in the aquarium.
As a result, the oxygen does not pass through the gills, and it feels like suffocation.
In addition, the lack of water and dissolved oxygen can damage them. Moreover, they never drown in water because they are water pets.
How long does it take for a fish to drown?
Their gills move continuously under tank water. But, the fish drowns or suffocates underwater for 5 to 6 minutes.
The time varies according to the size and species of the tiny pets. A few die more quickly due to injured breathing organs.
In addition, oxygen regulation with water maintenance is essential. It keeps them healthy and alive for a specific period. Also, it prevents them from excessive suffocation.
Why would a fish drown in water?
Several factors can reduce the standard oxygen level in aquariums. First, it suffocates tiny pets.
Small tank
3 to 5 gallons tank is small to a medium aquarium with a few fish.
You cannot use the term drowning for tiny pets. The reduced oxygen level affects the performance of their gills.
As a result, the standard respiration procedure malfunctions, and they die.
Presence of algae
Their breathing process is the countercurrent exchange of air intake and toxic gas removal. The formation of an algae layer around the tank’s corner reduces the beneficial oxygen.
It affects their health, and they die quickly. In addition, the algae are a high consumer of useable water dissolved oxygen and leave no air inside the tank.
The green blooms can change the water chemistry by altering the acid-base levels.
Overloaded aquariums
An overcrowded aquarium is dangerous for fish life because it increases the oxygen competition for survival. The aquarist warns about the overcrowding of these tiny pets because it makes them stressed.
The tiny creatures require maximum water to inhale oxygen.
Inadequate fish swimming
Aquarium fish swims continuously to inhale the water dissolved air and search for feed particles.
However, the constant movement of water produces waves that provide more oxygen.
In addition, their swimming leads to underwater flow that provides constant oxygen to the fish gills, and they breathe. But, in a few conditions, the aquarium’s water becomes stable because it stops swimming.
It happens due to stress and fear of any object. As a result, the water stops moving and depletes the internal oxygen. The filtration pumps in the tank move the water through slow waves.
But, a malfunctioning pump affects the aquarium’s water and cuts the oxygen supply to the tiny pets.
A few of them swim near the bottom, and the broken filtrating machine affects them quickly.
Moreover, they feel suffocation and try to swim toward the tank top. Finally, the inadequate water dissolved oxygen makes the fish lazy.
In such circumstances, the immobile gills cannot provide fresh air to the tiny pets, and they start dying.
Broken air pump
The aquarium air pump shakes the water through electrical shaking and produces bubbles. It supplies adequate oxygen to the tank with water movements.
The tank undergoes plant photosynthesis and medication effects. But, the air pump neglects these factors and provides maximum dissolved air to the tiny pets.
An air pumps malfunctions due to broken air pipes. As a result, they cannot inhale enough oxygen and suffocates to death.
High water temperature
Maintaining the aquarium’s water parameters is necessary to keep the fish healthy.
The fluctuation of temperature changes the air levels and suffocates the tiny pets. As a result, they feel stressed, and it kills them eventually.
The hot water indicates a low oxygen level because cold water provides standard breathing conditions for aquarium pets.
They also hide behind the plants and quit swimming. In such circumstances, insufficient oxygen approaches their gills and makes them immobile. As a result, they cannot breathe and lose their lives.
Dead plants and waste residual
It is better to remove the waste material inside the tank water that accumulates due to non-removal conditions.
In addition, the toxic residual releases specific chemicals that are dangerous to their life.
The dead plants are also a waste material that releases a high level of carbon dioxide.
As a result, the dissolved tank’s air depletes due to the decomposition of all waste materials.
The continuous decay of waste matter and dead rotten plants utilizes more fresh oxygen. Moreover, it turns the useable dissolved air into harmful gases.
The tiny pets cannot breathe in the aquarium and become sick. Then, they start drowning in the tank water because they die.
In addition, a malfunctioning vacuum of the tank’s gravel leads to inadequate dissolved oxygen.
However, regular water changes, tank cleaning, and removal of waste material are advisable to keep the aquarium healthy for a long span.
Related Articles:
