remove a fish that is dead

[reef tank 2.0]

Here's a question. Although it doesn't apply to me YET........
Let's say you have a fish in your tank, that you've had from a baby, to now, where it's an adult. And due to natural causes, it ends up dying after X number of years.

Would you remove that fish and dispose, OR would you let it in the tank for "free food"?

I had an instance a couple months ago. My Banggai died and I didn't know it till I woke up the next day and saw his bones on the bottom. So I never had a chance to remove him prior to. Obviously he was food

 

[Sk8r]

If you can remove him without trouble, remove him. If you can't, trust the CUC: that's what they're there for, and a biologically 'hot' tank can do it pretty fast. OTOH, if it's Charlie the Tuna, get him out: a really big one can overpower the system.

 

[Joshua I.]

I say take him out while its a small chance it gets anything sick it could happen example is you think it died of old age but it was a parasite

 

[billdogg]

I will always remove if possible. IMHO, there really isn't any really good reason to leave it there unless you'd have to tear the tank apart to get to it.

 

[LauraGreenImp]

When my large star died (heater failure) last year I got him out.
A) he was big
B) he *smelled* (my DT is in living rm)

When my smallish clown (abt 2”+) was murdered a few mos ago, there was nothing I could do: he was just pieces. The tank did fine.

 

[TokiHacker]

I had a trigger of 10 years that died. he was in the rocks when it happened and I left him because I didn't want to tear everything apart. All worked out fine.

 

[Uncle99]

If you can get him out, will spike ammonia and reduce oxygen a little in the water.

 

[Joe0813]

I'd remove if you can