Why do dead fish float belly up when dead?

Answer 1

When fish die, their innards decay, giving off gases which fill up their abdominal cavities and make them float like a buoy. The upper, meaty part of the fish hangs underneath because it is heavier.


I hate fish unless they are wrapped in a piece of seaweed. =]

Answer 2

It can be to a variety of factors. Most fish just float on their sides. Some sink. Some may even float with their bellies on the surface (belly up). Recall, almost all fish have air bladders. That, and the gases given off during decay cause bodies to fload in water.

Answer 3

most animals when dead, will float belly up. The bacterias in the stomach/intestine go out of control and starts breaking down the body. their by-product is carbon dioxide gas... the gas builds up in the stomach and intestine. And so the dead body floats like a balloon, lighter side up.

Answer 4

the quantity of oxygen contained in the bladder determines the fish's buoyancy. If Nemo starts to dip, oxygen is absorbed into the bladder. If he floats too a lot, gas diffuses into the blood and out the gills. Oxygen continues to be contained in the bladder after a fish dies. further gases are released in the time of decomposition. "The fish is nearly a closed field," says Boriek. "because the fish decomposes, gases fill the body hollow area." The abdomen will develop right into a guts-crammed balloon and the fish floats to the exterior. maximum of a fish's mass is bone and muscle on its dorsal aspect, so as the tummy balloon rises, fish have a tendency to reveal the different way up.

Answer 5

Thier air bladder - whcih helps them breathe underwater - is less dense then the water, thus it floats on the water. The air bladder is located near the belly, so that is why thier belly's are the parts that floats.

Answer 6

First of all not all fish are 'dead floaters'. usually it depends on the shape of their swim bladder or air bladder. Almost all fish have air bladders that keeps them afloat. So when they die there is no way of expelling the air in the bladder and so they are lifted up. When they are alive they are working their muscles and fins to swim and also they are respiring and there is an exchange of air and other gases.

Answer 7

When fish die, their innards decay, giving off gases which fill up their abdominal cavities and make them float like a buoy. The upper, meaty part of the fish hangs underneath because it is heavier.

Answer 8

Most living things when they die float to the surface.

Natural gases are emitted from the bacterias that form inside the decaying matter. Gas is lighter than water. Hense, they float.

Answer 9

Like the human body, the fish corpse becomes bloated causing it to float.

Answer 10

Not all fish go belly up. It depends on how they breath, where their weight is located.

Betas sink when they do. Gold fish float.