Thread: How do you dispose of dead koi?

Thankfully, I never had to deal with the disposal of my large koi, but it's inevitable, and I wondered what others did in these unfortunate situations?

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I had to do this last year, triple up quality (water tight) bin bags or fish transport bags plus bin bag.
and in the bin on day of collection...

it's a bit of an ignominious end...
you can pay for a vet to dispose of the body, but i was quoted £200 ish iirc... as they have to use a bio hazard collection service that incinerate them.

Originally Posted by davethefish1

I had to do this last year, triple up quality (water tight) bin bags or fish transport bags plus bin bag.
and in the bin on day of collection...

it's a bit of an ignominious end...
you can pay for a vet to dispose of the body, but i was quoted £200 ish iirc... as they have to use a bio hazard collection service that incinerate them.

Good suggestion thanks.


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Originally Posted by Twhitenosugar

Same here. Not exactly the best send off for a pet. But I've bagged them up in a plastic carrier bag, left them in the garage until the night before bin day and then put them in the black bin bag i.e. general waste.

I have heard people bury them, but I've also heard that foxes have dug them up again so not ideal!

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Yes, in the past, foxes have indeed dug out my fish. Luckily, they were small and didn't leave a partly devoured carcass laying about.

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Originally Posted by NickK-UK

On a hot day/summer they will start decomposing quickly... 6 bags inside one another, separately tied waterproof bags works.

A greener option would be to bury them - a post hold digger makes quick work and then simply bury them vertically, head down. Backfill and put a plant on the top.

If it's KHV then it's probably better to pay for someone to come and take the bodies of the culled away for incineration to prevent any further spread.

The multiple bag option seems popular and practical.

I like the greener option, and digging deep would be ideal and more effort.

Yes, infectious disease is terrible, and finding a lical incineration service may be challenging.

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I buried a 60cm koi 2ft down last year during the heatwave.

Hungry badgers broke through the fence, dug it up and fought over it on the lawn.

They left fish bits all over the lawn, a wrecked fence and a big hole but the worst bit was finding out by looking out the window and wondering what the dog was eating.

Originally Posted by PhilN

I buried a 60cm koi 2ft down last year... badgers broke through the fence, dug it up and... left fish bits all over the lawn... the worst bit was finding out by looking out the window and wondering what the dog was eating.

Thanks for sharing, and what a terribly sad experience. I would have thought a 2 foot hole was pretty deep.

Guess the individually wrapped milti bag is the pratical option.

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Originally Posted by Feline

You can get a free cremation by taking...a recycling centre... in the ‘energy from waste’ container, if your council does this.

I once had one bagged up on my drive when I was planning to take it in to work with me for cremation, but some creature stole the bag in the night and my neighbour brought some of the pieces back to me … a bit embarrassing and very smelly.

I started off burying them in the garden (then putting a heavy slab over for a few months) around 30 years ago, but I also have buried some of my chickens when they died and you soon run out of garden to bury them. I just dug over a new border and found what looked like parts of the skeleton of a Guinea pig there. Don’t tell my kids … even though they are now 26 and nearly 30!

That's interesting, I'll check with my council about the, energy from waste option.

You're right, you may soon run out of decent burial space in the garden. I, too, have a bunny and some fish around.

Your secret re: guinea pig is safe with us

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Treble bagged with tie wraps on each bag and you wont smell anything and the flies wont get in

Lost my Kirin this year and although just short of 70cm she was a big fish.

Asked the vet doing postmortem if she could take it away and in short it was going to cost close on £200.
She said a local vet could do it cheaper if I took the fish down there but would still be close to £100.

So like others have said, I double bagged and put her in the bin.

When your koi fish dies, you should handle it carefully. First, prepare a deep hole in your yard away from water sources. Wear gloves to pick up the fish gently and place it in the hole. Cover it with soil and mark the spot so you remember where it is. This way, the fish can decompose naturally and safely. It's a respectful way to say goodbye to your pet.