Can a Fish Have a Stroke?

Some people are born fish owners – they love all about their little swimming friends, and they never want them to depart from this work.

But can a fish have a stroke? Although this might seem like a rather specific question, it is a very valid one.

If you are concerned about your fish’s health, then let Your Pet, Your Love enlighten the path to the answer to this question.

Do Fish Have Strokes?

In theory, fish could indeed have strokes. Strokes happen whenever the brain is not working as it should due to different causes, and all fish have a brain.

Therefore, fish could have strokes, but since their brains are not as developed as other animals, then the stroke signals might be a lot different.

It doesn’t matter if we talk about a classic goldfish or an expensive Koi fish (How Much Are Koi Fish?); they all could suffer from strokes at one point or another.

How Do I Know If My Fish is Suffering?

Fish are not expressive creatures. They do not come to you when you call their name, nor understand many things about the world that surrounds them.

But you can know if your fish is suffering by analyzing their behavior. You surely know how your fish acts normally – well, whenever you start to notice weird symptoms or altered behaviors, then they might indeed be suffering.

It is important to know our fish to predict whether they might be sick or not. On top of that, we must also mention that veterinarians know how to treat sick fish, so don’t ever sleep on their health. 

3 Stroke Symptoms in a Fish to Look For

It hasn’t been scientifically proven that fish have strokes. Let’s be totally honest here – whenever a fish dies, there aren’t any scientific studies or medical studies directed towards the dying fish.

Therefore, although science hasn’t confirmed that all fish have strokes, we can know that they can indeed experience this illness by just taking a look at the definition of stroke and the biology of fish.

But how do you know if your fish is having a stroke? We can know Why Goldfish Are Always Hungry, and we can certainly interpret whenever a fish is having or about to have a stroke in 3 different ways.

1. Loss of Motor Functions

Strokes affect the brain, and the brain controls the body. If your fish is swimming weirdly or is moving differently than they usually do, then they perhaps experienced a stroke.

If you can’t see signs of external wounds, then this is a possibility that you must always consider. 

2. Your Fish is Having Seizures

Fish have seizures due to brain malfunction – vets are quite aware of this. If your fish is having or experienced constant seizures, then this might as well happen due to a recent stroke.

3. Your Fish is Confused and Experiencing Buoyancy 

Fish with buoyancy are likely to experience strokes even if there are no other signs that tell otherwise.

In the same order of ideas, if you are trying to give your fish some food, but they seem really confused about it, then they might be experiencing a stroke.

What to Do if You Think Your Fish is Having a Stroke

Although you probably are not a veterinarian or a professional doctor, if you believe that your fish is experiencing any of the three aforementioned signs, then you must take them to the vet as soon as you can.

There is no way to treat strokes other than receiving help from professionals. If you really care about your fish’s life, then taking them to the veterinarian is the best thing that you can do.

It doesn’t matter if it turns out that your fish was not having a stroke at all, but the previously mentioned signs can indicate that there are other diseases going on, which is something that you, as a pet owner, should always look into.

Pet Recap: Can Fish Have Strokes?

Fish can have strokes, yes, but it is not that common for them to experience this illness. There are more major concerns when it comes to fish health than strokes, but as my mother always said, it is better to be safe than sorry.

Under any stroke suspicion, take your fish to the vet and let professionals handle this problem.

FAQ

Can Fish Feel Pain?

Yes, fish can feel pain. They have nervous systems just like mammals, and although it is not as developed as ours, they can still suffer from external and internal wounds.