Can Fish Die from Shock?

When you perform a water change with colder water, the fish in your aquarium go into a thermal shock, which leaves them extremely vulnerable to disease. A fish that goes through thermal shock will not move a lot, lose its color quickly, and may die almost immediately after a water change.

Can a fish survive shock?

Fish don't do well with shock and will quickly become very sick from it. pH shock is no different to any other kind of shock and can very quickly be deadly to your fish, though it is worth noting that pH shock is actually fairly rare.

How can you tell if a fish is in shock?

If your fish is swimming frantically without going anywhere, crashing at the bottom of his tank, rubbing himself on gravel or rocks, or locking his fins at his side, he may be experiencing significant stress. Talk to your veterinarian about treatment and look into what may be causing the stress and alleviating it.