Ceremonial body bag for deceased registered fish

An appropriate body bag needs to be purchased should your fish die, and a special body bag does need to be purchased. This page sets out the requirements applying to owners of registered fighting fish (Betta splendens (fighting fish, or Mexican)).

Visiting-alien status

The Department advises that Betta splendens (fighting fish, or Mexican) is a species native to the Kingdom of Thailand. All fighting fish residing in Australia are accordingly classified as visiting aliens for the purposes of this page, irrespective of the length of their residence in the bowl (see Appendix F).

Data dots

All registered fish are data-recognised by means of microscopic data dots applied to the fins. A deceased, stolen or flushed fish may therefore be scanned and identified at any point, including within the sewerage network (see Appendix E). The flushing of a registered fish attracts a penalty of $40,000.

Parody satire — no real penalty applies.

Repatriation fee

The prescribed fee for the special body bag is $182.42. The fee provides for the repatriation of the deceased fish's remains to its home country, the Kingdom of Thailand, and includes the ceremonial military salute and the wreathed palanquin, as detailed in Appendix J. Pricing for your particular state is set out in Appendix K.2.

How to obtain a body bag

Applicants are advised that the body bag is not available for purchase and that no payment facility is provided. Owners of a deceased fish are encouraged to consult Real Care or an aquatic veterinarian.

Parody satire — no real fee, salute, palanquin or repatriation is provided.

Last updated: 20 October 2026. This page has been reviewed by the Committee for Reviewing Pages, which determined that it is a page.