Mortality rate is the percentage of stocked fish that die over a given period, and it’s one of the clearest early-warning signs something is wrong.
Table of Contents
hide
What Counts as Normal
Some loss is expected, especially right after stocking new fingerlings, which are more fragile than established fish. A low, steady baseline is different from a sudden spike.
The Red Flag
A sudden jump in mortality, rather than a slow trickle, usually points to a water quality event (ammonia, oxygen, or temperature) rather than individual fish health.
