Fish aftercare in Highland, from koi to betta
A pond koi and a tank tetra need very different goodbyes. Here's who in and around Highland will cremate a fish, what it costs and what to do when there'll be almost no ash.
- Pond and aquarium fish both covered
- Water cremation where it's offered
- Kind ways to explain it to children
Highland, Indiana
What happens when a pet fish dies in Highland
The Little Calumet River forms Highland's northern edge, with levee trails running along it, and Wicker Memorial Park is a long-standing green space where many families spend time outdoors. Scattering ashes by the levee or in a park may need the managing agency's approval, so ask first. On Highland's smaller lots, a shade-garden corner or a pot of perennials on the back steps can become the memorial.
Highland is a compact, mostly residential town in northern Lake County, about 25 miles from downtown Chicago, bordered by Munster, Hammond and Griffith. Much of its housing dates from the 1950s and 60s: brick ranches, Cape Cods and bungalows on modest lots, with a handful of apartment complexes near the main roads. Northwest Indiana providers reach Highland easily, often the same day, but it's still sensible to get the full price in writing.
Home burial is common in and around Highland, especially where families have land. For a fish, it's quick and meaningful: plant a water iris, a hosta or a small shrub on top so the spot becomes part of the garden. The one thing to avoid is burying a fish that died of disease close to a pond or stream, where rain can carry anything left in the soil back into the water.
With roughly 23,409 residents, Highland is the 44th-largest of the 50 Indiana communities we cover. The nearest larger centre is Chicago, about 25 miles (40 km) away, which is where some providers serving Highland are based.
The closest communities we cover are Munster (2 miles), Schererville (4 miles) and Lansing (5 miles). Providers serving those towns often travel to Highland too, so it can be worth asking them for a quote.
56.5%[1]
The NFDA projected Indiana's cremation rate at 56.5% for 2024.
10 million[2]
About 10 million US households keep freshwater fish.
13%[3]
13% of UK households keep an indoor fish tank.
3-5% of body weight[4]
Embrace notes cremated remains typically weigh about 3-5% of the pet's original body weight.
The numbers above come from UK Pet Food (formerly PFMA) Pet Population 2026 and American Pet Products Association (APPA) 2025 National Pet Owners Survey release, if you'd like to read the original sources.
Cremation in Indiana: a little context
About 56.5%[1] of people who die in Indiana are cremated, and the share has been rising steadily. Pet crematories have grown alongside it, and many now handle small and exotic pets as well as dogs and cats. If you're asking about a fish, you're likely to find at least one provider nearby that will take it. Whether you'll get meaningful ashes back depends on your fish's size, not on where you live.
That Indiana rate is a human one, published by NFDA 2024 Cremation & Burial Report state projections (via Occasional Sage) (2024). We quote it for Highland only as a pointer to how families here already think about cremation.
What the seasons mean for fish in Highland
Cold months in Highland (January, February, March, November and December) mean that power cuts matter. A pond pump or tank heater that fails during a freeze can kill fish within hours. If it happens and you lose fish, keep them sealed in the freezer, or in a cold garage if the freezer is out too, while you get things running again. Aftercare can wait days or weeks without any problem.
Spring clean-outs are when many Highland pond owners find out how winter went. If you lose fish as the water warms, test it straight away: rotting leaves and a winter's worth of waste can spike ammonia just as fish start feeding again. Freeze any fish you lose until the water is stable, then decide on cremation or a burial in the newly thawed ground.
Paying for a fish's goodbye in Highland
By our estimate, private cremation costs about twice as much as communal[5] across the markets we track, and for a fish that gap deserves a moment's thought. The extra pays for your own fish's ashes to come back to you. With a koi, that buys a few ounces for a small urn. With a neon tetra, it may buy very little. Ask any Highland provider what they would return, then decide whether the difference is worth it. The cost calculator lays out both routes side by side.
Rather than repeat the price table on every city page, we keep one for Indiana: Indiana costs. What each service includes is on the services page.
Free tool
Cremation cost calculator
Estimate a realistic price range for your pet's size, location and the type of cremation.
Before you bury, scatter or rehome in Indiana
Most of the decisions after a fish dies are yours to make. The exceptions are burial, scattering and anything that involves open water. Flushing is a poor idea everywhere: fish can carry parasites and bacteria, and not every drain leads to full treatment, especially during heavy rain. Here's what applies in Indiana for burial and scattering.
Not sure which office covers Highland? The Indiana local government directory is the official list.
The Indiana page sets out who oversees pet cremation and what the state says about burial and scattering. Highland's own bylaws can sit on top of that, so ask before you dig.
From the first minute to the last goodbye
- Net your fish out gently and rest it on a soft cloth while you think.
- Freeze it the same day, sealed and wrapped. A frozen fish keeps for weeks, so the clock stops here.
- Work out its size: a provider will want the length from nose to tail fork and an approximate weight, so take both now.
- Tell the family, including children, in simple honest words. Avoid a quiet swap for a lookalike.
- Compare two options, for example a private cremation with a small urn and a garden burial under a new plant.
- Book your choice and ask how your fish will be identified from drop-off to return.
Keeping a fish's memory close
Winter in Highland lasts from November into March, and January lows fall to around 15 degrees, cold enough that a detached garage or back porch can hold a pet's body overnight if the provider can't come until morning. Humid July days in the mid-80s are the opposite problem. Choose the coolest room in the house, lay your companion on an old sheet, and slide wrapped cold packs underneath.
or see what other families chose in the poll results, run the numbers with the free planning tools, the guides answer the longer questions and the blog the newer ones, The services page is the place to compare what is included. Close to Highland we also cover Indianapolis, Fishers, Fort Wayne and South Bend; the full list for Indiana and for the United States is a click away.
Reader polls
What would you choose?
Vote anonymously and see how other readers answered. The results are live counts from people who visit this site, so they show real opinions, not a scientific sample.
How long had you kept the fish you lost, or your oldest fish now?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Which memorial feels right for a fish?
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If you had to decide today, which aftercare would you choose for your pet?
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Free tools to help you plan
Cremation cost calculator
Estimate a realistic price range for your pet's size, location and the type of cremation.
Ashes weight estimator
See roughly how much ash to expect back, by species and body weight.
Aftercare options compared
Compare private, communal and water cremation with burial on cost, timing and what comes home.
Questions people ask
Which nearby towns can I compare with Highland?
The closest communities we cover are Munster (about 2 miles), Schererville (about 4 miles) and Lansing (about 5 miles). Providers based in those places often serve Highland too. Ask each one for a written total that includes collection, so the distance is priced in.
Where are the providers that serve Highland actually based?
Some are local, and some run from Chicago, about 25 miles away. That is normal for a town this size. What matters is the collection time they quote for Highland and whether the drive is priced into the total, so ask both up front.
Is cremation common in Indiana?
For people, yes: about 56.5%[1] of Indiana deaths end in cremation, according to NFDA 2024 Cremation & Burial Report state projections (via Occasional Sage) (2024). Nobody publishes the same figure for pets, but in our experience pet choices in Highland follow the human pattern closely, so cremation is the default most families here start from.
When is the hardest time of year to arrange a burial in Highland?
January, February, March, November and December: average lows are below freezing then, and frozen ground makes a home grave slow or impossible until it thaws. The other pressure point is July, when highs around 84°F mean a body needs cooling and collecting quickly.
Is a fish really a pet worth cremating?
If it mattered to you, yes. Koi can live 30 to 40 years and many families have kept the same fish for decades. A goldfish can live 6 to 7 years. The time you spent feeding, watching and caring for a fish is real, and so is the grief. Choose the goodbye that fits the fish and your family.
What should I do with the other fish after one dies?
Remove the dead fish quickly, then test the water for ammonia, nitrite, pH and temperature. Check the filter, pump and heater. If readings are off, do a partial water change and hold off feeding for a day. Watch the others closely for a week. If more fish look unwell, a vet who sees fish can examine a freshly chilled body.
Sources and our estimates
- [1] The NFDA projected Indiana's cremation rate at 56.5% for 2024. NFDA 2024 Cremation & Burial Report state projections (via Occasional Sage), 2024.
- [2] About 10 million US households keep freshwater fish. American Pet Products Association (APPA) 2025 National Pet Owners Survey release, 2025.
- [3] 13% of UK households keep an indoor fish tank. UK Pet Food (formerly PFMA) Pet Population 2026, 2026.
- [4] Embrace notes cremated remains typically weigh about 3-5% of the pet's original body weight. Embrace Pet Insurance - Bury or Cremate Your Dog? Costs, Pros & Cons, 2025.
- [5] The median price multiple of private (ashes returned) over communal cremation across 8 markets is about 2.0x, ranging from 1.25x (Tokyo) to 5.2x (Auckland). Our estimate: median(private_price / communal_price) same weight band: US CareCredit 51-70 lb midpoints (250/75) = 3.33x; Auckland 15-25 kg (445/85) = 5.24x; Norway 1-20 kg (3790/1190) = 3.18x; Singapore 10-20 kg (480/260) = 1.85x; Ontario 25-250 lb (549/279) = 1.97x; Tokyo 20-30 kg (38500/30800) = 1.25x; France 20 kg midpoints (200/95) = 2.11x; Germany range midpoints (270/145) = 1.86x. How we calculate.
- [6] Private cremation cost per pound falls with size in the US: roughly $9.2/lb for a 15 lb pet, $4.2/lb at 60 lb and about $4.0/lb at 100 lb. Our estimate: band midpoint price / representative weight: 0-30 lb (midpoint $137.50 / 15 lb) = $9.17/lb; 51-70 lb ($250 / 60 lb) = $4.17/lb; over 90 lb ($400 / ~100 lb) = $4.00/lb. How we calculate.
Find a Highland provider that accepts fish
Tell us what you need and where you are. We'll reply by email with clear options and prices so you can decide in your own time.