When a fish you love dies in Solon
A pond koi and a tank tetra need very different goodbyes. Here's who in and around Solon will cremate a fish, what it costs and what to do when there'll be almost no ash.
- Koi, goldfish and tropical fish
- Written prices, no pressure
- Burial and keepsake ideas included
Solon, Ohio
Getting help with a fish loss around Solon
Many Solon backyards back onto trees, and the South Chagrin Reservation lies along the city's eastern side, with the Chagrin River running through its wooded ravine. Owners sometimes want to remember an animal somewhere that feels like those woods. Metroparks land generally needs permission before anything is scattered, which is why many Solon families settle on a shaded bed at home.
East of Cleveland the lake belt keeps winters snowy; in Solon, February nights drop close to 17F and the cold season often starts in November. A cool attached garage buys time in those months. By midsummer, daytime readings sit in the low 80s under thick humidity, which shortens the window, so in July and August cooling your pet and booking cremation should happen within a few hours.
Home burial is common in and around Solon, 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 23,679 residents, Solon is the 71st-largest of the 106 Ohio communities we cover. The nearest larger centre is Cleveland, about 16 miles (25 km) away, which is where some providers serving Solon are based.
The closest communities we cover are Twinsburg (4 miles), Maple Heights (7 miles) and Aurora (8 miles). Providers serving those towns often travel to Solon too, so it can be worth asking them for a quote.
59.1%[1]
The NFDA projected Ohio's cremation rate at 59.1% 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.
Where these figures come from: American Pet Products Association (APPA) 2025 National Pet Owners Survey release and Embrace Pet Insurance.
Cremation, custom and the family fish in Ohio
Cremation is now the majority choice for people in Ohio, at about 59.1%[1], but burial traditions still run deep. You'll see both among fish keepers. A small garden grave with a stone is a perfectly good goodbye for a tank fish, and many families choose it. Cremation tends to come up for larger pond fish, or when you rent, have no garden or expect to move house.
Source for the Ohio number: NFDA 2024 Cremation & Burial Report state projections (via Occasional Sage) (2024). Nobody publishes a pet cremation rate for Solon, so the human figure is the best local signal available.
When the weather sets the pace in Solon
Solon winters are cold, with average lows at or below freezing in January, February, March, November and December. Pond fish slow right down in winter and live under the ice, but they still need a small opening for gases to escape. Many keepers use a floating de-icer or keep an air pump running near the surface. Losses under the ice, sometimes called winterkill, are usually only discovered when the pond thaws.
Spring clean-outs are when many Solon 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.
What fish cremation costs in Solon
Where a Solon provider offers water cremation, ask for both of its versions. By our estimate, private aquamation runs about two and a half times the price of communal aquamation at the same provider[5]. The process uses roughly the water of 1–3 pet baths[6], according to the Veterinary Sustainability Alliance, which appeals to many people saying goodbye to a water animal. What comes back is a soft white powder instead of grey ash, and the national price bands appear in the table below.
For a line-by-line price table, see the Ohio overview; for what's included in each option, see our services.
Free tool
Cremation cost calculator
Estimate a realistic price range for your pet's size, location and the type of cremation.
Burial, scattering and release rules in Ohio
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 Ohio for burial and scattering.
Ohio keeps an official directory of local governments; use it to reach the county or city office that covers Solon.
Home burial and scattering are governed at the Ohio level first; our Ohio rules summary has the detail. Then check whether Solon or your HOA adds anything.
The first day after a fish dies
- Don't flush. Net your fish out of the water, then wrap it in a bit of paper or cotton wool.
- Put it in the freezer in a sealed bag, clearly labeled.
- Check the tank or pond the same day: test the water and look over every remaining fish.
- Think about what you'd like to keep: perhaps ashes in a small urn or a token vial, a printed photo, or just somewhere you can go to remember.
- Call a crematory or your vet in Solon, tell them how big the fish is and ask directly what would come back to you.
- Let yourself grieve. Years of daily feeding become a habit, and losing that fish leaves a hole in your day.
Memorials that suit a fish
Solon is a southeast Cleveland suburb about 16 miles from Public Square, known for its wooded subdivisions, generous lots and large business parks. Nearly every home has a driveway and attached garage, which lets a driver reach the door without fuss. When you send your request, add the gate code or cul-de-sac name, if any, and note whether you'd prefer to carry your companion into a clinic on your own.
the planning tools turn your pet's details into figures, or see how other readers answered in our polls, go deeper with the guides or catch up on recent articles, See what each option includes on our services page. You can also browse every city in the United States. Nearby, we also cover Akron, Cincinnati, Dayton and Cleveland, and every city in Ohio.
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.
Would you keep your fish in the freezer while you decide what to do?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Before reading about it, what did you think happens to a flushed fish?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
If you had to decide today, which aftercare would you choose for your pet?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
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 Solon?
The closest communities we cover are Twinsburg (about 4 miles), Maple Heights (about 7 miles) and Aurora (about 8 miles). Providers based in those places often serve Solon too. Ask each one for a written total that includes collection, so the distance is priced in.
Does the Solon climate change what I should do first?
Only the timing. In July, with highs near 81°F, cool the body and book collection the same day. In January, February, March, November and December, when lows sit below freezing, a home burial may have to wait for a thaw, so cremation with ashes returned keeps your options open.
Where are the providers that serve Solon actually based?
Some are local, and some run from Cleveland, about 16 miles away. That is normal for a town this size. What matters is the collection time they quote for Solon and whether the drive is priced into the total, so ask both up front.
Is cremation common in Ohio?
For people, yes: about 59.1%[1] of Ohio 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 Solon follow the human pattern closely, so cremation is the default most families here start from.
How do I find someone who will cremate a fish near Solon?
Start with your vet, who will know which crematory handles their small animals. Then call that crematory directly and ask whether it accepts fish. A local fish store or koi club may know who other keepers use. You can also send us your location and we'll email options that serve Solon.
Is it illegal to release a pet fish in Ohio?
Releasing non-native fish into lakes, rivers and ponds is restricted in many US states, and some make it illegal to release goldfish at all. Rules vary by state, so check with your state wildlife agency. Whatever the law, releasing a fish you can't keep harms native wildlife. Pet stores, fish clubs and rehoming groups can often take unwanted fish.
Sources and our estimates
- [1] The NFDA projected Ohio's cremation rate at 59.1% 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] Private pet aquamation costs about 2.5 times communal aquamation at the same provider. Our estimate: mean of tier ratios 150/50, 200/75, 250/100, 350/150, 450/225. How we calculate.
- [6] Aquamation uses about the same water per pet as 1–3 pet baths. Veterinary Sustainability Alliance — Aquamation, 2024.
- [7] Engraved pet garden stones start at about $39 at the median of three US sellers. Our estimate: median of starting prices [$38 Adirondack, $38.95 Memorials.com, $89.99 Comfort Co.]. How we calculate.
Get koi and fish aftercare options by email
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.