A Louisiana girl burst into tears after her father explained that she couldn't have a dead fish she found in a lake as a pet.

While on a trip in the Toledo Bend, Louisiana, Harper, aged 4, found a dead fish and pleaded with her dad, William, that she wanted to keep it as a pet.

"I wanna have a fish," Harper is heard saying. After her dad asks which fish she points to a little dead fish floating in the lake and says: "That fish. I want it as my pet."

William told Newsflare: "My daughter was gifted a betta fish over a year ago after successful potty training. We noticed the fish was just lying on the bottom of the tank for a couple of days and decided to give her the 'death' talk.

"While saying her goodbyes and tapping the glass, the fish woke from its comatose due to the colder temperature of the water, we learned this after the resurrection.

"Now my daughter believes she has magical powers to bring animals back to life, including this dead shiner she was playing with."

This video was filmed on August 18.

My daughter was gifted a betta fish over a year ago after successful potty training. We noticed the fish was just lying on the bottom of the tank for a couple of days and decided to give her the “death” talk. While saying her goodbyes and tapping the glass, the fish woke from its comatose due to the colder temperature of the water (we learned this after the resurrection).

Now my daughter believes she has magical powers to bring animals back to life, including this dead shiner she was playing with.

This is Toledo Bend in Louisiana. They have alligators, but they stay in the swampy areas of the lake. We were actually in really clear water and I didn’t let them get in until we had fished the area for a bit. I grew up swimming in lakes/rivers like this. Gator attacks are very rare. Fun times.