Small Fish Stuck At Bigger Fish's Mouth. What Should i Do?

[marle]

Hi guys, this is the situation. I tried pulling the smaller fish out but it's stuck.

Any ideas what i should do or should i just leave it? I am worried the bigger fish might die because it does not seem to be able to eat.

Thank you.

[RonWill]

Stucked???!!! The smaller fish looks like a Corydoras hastatus and if it's indeed a cory that has erected it's pectoral fins, then it's pretty much jammed in there.

What you need to do depends on who you'd want to save...

[marle]

The hastatus is pretty much dead I guess. The bigger fish can't eat now. Any idea on how I can remove the Cory?

[RonWill]

Die or dead, either way you know now, to mix larger & pygmy fishes is a boo boo combination.

To save the glutton (what is it anyway??), hold it securely in a towel to minimize movement and injury (to you and the fish). Use a scissor with fine tapered blades and slip it in till you feel the hastatus's pectoral fins (yes, both have to go). Cut off pectorals or cut up body, whichever deemed necessary. Remove carcass, look at it, learn from it and move on.

Keep the glut in a smaller tank and dose with anti-bacterial meds for a day or two and observe it's conditions. To trigger feeding, bribe with live foods.

Get an assistant for the task if pride allows and don't forget to update post-op results.

[marle]

Die or dead, either way you know now, to mix larger & pygmy fishes is a boo boo combination.

To save the glutton (what is it anyway??), hold it securely in a towel to minimize movement and injury (to you and the fish). Use a scissor with fine tapered blades and slip it in till you feel the hastatus's pectoral fins (yes, both have to go). Cut off pectorals or cut up body, whichever deemed necessary. Remove carcass, look at it, learn from it and move on.

Keep the glut in a smaller tank and dose with anti-bacterial meds for a day or two and observe it's conditions. To trigger feeding, bribe with live foods.

Get an assistant for the task if pride allows and don't forget to update post-op results.

Thanks for the advice. The glutton is an N.Adoketa from the dwarf cichlid species.

This operation is of extreme difficulty due to the size of the fish. I was unable to do so. The cory's body was split into 2 but the top of the cory is still stuck inside. It was extremely difficult to hold the fish securely. I had a pair of tweezers but boy was it hard to get it in as it struggled, wiggled and kept moving. My tweezers were quite sharp and it might injure the fish accidentally. Seeing that the fish was suffering, and i could not progress, i placed it back in the tank.

I probably need an assistant like what you had mentioned to hold it firmly.

[RonWill]

Towel the glut and hold it down on it's side with your palm, against a flat surface (eg. table top or equivalent, at comfortable height). Dummy flat, head/mouth facing right, if you're right handed, as if you're de-boning a fish.

Cutting up the hastatus and leaving half inside won't help much if the pectoral fins aren't removed. These lodged pieces might cause further injuries to the Nannacara's mouth and start an infection. The carcass will rot and don't expect it to just pop out by itself.

If you can, splice the upper half of the hastatus length-wise, into smaller pieces or whatever size you can manage.

Traumatic experience, no? Who said fish-keeping isn't exciting and yes, having the right tools will help, including a sharp pair of manicure scissors

[marle]

Towel the glut and hold it down on it's side with your palm, against a flat surface (eg. table top or equivalent, at comfortable height). Dummy flat, head/mouth facing right, if you're right handed, as if you're de-boning a fish.

Cutting up the hastatus and leaving half inside won't help much if the pectoral fins aren't removed. These lodged pieces might cause further injuries to the Nannacara's mouth and start an infection. The carcass will rot and don't expect it to just pop out by itself.

If you can, splice the upper half of the hastatus length-wise, into smaller pieces or whatever size you can manage.

Traumatic experience, no? Who said fish-keeping isn't exciting and yes, having the right tools will help, including a sharp pair of manicure scissors

Thanks. I'll keep you posted. I'll try it again later today. Let it rest for now

[limz_777]

you might want to try some transmore , calm fish might be easier to work with

[marle]

Ah! Its done! Heeded ronwill's advice. Held the fish tight between 2 towels, squeezed the cheecks slightly and open the fish's mouth. Yes, it wriggled and struggled, put the pinchers in and removed the remaining half of the cory's body.

It was instant relief for me and hopefully the fish. Now the fish is suffering a clamped fin on its side.. hopefully it'll recover.

The stuck remnants of the cory.

[RonWill]

Well done! Give yourself a pat on the back for not killing the glut!!

Let it recover in a hospital/quarantine tank with anti-bacteria meds plus gentle aeration. All should be ok. Now you can look forward to enjoying the holidays.

[marle]

Well done! Give yourself a pat on the back for not killing the glut!!

Let it recover in a hospital/quarantine tank with anti-bacteria meds plus gentle aeration. All should be ok. Now you can look forward to enjoying the holidays.

Thanks Ronwill, the fish's clamped fin is fine now, its swimming well and eating ok. I can finally see it chew its food again. Yesterday, its mouth was still opened permanently.

Happy Lunar New Year to everyone..

[vannel]

I hope to never have to do that. Much worse with it being one of my absolute favourite cories being the victim.

[barmby]

You all very bad. The beast has a name. you all call it 'glutton' = )

[bernie]

Marle, what anti bacteria medicine did you use? Keen to know.

[marle]

Marle, what anti bacteria medicine did you use? Keen to know.

hi bernie,

i didn't use any medication. I used OF's super natural black water.

[marle]

You all very bad. The beast has a name. you all call it 'glutton' = )

LOL

[RonWill]

The beast has a name. you all call it 'glutton' = )

If not glutton, then it's a classic case of 'biting off more than one can chew'!!

[Adam_80]

Congrats for the operation success! Hope glutton learn it's lesson!! Haha

[joopsg]

Similar situation. But i only managed to remove abt 1/3 of the body.. how ar? I let the fish rest first tomorrow see how..

Sent from my GT-P3100 using Tapatalk

[RonWill]

Another cory vs cichlid episode?? Get a really sharp scissors and a pinsette/tweezer with strong grip, and remove carcass by portion. Remember not to let the glutton dry out.