Has This Ever Happened To You?

mluntz · 01/03/2018, 12:42 PM

So I'm feeding my fish some Reef Frenzy and a couple of big pieces came out. I have a Carpenter Wrasse that thinks he's an Emperor Angel and tried to suck down one of the big pieces. Unfortunately the food is now stuck in his mouth and he can't swallow it. He has a piece of it hanging out of his mouth. I rigged a trap with a soda bottle to try to catch him to see if I can extract the food because he can't eat. I can't get a picture of him because he moves too fast.

My wife is upset because he is one of her favorite fish and she's afraid he's going to die. I'll do the best I can, but I'm not going to destroy my tank to get him out.

One thing I learned from this is that fish don't understand when you are trying to help them LOL!

kevin21 · 01/03/2018, 12:50 PM

Should resolve itself on its own. Happened to my clowns a few times. Sometimes it can be stuck there for a bit, but normally it will come loose some way or another.

sde1500 · 01/03/2018, 12:58 PM

I've had a few fish suck up some rather large chunks of food. They've all figured it out in the end.

mluntz · 01/03/2018, 01:20 PM

Now I'm just curious to see if the trap will work or not

lionfish300 · 01/03/2018, 09:00 PM

I don't think he would going into the trap if he cant eat

rfgonzo · 01/03/2018, 11:30 PM

I have a clown that does that a few times a week. 5 years later I just crackup at um.... It's his pay back for biting all the time lol

Cliving1 · 01/04/2018, 09:33 AM

Had this happen with my longnose hawkfish. I could see it was still able to breathe, but had to be difficult. It took a while for the fish to spit it out

SRQreef3r · 01/04/2018, 10:02 AM

Should be fine, happens with my sixline all the time

mluntz · 01/04/2018, 01:24 PM

So anyway I put the trap in the tank and added some live brine shrimp. Less than 1 minute later he is in there. We pulled him out and put him in a bowl. My wife is a nurse, so as we hold him she gently pulls the food out of his mouth with a pair of tweezers. He actually was acting like he knew we were trying to help him. Afterward, the fish played dead in the bowl, so we put him back in the tank. He immediately went into hiding, then came out about 30 minutes later.

This morning when the lights came on he came out as usual. when feeding time came around, he ate with no problem.

Just think, when you think you've seen it all, it's just the beginning!

rjjr1963 · 01/06/2018, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cliving1

Had this happen with my longnose hawkfish. I could see it was still able to breathe, but had to be difficult. It took a while for the fish to spit it out

They are pigs. Mine will grab any size piece of food I put the tank then struggle to woof it down. I swear his belly is ready to burst sometimes.

top shelf · 01/06/2018, 07:56 PM

I watch my firefish do that from time to time but has since learned to spit it back out if it's to big. The funny part is the swissguard basslet I have is the same size and no sooner does the firefish spit it out hell grab it right up and eat it.

01/03/2018, 12:42 PM	#1
mluntz Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Millersville, Md. Posts: 727	Has This Ever Happened To You? So I'm feeding my fish some Reef Frenzy and a couple of big pieces came out. I have a Carpenter Wrasse that thinks he's an Emperor Angel and tried to suck down one of the big pieces. Unfortunately the food is now stuck in his mouth and he can't swallow it. He has a piece of it hanging out of his mouth. I rigged a trap with a soda bottle to try to catch him to see if I can extract the food because he can't eat. I can't get a picture of him because he moves too fast. My wife is upset because he is one of her favorite fish and she's afraid he's going to die. I'll do the best I can, but I'm not going to destroy my tank to get him out. One thing I learned from this is that fish don't understand when you are trying to help them LOL! __________________ 46 Gallon Bowfront, (1)Ocellaris Clownfish, (1)Carpenter wrasse, (1)Coral Beauty, (1)Kole Tang

01/03/2018, 12:50 PM	#2
kevin21 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 2,208	Should resolve itself on its own. Happened to my clowns a few times. Sometimes it can be stuck there for a bit, but normally it will come loose some way or another. __________________ Kevin Current Tank Info: Waterbox 50g, Tunze 9004 dc skimmer, Vortech mp10, Kessil ap700

01/03/2018, 12:58 PM	#3
sde1500 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Glocester, RI Posts: 3,336	I've had a few fish suck up some rather large chunks of food. They've all figured it out in the end. __________________ My build thread: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2548422 Current Tank Info: 65 gallon mixed reef, Eshopps sump and HOB overflow, RO-110int skimmer, Reefbreeder 32" photons V1.

01/03/2018, 01:20 PM	#4
mluntz Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Millersville, Md. Posts: 727	Now I'm just curious to see if the trap will work or not __________________ 46 Gallon Bowfront, (1)Ocellaris Clownfish, (1)Carpenter wrasse, (1)Coral Beauty, (1)Kole Tang

01/03/2018, 11:30 PM	#6
rfgonzo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,280	I have a clown that does that a few times a week. 5 years later I just crackup at um.... It's his pay back for biting all the time lol __________________ 210 gal reef, 75 gal Refuge with 55 Gal sump mixed reef 100 gal Reef, 75 gal Refuge with 55 gal sump. SPS/LPS & 100 gal Japanese Dragon Moray eel tank with 40 gal sump 75 gal Brazilian Dragon Mor

01/03/2018, 09:00 PM	#5
lionfish300 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Las Cruces, New Mexico Posts: 795	I don't think he would going into the trap if he cant eat

01/04/2018, 09:33 AM	#7
Cliving1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 1,923	Had this happen with my longnose hawkfish. I could see it was still able to breathe, but had to be difficult. It took a while for the fish to spit it out

01/04/2018, 10:02 AM	#8
SRQreef3r Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 50	Should be fine, happens with my sixline all the time

01/04/2018, 01:24 PM	#9
mluntz Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Millersville, Md. Posts: 727	So anyway I put the trap in the tank and added some live brine shrimp. Less than 1 minute later he is in there. We pulled him out and put him in a bowl. My wife is a nurse, so as we hold him she gently pulls the food out of his mouth with a pair of tweezers. He actually was acting like he knew we were trying to help him. Afterward, the fish played dead in the bowl, so we put him back in the tank. He immediately went into hiding, then came out about 30 minutes later. This morning when the lights came on he came out as usual. when feeding time came around, he ate with no problem. Just think, when you think you've seen it all, it's just the beginning! __________________ 46 Gallon Bowfront, (1)Ocellaris Clownfish, (1)Carpenter wrasse, (1)Coral Beauty, (1)Kole Tang

01/06/2018, 07:56 PM	#11
top shelf Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,022	I watch my firefish do that from time to time but has since learned to spit it back out if it's to big. The funny part is the swissguard basslet I have is the same size and no sooner does the firefish spit it out hell grab it right up and eat it. __________________ Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it into a fruit salad. Philosophy is wondering if that means ketchup is a smoothie. Current tank info: 45g SCA Cube