Can a fish Choke?

[tornangel012]

Don't laugh I'm seriously not on water but on food?

I have these shrimp pellets that I feed to my cory cats and my betta George has taken a liking to them also. Twice I have seen him chomp down the ENTIRE pellet at once and both times he seems to be struggling hard to swallow it? He seems to be fine and keeps attempting it but do you think it's possible for him to Choke? It's just that he struggles so long afterwards.

 

[jordank]

I'm not sure, i'm assuming no to the sense your thinking of.

It might get lodged in there esophogus (assuming they have one (not an "expert" at fish anatomy)) but i'm assuming gills are hooked up seperatly. So I don't believe so.

 

[OrionGirl]

Yes and no...No, the fish won't suffocate as result, but it can cause damage to their mouth and serious stress. Soaking dry foods before you put them in the tank will reduce the odds of this happening, and make sure there is plenty of appropriately sized food available. I fed chunks of earthworm to a tank with a peacock eel in it--the eel grabbed a huge bit of worm, and then couldn't get it down. He struggled with it for 15 minutes before I caught him and removed the worm from his mouth. Not good--he'd paled, and was panting from stress in just those 15 minutes.

 

[tornangel012]

How did you dislodge the food? I fear I might have to do that sometime. He usually doesn't find the food until it has been in the tank a couple mins at the same time that the corys find it and are already nibbling on it but still worrys me a lil bit. I try to put the food in places that i know he is either too big to go in or prefers not to. I'm also trying some bigger chunks (these wafers) and that way for sure he won't be able to swallow a big mouth full. Do you think that is a good idea?

 

[OrionGirl]

I used tweezers-half the worm was still sticking out of the eels mouth.

Soak the wafer before adding them to the tank. I use a small clean jar, get some water from the tank, add the wafers, let sit for 5 minutes or so, then pour them in. You won't stop the betta from trying to eat the pellets--you can either make it harder, or easier. Soaking would make it easier, and reduce the chances that he'll take a piece he can't handle.

 

[nvan2]

Ive heard of fry choking on food that sint pre-soaked...