Catfish stuck???

RoseFishWatcher said:
The idea is to avoid smashing the fish.

You can buy sheets of filter material, or sponge material or something similar at the LFS (usually). Once you get the fish out (if the decor is not broken) I would plug the holes with something like that. Also, do so if you replace the decor with a new one. You can find ways to create caves and hiding places for him that he cannot get stuck.

If you are sure he cannot get out, you could try to enlarge the hole. As long as the fish isn't right against the hole, you could stick a hammer head in there and apply leverage to break it open a bit wider.
Click to expand...

I agree, hold it upgright so it is retaining water and try to nibble the hole larger.
 
you cant just "nibble" away at ceramic because it is unpedictable, plus it would only buy time untill he is stuck again, just smash the side he isn't in and promptly return him to the water.
 
Maybe if you fill an aquarium safe bucket (or container) with tank water and put the entire thing in that, in a more controlled environment. See first if you can wiggle him out. if not just crack it with the least amount of force you can. Keep that decoration out if the tank and check any others for opening sizes. I had my large pleco get stuck in a tiny PVC pipe that I never imagined it could squeeze into. He was all torn up but he's all better now 8)

I have a raphael barking catfish....is that the same as a chocolate? ZI thought that they were different but look the same to me from the pics.

Keep use posted!
Michelle
 
the barking raphael, striped raphael and chocolate catfish are the all same. I love em cuz they're quiet and don't bug the other fish. But I never had one of my fish get stuck before. I did get him out. I smashed the one end open first, then pulled it apart until I got open a hole big enough for him to swim out. As soon as it was big enough, he "flew" out of it. My mom took one look at him and said, "Yep, there's no way he would've gotten out of that hole by himself." He is bigger than the hole was. So I went to PetSmart. No worries. I bought a log that's probably made for a tank twice as big as mine, but he won't get stuck in, as the holes are five times bigger than he's ever going to get. He won't get stuck in the other decorations. It's just a ceramic driftwood-log type thing that, for some reason, he won't go near, and a coconut tree with NO holes, and some ugly fake plants.

Thanks so much for the help. I really appreciate it. :D
 
Phew! Thanks for the update and clearing up my questions about the different names. Sounds like you are all set now with the new decor, it sounds like a very nice set up. Maybe a little pampering is in order for the poor guy, maybe an extra shrimp pellet, my guys love those! Welcome to AC, BTW. 8) Michelle
 
Good job, he will alwas be grateful.
 
My thoughts...

if possible, break it gently away from him with a coupla pairs of vise grips or similar...if you can see what i mean.

I'm thinking 2 pair of needle nose vise grips about 90-120 degress apart, and snapping the tube open like a pipe splits when frozen.

????
 
Wish I had seen this last night. Yeah I did the same thing with my spotted raphael. He got himself stuck in one of the roots of the the fake stump decoration things and I had to break it open to get him out.

The one thing to worry about with Raphs is in regards to your heater. Don't hang it verticle. I keep mine up near the top of the tank and horizontal to avoid the raph hiding under it and burning themselves.

I currently have 3. A striped, a spotted, and another variety that petco sold as a striped but is actually one of these http://planetcatfish.com/catelog/image.php?image_id=751
It is really interesting as he doesn't hide at all. Thinking of getting another raph in my 75 to bring the number to 4 now that my featherfins have been relocated.
 
Is it a raphael? They will do that and nothing is wrong with them. The boyfriend hadn't seen his in 4 months and it decided one day that it was hungry and out it came.
 
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