Goldfish with sand up his nose...

[Ratlova30]

My comet Dennis has had a granule of black sand stuck up his nose for over a month. I've tried demonstrating on how to sneeze but he didn't catch on and I've tried bribing the other goldfish with bloodworms to pick his nose for him but no such luck... Should I be worried? He's about 6" and you can only see the sand when he's looking up at you. Doesn't seem to be impairing him in any way.

I'll hopefully be upgrading his 55gal tank to a 100gal+ next year and I'm wondering if I should change the substrate to gravel again. I prefer sand so that the poody is easily vacuumed off the top and I like the look of sand better but I don't want to put them in harms way with having sand in the tank.

I really didn't get why they wouldn't pick his nose for him, such selfish goldfish...

 

[kcail1]

I know in general that the nasal passages of fish do not connect to their mouths (like mammals) so he won't choke or something like that. I'd think if it's not bothering him, let it be. Loved the humorous tone of the post.

 

[Somervell]

You know what they say-- you can pick your nose, and you can pick your friends, but you shouldn't pick your friend's nose. Maybe that's what your goldies are thinking. I think the fish will be fine. I prefer sand to a gravel substrate. Depending on the size of the fish and the gravel, sand can be safer. I have had to remove gravel from a fish that couldn't clear herself, and it wasn't fun.