HELP URGENT EEL STUCK IN ROCK

[indigoj]

One of my spiney eels has got stuck, I think he tried to follow a baby loach through a tiny hole (he's ignored it as if knowing it was too small before now) and he is stuck half way. Can't go back because of his spines, or forward because his back half is thicker.

Would he survive if we hammer/drill the rock? (we'd have todo this out of water)

Any other ideas on getting him out?

Please help, want to do everything I can to try and save him.

 

[Volenti]

Splitting the rock would be the safest and quickest option IMO.

 

[red devil]

i have never seen one of these up close. Do they really have spines? Is there something that prevents it from going backwards?

 

[indigoj]

Yup they have spines, sharp ones too! They get stuck on the rock if we try to pull/push him back.

All is well though. Other half used a jigsaw to enlarge the hole and the eel is alive and well and free again! Bit stressed and scraped but alive. Hole is now 3x bigger.

Have added some melafix and stresscoat to help him recover so hopefully he'll be ok.

 

[kr0nic]

Wow crisis averted

 

[silentskream]

wow.. very well handled! good job!

 

[indigoj]

Thanks to some nifty delicate work from my other half! T'was VERY scary!

 

[cichlidcichlid]

That was quick!