Uh-oh...

[sky.eyes.woman]

I was doing some maintenance on my goldfish tank last night, which included changing filter media. Somehow a small piece of carbon floated out into the tank and before I could get it, my biggest goldfish Jack (about 3") ATE it. I watched him closely for about 20 minutes afterwards and did not see him spit it out. I'm worried about him. What do you guys think the possibility is of him becoming impacted and dying from it? I don't think a piece of carbon is going to break down in his digestive system...is it? :sad The chunk was about the same size as his food pellets are. He's still eating and being his normal self...for now. *sniffle*

 

[YoFishboy]

A few years ago, I was looking at one of my oscars, and saw what appeared to be a horrific, multi-pronged worm/parasite being pooped out - it was just hanging there for a few days, and I was checking all my books and the internet trying to figure out what the hell it was - he finally passed it - it was a piece of plastic plant he had bitten off - he was fine and i laughed my butt off when I figured it out! The moral of the story - this too shall pass....

 

[Spitfire_xero]

Onne of my oscars eat a small piece of carbon before to. He was fine. Carbon is none toxic and none digestable. I doubt it will get lodged in his intestines becuase most fish grind there food up before it hits there stomach. I think the fish will just have black doodee for a while.

Good luck
~spit~

 

[sky.eyes.woman]

Black goldfish doodee...? Niiiiice... X-P
Guess we'll just have to wait and see. [/crosses fingers]

 

[Harlock]

Carbon is actually used in human beings too, when they pump a stomach. Chemical filtration dontcha know. Mr. Fishy should be okay. His digestive system is made to "pass" these kinds of mistakes. If he can fit it into his mouth by mistake, he can usually get rid of it one way or another. Nature is rather brilliant.

 

[Rebgen]

One side benefit will be Jack's poop won't stink for a while.....so he's got that going for him. :laugh:

 

[SamXXXkiss]

i had a gold fish that ate a gravel. Now it's 1 year later and hé's still alive and healthy.

 

[Kissofthegorami]

My goldfish eat everything that lands on the surface of their pond and they are still alive... albeit under a sheet of ice for the past 3 months.
Like others have said.. stole my good thought -_- .... Carbon is given to human beings when toxins are injested. It is safe.

 

[sky.eyes.woman]

Sorry about "bumping" this, but I don't have internet access at home anymore, so I can't get online much. Thanks a lot for all of your replies, Jack is just fine and I guess the carbon didn't hurt him! He's always grubbing for food so I guess this won't be the last time he eats something he's not supposed to.
Thanks again, everyone.

 

[sublime1184]

I had a couple problems with some fake plants. In a feeding frenzy, my RBP's knocked some beads loose from the fake beaded plants I had. The beads are the same size as small floating cichlid pellets and they ate all three that came loose. Well I was worried and looked around for any more and didnt find any, so I waited to see what happened. A few minutes later I see them floating and I think "Did they spit them out? OK I'll scoop 'em out" but b4 I could, One of them chomped it, brought it down to the gravel and spit it out to float up. He did that a couple times so I let him play with them till feeding time then I removed em. Weird.