Trying to anestize the angel was a bit too daunting for me... I decided that I'd only try that if he seemed to be in a lot of distress. It worked out well... he got it down somehow overnight and seems to be in perfect health. Thanks for the suggestions though... hopefully it won't come to that again lol!
Umm... fish stuck in throat...
- Thread starter pbecot01
- Start date
I checked the tank on my lunchbreak thinking there was an even money chance I'd be scooping him off the bottom, instead he's at the top begging for food. lol... as good as it could have worked out definantly.
I'll be keeping an eye on him of course, but he seems to have allready forgotten the situation.
I'll be keeping an eye on him of course, but he seems to have allready forgotten the situation.
Glad to hear he swallowed! :clap: Hopefully he stays healthy and doesn't eat any more ottos on you.
If a fish consumes prey that is too large to be completely swallowed, one of a few things usually happens:
1) The fish will spit the prey back out again after a while.
2) The fish will slowly digest the prey- and this may take several days to happen
3) The fish may be so engorged that is dies simply from the energy cost, trauma, etc. associated with the hunt. (This happened very recently with a largemouth bass of mine that, after 2 years in my care, ate 14 fathead minnows one day and was dead the next.)
In any case, fish of the order Labridae (of which all cichlids, such as angelfish, are) have throat teeth designed to, among other things, keep prey from escaping once in the throat. Although you probably couldnt harm the fish by pulling on it, you will likely not get the fish out.
The real danger here is the decreased water flow over the gills. Because fish do not respire through the throat, they cannot choke; however, they can suffocate if the fish blocks all of the water flow, and the fish goes long enough without closing its mouth (which it must do to pump water through).
1) The fish will spit the prey back out again after a while.
2) The fish will slowly digest the prey- and this may take several days to happen
3) The fish may be so engorged that is dies simply from the energy cost, trauma, etc. associated with the hunt. (This happened very recently with a largemouth bass of mine that, after 2 years in my care, ate 14 fathead minnows one day and was dead the next.)
In any case, fish of the order Labridae (of which all cichlids, such as angelfish, are) have throat teeth designed to, among other things, keep prey from escaping once in the throat. Although you probably couldnt harm the fish by pulling on it, you will likely not get the fish out.
The real danger here is the decreased water flow over the gills. Because fish do not respire through the throat, they cannot choke; however, they can suffocate if the fish blocks all of the water flow, and the fish goes long enough without closing its mouth (which it must do to pump water through).
wooow very strange occurrence, nice that the angel is fine though. i see soo many unfortunate things happening to ottos lol....it's kinda sad
