Crazy Story

[Chuka1212]

Ok, my hatchet fish have each jumped out of the tank 4-5 times. It is very well covered so jump-outs only occur when other fish scare them during feeding time and the lid is open. This time was different...

The other day I made the rounds, feeding my fish as usual. I went back into my room and decided to tidy some things up in there. I was in there for four or five minutes and when I came back into the front room my hatchet fish was lying on the floor!!! I was crushed and he must have jumped out when I wasn't paying attention.

I grabbed him up with and he was already dreid out, actually a bit sticky, and wasn't moving AT ALL. He was a goner. But just for kicks I put him in the water despite how distraught I was and ran him over and over again through the water. I did this for 5-8 minutes and saw his little operculum (gill cover) started to shudder. I nearly freaked out and let go of him and he slowly dropped to the bottom. I scooped him back up and ran him vigorously through the water, still having him cupped in my hand. I did this for nearly 10 minutes and kept on seeing more and more signs of life until....

He swam right out of my hands...

He is doing great, eating well, etc! Is that a fish miracle or did I discover CPR for fish?
Well, thought it was a cool story worth sharin.

 

[roseK]

whoa.. i dont have jumpers but WHOA! lol

maybe that is how u do CPR for fish.. lol neato

 

[kpintheshed]

i'll have to remember that when it happens to me

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

What tankmates do you keep with the fish? Its important to provide hatchet fish with a very well planted tank (preferably with lots of floating plants) to give them the security and cover they need to help prevent them jumping out of tanks.
Its good though that the fish lived, i would probably put some StressCoat dechlorinator in the water as his protective slime coat is probably quite damaged (StressCoat dechlorinator helps heal slime coats on fish) .