Fish is stuck

[Cat]

Its a large severum I don't know how its got in there we,ve tried get it out but its getting stressed.

Thats the bottom of the castle I turned it over to see were its head was

 

[Timmy]

I think you are going to have to smash it. I would do it under water and hit the flat bottom of the ornament as facing us in the picture and hope that cracks it rather than smashing it. Good luck.

 

[sylvia]

Do you have a spare tank?

LOOK PEOPLE!!! - EXAMPLE OF WHY YOU NEED A QUARANTINE/HOSPITAL TANK!

Ok back to this.
If you are certain the fish cannot come out and is still alive (if dead you should remove the ornament and dislodge the body or it will reak havoc with your water), you cannot leave it there.

It is probably already quite stressed out but I'm going to suggest you try prodding its (gently) tail to force it to try to swim out. Keep the ornament on its side like in the picture so he can swim forwards. Once he has, he will almost definately have injuries and it's essential he is in excellent water quality with dimmed lights, anti-bacterial/fungus medication (or some aquarium salt if that's all you have) and as few other fish to be harassed by as possible so as to minimize stress. He will be especialy susceptible to disease for a while so pamper him and watch him carefuly for early signs.

I realy can't see any other options. You couldn't take the ornament out and smash it as you would almost certainly kill the fish.

You can try lifting the ornament to the water's surface in stead of prodding but either way he will likely come out with some scratches.

The only other option would be to wait and hope he dis-lodges himself with minimal injury but I'm afraid he may simply die in there if left.

As a last resort, do smash the top of the castle and hope he can thn escape or the bottom cracks.

I'd also encourage you to remove the ornament afterwards as fish tend to have an uncanny ability of getting into the same messy situation more than once.

 

[Cat]

Just been trying to push him abit to get it out,that fish is about 3 inches in width ,that hole is about 1 and half inches,I don't think we would be able to smash it open in the tank its a heavy thick ornament,it would have be on a hard surface and hit by the hammer,its so pitiful looking at it in there

 

[nitro]

MAybe you could cut through the ornament with a small saw? then you may be able to break it apart?If not you could could saw through it again which should allow the fish to be freed? However if you have another tank i should recommend you more the fish there as sawing will create alot of mess.

Just a suggestion.

 

[Cat]

Just been trying now i can get my fingers in and pulled it back slightly but soon as you let go it goes back again,its badly scratched now too

its really stressed out its a stone ornament so not sure we could saw it only thing is take it out and smash it open.

 

[Paul_MTS]

You'll have to give it one big heave.

You have to be cruel to be kind, but if it says in there for much longer it will probable dye. Atleast if you get it out it has a fighting chance.

 

[ste2k3]

I'd take the ornament out the tank and gently tap with a hammer until it cracks (if its stone) hit it from the side of the fish so if it does crack, it will not crush the fish. The longer it stays in there, the more stressed it will get. If its well stuck, then trying to pull it out will only damage the fish more. If you do smash the ornament, make sure you hit it towards the side of the fish so if the hammer goes straight through, it won't hit the fish too.

good luck

ste

 

[grayshark]

I would try and pull him out with my fingers if that dont work wait for him to fie
because i wouldnt brake a castle ornament.

sorry put thats what I would do.

it depends how much you love that fish.

 

[Cat]

We took the ornament out and hit it with the hammer ,scooped the fish up straight away its badly scratched and tottally out of it,its just lay on its side breathing heavy,not sure if it will survive but now its got a chance .Couldn't sit and watch it die stuck in it.

Thank to eveyone who tried to help

 

[nitro]

I hope he/she makes it.

 

[smithrc]

hows it doing?

You did the right thing... Pulling it back the way it went in would have REALLY badlt injured / killed it.

All of this scales and fins and spines would have dug in as they would heve beed pulled against their narural direction.... ouch and yuk.

Good luck.

 

[grayshark]

did the castle smash into tiny bits?

I hope he/she makes it

 

[trimacdevilconvict]

this happened to me with a gold severum i had i had to break the stone up with a hammer he was very scrached and shaken like your but he made a full recovery in time fish are excerlent healers if the water condtions are very good


good luck and i hope it heals very soon

 

[ad_smith]

hope your fish survives