fish stuck in rock stressed?

[Sgooosh]

Hello, while I was feeding today, I found that a large xiphophorus male got trapped under a rock with some roots. I thought it was dead at first so i tried to pull it out, and then he suddenly snapped and darted across the whole tank. Now he is not trapped anymore, but does not seem to be active. I can get photos if neccesary. i dont think there were any major injuries, maybe some scraping of slime coat

 

[Byron]

I would leave it in the tank to avoid even further stress. Keep an eye out for other fish picking on him. No way to discern internal injury, but he should recover if nothing like that.

 

[Sgooosh]

I would leave it in the tank to avoid even further stress. Keep an eye out for other fish picking on him. No way to discern internal injury, but he should recover if nothing like that.

yes, I just touched the fish and he darted out himself. It's been a while now and he seems totally fine. still a bit skittish and doesn't hang out with his "wife" for the time being.
normally they are a pair and follow each other around, they are less skittish in pairs

 

[Colin_T]

Probably really stressed and loaded with cortisol (stress hormone). Give him a few days to recover. Don't do anything to the tank for a few days, just feed and lights on/off as normal. See how he looks then.

 

[Sgooosh]

Probably really stressed and loaded with cortisol (stress hormone). Give him a few days to recover. Don't do anything to the tank for a few days, just feed and lights on/off as normal. See how he looks then.

thanks! He's completely recovered already. now that I look back on it, i dont think he was completely stuck but rather trying to reach something under a rock, and just a little wedged under it

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

Maybe just for future reference, gently lift the rock rather than trying to touch the fish. I always use a net, I get heeby-jeebies I nearly wet myself once when a shrimp started scurrying up my arm ...