Can Fish Choke On Food?

[smokinjoe2122]

I was feeding my reef lobster some cut up silver sides when one of the clowns picked it up and started running with it. I had thought nothing of it because it happens often. Next thing I notice is one of the clowns is having a very hard time swimming, then he is turning white and losing color fast. Before I know it, he's pretty much dead..This all happened within a 5 minute period.. Should I be worried about the food or is it possible he just choked to death? Either way I'm really pissed...lol

 

[Ludwig Venter]

I've no experience with reefs & marines, but certainly never happened to me in tropicals in 40 years......

 

[smokinjoe2122]

I don't know what else could of happened.... I have never seen a fish turn that white that fast. I have been around fish my whole life and never seen anything like that before....

 

[Ludwig Venter]

I don't know what else could of happened.... I have never seen a fish turn that white that fast. I have been around fish my whole life and never seen anything like that before....

Not impossible though.... I've seen a puffer of mine out of action for 2 days having swallowed a whole shrimp so, maybe.....

 

[shelaghfishface]

ive seen my oscar *cough* after a fast feed, and food came flying out so i reckon maybe

 

[Trod]

I know lionfish can eat themselves to death, so sound feasible to me.

 

[smokinjoe2122]

Well I guess it's just my luck then. I just changed the water 2 days ago, no other issues in my tank. Pretty much gave my cyno problem a significant blow with good cleaning and more frequent water changes, so the only logical explanation for me is he had to of choked. I watched a healthy fish turn completely white and die within a 5 minute period... So now my question is this. This was the 2nd mate for my female clown..the first one magically disappeared (I think he jumped out and the dog ate him) and now this one. It took a while for her to warm up to this one. Should I bother getting her another mate (They're false percs), or should I go a different route, with maybe a fire goby or something? Any suggestions?? The female fought with this last fish for a good month and half before he accepted his role.... Not sure I want to go through that again.. There are also no other fish in the tank...

 

[bagu]

I know lionfish can eat themselves to death, so sound feasible to me.

how do they do this?

 

[naughtbutbones]

he could have choked if the food gets stuck and puts pressure on the gills from inside the throat the fish can have trouble taking in oxygen due to a decrease in surface area in the gills

ie its the fish doesnt *cough* then fish gone byebye