BethK
Rattie tat tat
That fish is cookoo 
Stuck Clown Loach Emergency!
- Thread starter CrystalClear16
- Start date
OP
OP
CrystalClear16
Fish Crazy
Sorry - didn't realise you editted.
He is too stuck, I cant get anything alongside him and as soon as I touch him he wiggles more. I am worried he will wedge himself even more.
I think the only option is to break the bit he is stuck in, how though?
He is too stuck, I cant get anything alongside him and as soon as I touch him he wiggles more. I am worried he will wedge himself even more.
I think the only option is to break the bit he is stuck in, how though?
plecostomus-mad
Fish Addict
i would try and break the ornament on the left side of him. that way he wont get crushed when prising the ornament apart. it will mean that you put the object in a bucket, get a flat head screwdriver or chisel and hit it hard. is the ornament plastic or ceramic ( fingers crossed for ceramic!! )
OP
OP
CrystalClear16
Fish Crazy
Plastic 
It is in a bucket and we have attacked the ornament to the far side as you saw with plyers, wire cutters and a knife (pointed away from him) so far. We were trying to avoid anything too drastic but a hammer may be the only option...
I am devastated, he is our favorite fish and has such a great personality
It is in a bucket and we have attacked the ornament to the far side as you saw with plyers, wire cutters and a knife (pointed away from him) so far. We were trying to avoid anything too drastic but a hammer may be the only option...I am devastated, he is our favorite fish and has such a great personality
plecostomus-mad
Fish Addict
i wish you lots of luck 
i hope he pulls through ok. keep us posted
i hope he pulls through ok. keep us posted
onebto
Fish Herder
sorry about the previous post dont know what went on with that.
Before you break it open try lifting the ornament just above the water and give it a few good whacks on the top see if he gets dislodged that way.
Breaking it up without any tools that is a challenge can you not gets some pliers from someone? I would be tempted to use a set of pliers and start on the edge of the ornament break bits of gently as possible bit by bit so I start working a channel towards the guy this will be making a channel towards the whole he is stuck in when you get close to him stop and see if you can prise the ornament apart a bit it may give you a small enough flex of the material for him to fall out.
Got a feeling its a sort of 2 person job have you got anyone that can help? if not all you can do is your best
Good luck regards onebto
OP
OP
CrystalClear16
Fish Crazy
Development - have broken off the twiggy bit. He must be really wedged because he still cant get out:
Any suggestions on easing him out? We could blow into the other side or try prying the plastic - but it is pretty thick and very tough.
Any suggestions on easing him out? We could blow into the other side or try prying the plastic - but it is pretty thick and very tough.
onebto
Fish Herder
now your getting there on the other end I do not think blowing air in will work maybe get a bit of pipe with some tank water in it then hold the pipe on the end make a seal with your hand then blow in the pipe hopefully the water will produce pressure enough to push him out?
Luck regards onebto.
Luck regards onebto.
OP
OP
CrystalClear16
Fish Crazy
HE IS OUT!!
We left him for a bit to see if he made his own way out, and with the extra wiggle room he did!! I checked him over and he is fine, his colour is back to normal and there don't seem to be any injuries. The bit where his tail meets his body is a bit red but I imagine that is from flapping it so much.
Just in case someone else googles and finds this - we used a sharp knife to cut into one side of the problem bit. We got about a third of the way in, placed a flat head screwdriver in the groove and whacked with a hammer. The cut meant it split where we wanted it to, and the design meant the piece snapped off in full.
Ironically since we got the problem bit off the ornament itself should still be useable which is good - they love the main area. We are going to check it over and sand down any rough edges.
Thank you to everyone that helped - I really appreciate your swift responses.
We left him for a bit to see if he made his own way out, and with the extra wiggle room he did!! I checked him over and he is fine, his colour is back to normal and there don't seem to be any injuries. The bit where his tail meets his body is a bit red but I imagine that is from flapping it so much.
Just in case someone else googles and finds this - we used a sharp knife to cut into one side of the problem bit. We got about a third of the way in, placed a flat head screwdriver in the groove and whacked with a hammer. The cut meant it split where we wanted it to, and the design meant the piece snapped off in full.
Ironically since we got the problem bit off the ornament itself should still be useable which is good - they love the main area. We are going to check it over and sand down any rough edges.
Thank you to everyone that helped - I really appreciate your swift responses.
Thats really good news and really am happy for the fish and you. Sorry I have been away for a while and thought see how the little guy is doing. You have your favourate little fishy back Now a good idea would be to check all your other ornaments just incase they have any tight passage ways for your loaches to fit in, and cover them up. You don't want to be going through this route again
OP
OP
CrystalClear16
Fish Crazy
We just have some slate and a half-coconut house. Will be checking all ornaments in the future before putting them in the tank XD.
Silly fish. As if the 4hr delay on the flight wasn't enough, we come home to a foolish cloan loach.
Silly fish. As if the 4hr delay on the flight wasn't enough, we come home to a foolish cloan loach.
plecostomus-mad
Fish Addict
Fantastic news!! im glad he's ok
onebto
Fish Herder
Good news I am so pleased everything turned out for the best I really am.
Regards onebto.
Regards onebto.
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