Trapped Loach

[simer]

One of my clown loaches has crawled into a hole in my piece of bogwood and is definitely stuck. At first I thought he was in there on purpose, but now I'm convinced he's stuck. I can only see his tail. How do I get him out without stressing him too much or hurting him?

 

[Erised]

I've often thought my corydoras were stuck in my bogwood, seeing as they'd stay in there, in the same position, for hours at a time. But when moving the wood out of the water, they'd swim out. I recommend you try removing the wood out of the water first (not far out of the water, nor long!).

The pressure difference between the water and air often causes them to actually be able to get out anyway. If still no success, I guess you'd be best off trying to wriggle him out (carefully ofcourse) with your fingers.

Good luck.

 

[simer]

I've often thought my corydoras were stuck in my bogwood, seeing as they'd stay in there, in the same position, for hours at a time. But when moving the wood out of the water, they'd swim out. I recommend you try removing the wood out of the water first (not far out of the water, nor long!).

The pressure difference between the water and air often causes them to actually be able to get out anyway. If still no success, I guess you'd be best off trying to wriggle him out (carefully ofcourse) with your fingers.

Good luck.

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Thanks for the swift reply. He's really far in - just his tails sticking out. I've tried pulling the wood out, but to no avail. I've tried to work him gently loose with my finger, but he's really stuck! I'm panicking now, Ihave to be honest.

 

[laurasmithuk]

did u manage to get him out in the end mate?

 

[simer]

did u manage to get him out in the end mate?

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No! I'm freaking out! I can't pull on his tail surely? Every so often he's wiggling, but he can't free himself.

 

[trace1]

is there no way you could cut the wood ??? does the hole go right through the bog wood ???, only way i can think of if he is realy stuck is break or cut the wood

 

[simer]

How do I do that without taking it out of the water for a long period? I could take it out and out it in a bucket of a tank water while I try to break the wood, but I can't see how I can break the wood itself. I could maybe use a knife or a screwdrive to split it where he is, but I scared witless of stabbing him!

I have a photo of it - how do I post it?

 

[Erised]

In the pictures section on this forum, you have the option to add a photo. Try posting it there, and then using the img tags (directing to the link of where you added the photo in the pictures section) for the photo to show up. Or just link us there ofcourse

Bogwood does not seem easy to break to me, so I think you'd be best off trying to slightly wriggle the load... don't pull just yet. Just see if you can move him a bit or not. He'll probably come out with a couple of scratches, mind you ... it's best to set up a quaranteen tank for him now if you can, and add something for his slime coating to recover.

 

[Kopix Nation]

oh crap you are screwed.....well you could try taking the wood piece out and taping it on something....Or take tweezers and grap his tail and PULL!!Well maybe not that but do try and get him out before he starves...

claire

 

[Erised]

It takes about 3 weeks for a fish to starve, so I wouldn't worry about that

 

[Kopix Nation]

Wouldn't he become ill if he got tooooo stressed out?

claire

 

[Erised]

Being stuck too long and being very stressed will indeed give him a high risk of getting diseases like ich. Plus the stress on it's own could kill ... but I'd say you'd have hours before it gets a near death case. And ich ofcourse won't kill right away.

 

[Kopix Nation]

How big is the log he is stuck in???

claire

 

[Fella]

oh crap you are screwed.....well you could try taking the wood piece out and taping it on something....Or take tweezers and grap his tail and PULL!!Well maybe not that but do try and get him out before he starves...

claire

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Tweezers? I wouldn't. Surely the metal would have a much higher chance of hurting the fish than using thumb and forefinger, which would hurt less as its the same pressure over a bigger area....

 

[Kopix Nation]

I have seen plastic tweezer thingys before.

claire