Are they okay?

[Wigglesworth]

I just fed my new cichlids for the first time, and I put the spectrum pellets in as well as some small frozen shrimp for my Senegal bichir. The cichlids went after the shrimp on their way down and now one of the small peacocks has half a shrimp sticking out of his mouth and he doesn't look like he's swallowing it. He is swimming around normally, but I'm wondering if I should catch him and pull it out of his mouth? I know sometimes fish die from trying to eat food that's too big.

[thatone]

He should be ok. Just keep an eye on it. It should be able to swallow or reguritate it within a few hours at most. Be careful about pulling it out if that is what you decide to do. You will cause more trauma to the fish by handling it and withdrawing the food than to just let the fish take care of it by itself.

[Wigglesworth]

:) In the few minutes I was waiting for a reply, he swallowed it. Thanks!

[rrcoolj]

yeah when I feed my mbunas pellets they always carry it in thier mouth(it fills with water over time so it's easier to digest). When they crush the pellet a lot of little pellet particles fly out of thier mouth for the younger fish to eat.