HELP! My catfish swallowed a Rock!!!!

[The TRUST]

I need some helpful advice on what to do. My 14-15" TSNxRTC swallowed a pretty decent sized river rock. The rock is about 2.75" I kinda guess it was that a few days ago but finally confirmed it today. So it's been there for about a week now. Can anyone suggest what to do? I feel bad for the fish and it doesn't look like it can spit it out. :(

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[IoStrisciare]

I need some helpful advice on what to do. My 14-15" TSNxRTC swallowed a pretty decent sized river rock. The rock is about 2.75" I kinda guess it was that a few days ago but finally confirmed it today. So it's been there for about a week now. Can anyone suggest what to do? I feel bad for the fish and it doesn't look like it can spit it out. :(

:help2: :help2: :help2: :help2: :help2: :feedback: :feedback: :feedback:

try some epsom salt?

it makes them vomit.

[The TRUST]

try some epsom salt?

it makes them vomit.

Really??? How much? but if I medicate my tank wont all my fish vommit? But I have used epsom salt in my cichlid tanks before and it just makes the water harder.

[Oddball]

How much current do you have in your tank? And, are there any breaks (rocks, driftwood, etc) where the cat can settle down out of any currents? It's not uncommon for fish to take on ballast to maintain a preferred position/location with the water column. Usually, once cats feel they no longer need it, they'll regurgitate the ballast.

[Anythingfish]

If you are using Epsom salt the fish must be isolated in an adequate plastic tray with a lid. I am not sure of the dosage but you must watch the fish continuously and if the fish stops breathing or rolls over you must resuscitate it immediately. Have a tub of tank water ready and a power head or other small pump with a hose attached which you can put in the fishes mouth to force water through the gills.

A friend of mine had a similar problem and was successful with surgery. See link to our site with photos and story.

This is a photo of a 17” Tiger Redtail hybrid which had swallowed a 3-1/2” clay pot chard.

http://www.anythingfish.com/teds_posted_fish_photos/3ClayPotFragmentFromCatfishBelly151.jpg

This is a link to the entire set of catfish surgery photos:
http://anythingfish.com/images/Ted/PhotoGallery/TigerRedtailSurgery.htm

Visit our AnythingFish website: 2400 gallon outdoor aquarium construction photos, filters and filtration issues, Jumbo tropical fish: Pacu, Tiger Shovelnose Catfish, Redtail Catfish, Arowana, Marbled Sailfin, Stingrays, African Lungfish, Koi pond
http://www.anythingfish.com

[The TRUST]

How much current do you have in your tank? And, are there any breaks (rocks, driftwood, etc) where the cat can settle down out of any currents? It's not uncommon for fish to take on ballast to maintain a preferred position/location with the water column. Usually, once cats feel they no longer need it, they'll regurgitate the ballast.

Actually the current in my tank has died down as one of my pumps is broke while awaiting a replacement. He seems to actually like hanging around the side of the tank that has still some slight water movement. I belive that one pump is pumping 1321gph.

[The TRUST]

If you are using Epsom salt the fish must be isolated in an adequate plastic tray with a lid. I am not sure of the dosage but you must watch the fish continuously and if the fish stops breathing or rolls over you must resuscitate it immediately. Have a tub of tank water ready and a power head or other small pump with a hose attached which you can put in the fishes mouth to force water through the gills.

A friend of mine had a similar problem and was successful with surgery. See link to our site with photos and story.

This is a photo of a 17” Tiger Redtail hybrid which had swallowed a 3-1/2” clay pot chard.




Hmmmm you think I can slowly push the rock out through the mouth if I tranquilize the fish enough?

[IoStrisciare]

Really??? How much? but if I medicate my tank wont all my fish vommit? But I have used epsom salt in my cichlid tanks before and it just makes the water harder.

ok. epsom salt must be used sparingly. If you do not want a mess in your tank you should as mentioned medicate your fish seperately. I dont know much about measurement. I just gauge the amount of water and use accordingly. If in a3ft tank i think a teaspoon will do.

So far my fish have all vomitted or farted after epsom salt useage. I get mine from the pharmacy my mom works at. Can be used for treatment of excess air in the fish's swim bladder too.

[The TRUST]

So far my fish have all vomitted or farted after epsom salt useage. I get mine from the pharmacy my mom works at. Can be used for treatment of excess air in the fish's swim bladder too.

WOW! I didn't know that. I must definitely try that out.

[IoStrisciare]

WOW! I didn't know that. I must definitely try that out.

I didnt know that either till my friend who worked at a fish farm and a LFS taught me that.

Had no idea that the laxative salt could be that useful...

[The TRUST]

I wonder why my cichlids didnt seem to have any affect when I put it in my tank before.

[predsg]

i never would have thought to use it! thanks for the info! :thumbsup:

[IoStrisciare]

I wonder why my cichlids didnt seem to have any affect when I put it in my tank before.

maybe the dosage was too little?

i used it for betta fry in the past to prevent jamming of the digestive tract.

So far all have been successful.

[IoStrisciare]

i never would have thought to use it! thanks for the info! :thumbsup:

No problem. We're all here to share info anyway.

[BigMOCats]

I wouldn't do anything. He'll puke it up on his own. I had an rtc swallow a 2" "L" shaped pc. of piping just this month and he spit it out after about a week. I've had aros do the same, just be patient and don't feed him.

Scott

[The TRUST]

IT SPIT IT OUT!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!! Whew! Had me worried there for a moment. I guess all the netting and me massaging the stomach yesterday made him uneasy and puked it out. LOL!

[WckedMidas]

my tsn keeps eating rocks like everyweek
little river rocks also. he spits them out then eats some more just give it time and dont risk killing the fish

[guppy]

IT SPIT IT OUT!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!! Whew! Had me worried there for a moment. I guess all the netting and me massaging the stomach yesterday made him uneasy and puked it out. LOL!
Yayyyy!

[piranha23]

glad to hear it

[dirtydan]

I think my baby RTC swallowed a good sized pebble the other day because I dont feed him that much as to make him grow a little slower but his stomach looks swollen lately any suggestions?

[piranha45]

well, some of the replies to this thread might help you, as if you hadn't checkd them already :P

[lophius]

not read the entire thread -- jumped straight to the end !!

if the cat will take it, offer a load of salmon -- it should make it vomit ... you'll need to keep you're eyes on water quality though !!!

[redtailfool]

IT SPIT IT OUT!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!! Whew! Had me worried there for a moment. I guess all the netting and me massaging the stomach yesterday made him uneasy and puked it out. LOL!


Glad your rtc had a happy ending jed

[The TRUST]

He almost had a sad ending a week ago. Had a bad ich attack and it melted away a lot of his skin.

[redtailfool]

He almost had a sad ending a week ago. Had a bad ich attack and it melted away a lot of his skin.


OMG. thats horrible. What did you use to kill it?

[WckedMidas]

my tsn has had some rocks in his belly for a couple weeks now. This last time he hasnt spit them out.Im begining to worrie bout mine now. I figured that with him bein moved and all the past two weeks so many times that he would have spit them out by now.

[The TRUST]

OMG. thats horrible. What did you use to kill it?

the fish is still Alive. I used Rid Ich+. Dunno why the ich was so bad on this particular fish that the skin really melted awaya nd you can see the lower layer of meat. Other fish were fine with just white spots and heavy breathing including other catfish. But it's OK now. Healing quite well and fast.

[DeLgAdO]

STuff your catfish silly with food he should puke up everything overnight including food, do a big water change afterward.

[ezman]

hey bro Trust.....glad to hear that your RTC is okie now.........but sad to learn that bro WckedMidas's cat isnt doing well..... :headshake

[riskistang]

Fish with the ****s, lol...Keep that in mind when my Oscar's want to make a snack out of something they shouldn't.

[Redtail_Watcher]

Seeee....!

there was nothing to worry about, they were saying all that stuff could of just made your catfish sick. I use to had a pacu that was 12' long and ate a 3-4'inch plastic frog lure(no hook)(i put just to look cool in the tank) that i use for fishing when i came Home from fishing good to say; (unfortunely)It was worrieing me. but i knew it would kill him, but the time it was in it's stomach for that long it scare me. it was in it's belly it didn't come out until at least 3months. when it did it was like a bunch of foalting picese like a lawn mower ran over big piesce of plastic all shedded up floating on top of the water.

that rock wouldn't do nothing to your fish as long as it was not sharp or poison it most would likely spit it up because will learn that it can't digest that material and try to digest food ant the same time it just goes hungery till i decides to spit it out..


IT SPIT IT OUT!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!! Whew! Had me worried there for a moment. I guess all the netting and me massaging the stomach yesterday made him uneasy and puked it out. LOL!

[wingbak48]

glad 2 hear it made it thru the ich and the rock
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