I think my fish swallowed some gravel

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krichardson

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Jun 19, 2006
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Datnoid Island
.....one of my datnoids likes to go after the small sinking pellets that I drop in the tank for my catfish....his underside has a pronounced roundness to it which has been about two weeks now and I'm wondering what I can do to help remedy the situation?
20241018_173455.jpg
 
.....one of my datnoids likes to go after the small sinking pellets that I drop in the tank for my catfish....his underside has a pronounced roundness to it which has been about two weeks now and I'm wondering what I can do to help remedy the situation?
View attachment 1550922
Only thing I can think of is epsom salt and hopefully pass the gravel.
 
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Only thing I can think of is epsom salt and hopefully pass the gravel.
I don't think that the gravel won't pass and I was thinking of something a bit invasive like inserting a bit of airline tubing in its mouth and giving it a front end enema!
 
That gravel doesn’t look too large. Should pass it or regurgitate it on its own
It's mostly crushed coral and if it's not in the fish's belly then some other issue must be afoot....it's eating normally btw.
 
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I often see my dats scoop up some gravel when they suck up a shrimp. I have even seen one or two suck in a medium sized stone - a couple of inches long.

Don't worry about it.

They always shoot them out again a few seconds, or even a few minutes later.

I think they are used to sucking in debris when they eat in murky waters.
 
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I often see my dats scoop up some gravel when they suck up a shrimp. I have even seen one or two suck in a medium sized stone - a couple of inches long.

Don't worry about it.

They always shoot them out again a few seconds, or even a few minutes later.

I think they are used to sucking in debris when they eat in murky waters.
Thanks for stopping by,this guy is one of my oldest dats and I would hate for something to go wrong with it at this point.
20241018_173444.jpg
Here's a slightly different shot that I took and might as well add.
 
...I was thinking of something a bit invasive like inserting a bit of airline tubing in its mouth and giving it a front end enema!
something could definitely go wrong if you try to do an upper endoscopy on your dat with a piece of airline hose :uhoh:
If he is behaving & eating normally I'd just watch him. The only thing I would "attempt" if you're really concerned is what tlindsey tlindsey suggested, add 1tbsp/5gal of epsom salt to the tank water
 
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