My Juvy Bichir is Doomed.

[CDickes1988]

A couple weeks ago I remember seeing a thread about someones bichir that ate a piece of gravel. I thought it was a fluke and thought my bichir couldn't be that dumb. Well I woke up yesterday and went up to my tank to feed the fish, lo and behold the bichir already has a nice sized lump in his stomach. I wasn't 100% sure it was a piece of gravel or if he just found some uneaten food hidden in a corner, well today it's there again in the same place and it's not the typical lumpy stomach from eating. He seems to be doing ok but I know that's not going to last forever.

 

[big_tank_boy]

im glad to say mines eating fine and looks fine pooping fine so everythings fine!

 

[CDickes1988]

im glad to say mines eating fine and looks fine pooping fine so everythings fine!

You're the one who posted about the bichir eating gravel? That's great to hear. Hope mine makes it too, as I was cursing myself for not removing the gravel.

 

[big_tank_boy]

yea i was and mines fine hes not eating as much as he use to but still eating he hide a little more 2.

 

[CDickes1988]

yea i was and mines fine hes not eating as much as he use to but still eating he hide a little more 2.

I'm kinda worried about how he's going to get rid of it. If he doesn't regurgitate it, it's gonna cause some serious bodily harm if he "passes" it another way.

 

[thefishguy7]

I used to hear stories from rtc owners who had the same problem. Apparently, they overfed it to where they were forced to throw up. Makes a mess, but at least the gravel or rock will come out.
(This probably won't work with a poly, different eating habits to that of an rtc)
Good luck.....

 

[David R]

(This probably won't work with a poly, different eating habits to that of an rtc)

It might do, last xmas I decided to try leaving a bunch of feeders as an "autofeeder" for my two ornates (~6") while I was away for 10 days. They ate them all in the first night, and looked huge, then regurgitated some of them.

You could try it, or just hope that he passes it (it would be a silly design if the 'entry' was smaller than the 'exit'!!). I hope you've already taken the gravel out.....

 

[CDickes1988]

Well, all the gravel has been removed and it's been a week. He's still acting normal so I hope that means he'll be fine. If he doesn't get rid of the piece of gravel soon, I'm going to name him Lumpy...