I have a 9~10" monoc who tried to swallow a 3.5" porthole cat on Tuesday. The catfish is still stuck in his throat with the tail hanging out of his mouth. I caught him that day and jiggled it but couldnt get it lose and didnt want tear up the pbass's throat. Well he is still alive, but the cat is still in the same place. Should I catch him again and try to cut up the catfish to get it out, or will it rot away and fall out at some point? What do you guys think?
Peacock Bass with a catfish stuck in his throat
- Thread starter cartersvillealex
- Start date
I've had similar circumstances before. The problem is that the cats spiny fins are meant to be moved one direction and now that it is lodged, forward down the gullet is the only direction he can move. Two things you can try.
1. Try and extract the catfish through the PBass' gills. You may or may not be able to do this depending on how far down the cat is. This has worked for me in the past when larger fish had bigger eyes than their mouth. Just be careful not to tear the gills.
2. Take a sharp pair of long scissors and clip off the catfish's pectorals and dorsal if needed. The catfish can then be removed backwards out of the PBass' mouth. If the spines are not too deeply imbedded the PBass may be able to spit them out. Otherwise you'll need a long pair of forceps to physically remove them.
1. Try and extract the catfish through the PBass' gills. You may or may not be able to do this depending on how far down the cat is. This has worked for me in the past when larger fish had bigger eyes than their mouth. Just be careful not to tear the gills.
2. Take a sharp pair of long scissors and clip off the catfish's pectorals and dorsal if needed. The catfish can then be removed backwards out of the PBass' mouth. If the spines are not too deeply imbedded the PBass may be able to spit them out. Otherwise you'll need a long pair of forceps to physically remove them.
It is the spines around his mouth that are stuck more than the spines on his fins. I might have to try to cut them and much as possible and hope the rest fall out, I just hate to do that. I dont think the catfish will go through the gills, it is too big in diameter and I dont want to tear the gills in the process. The thing is I dont really know why it is stuck, I mean, it looks like he should be able to swallow it, so it makes me think the spines are the problem and it is never going down the throat.