ROPE FISH EMERGANCY

[charles-n-charge]

one of my 1' rope fish jumped out of the tank. he was on the floor anywhere from 5-45 minutes. i got him back in the tank and he is still alive. i know they can breathe air so i figure thats the only way hes not dead. right now his mouth and fins are blood red, and his eyes are milky. one minute hes swimming, then the next hes floating belly-up, then swimming again, and then belly-up.

do you think he'll make it?

 

[Tramonte172]

Good luck. I hope he makes it.

 

[SimonL]

Don't put it back in the tank. Ropes like bichirs need to breathe periodically, which he likely can't do now. Put him in shallow (1" or less) water in a bucket until he starts looking "normal" again.

 

[charles-n-charge]

simon, he was begining to go to the surface to breathe like he always does. i got him into an inch deep water 5g bucket as soon as you said that though. should i add an airstone or just leave him alone for awhile?

 

[nfored]

I had a Gourami do the same thing. When I found him he was dry and dust covered, I saw him and said he is dead, and went to get a dust pan and a trash bag. When I touched him with the dust pan I saw his gill move ever so slightly. He lived. I never had the good advice you where given just now to keep him where he could use that labyrinth lung to breath.

 

[charles-n-charge]

I had a Gourami do the same thing. When I found him he was dry and dust covered, I saw him and said he is dead, and went to get a dust pan and a trash bag. When I touched him with the dust pan I saw his gill move ever so slightly. He lived. I never had the good advice you where given just now to keep him where he could use that labyrinth lung to breath.

thats amazing. hopefully some of that luck with rub off on me right now

 

[charles-n-charge]

hes begining to act normal again. i think he's fine. but what should i do about the milky eyes and red mouth?

 

[SimonL]

It should clear up. If he's acting normally you should be able to put it back. I've learned the hard way that polys can drown when recuperating.

 

[lix.ma14]

hes begining to act normal again. i think he's fine. but what should i do about the milky eyes and red mouth?

definately use melifix (medicine in a blue bottle) ASAP. good luck!

 

[charles-n-charge]

It should clear up. If he's acting normally you should be able to put it back. I've learned the hard way that polys can drown when recuperating.

ill put him back in about 15-20min just to be safe. thanks once again simon