Fish Stuck

Question
QUESTION: Hi Chris,
I am distraught as I have a common goldfish stuck in an aquarium decoration and I have no idea how to get him out...  Never thought about the fish growing bigger than the decor.  I want to help the little guy, but he is getting beat up and I can't figure out to break the decoration with him in it...  Any ideas?

Thanks so much!!!
Carolyn

ANSWER: Hi Carolyn;

Poor guy. I would just leave him alone and darken the aquarium for a few hours. It will calm him down. Hopefully he will free himself and you won't have to worry anymore.

The only other thing I can think of is to use water conditioner as a lubricant. I've done it with fish that like to hide in small spaces and won't come out so I can catch them. Lift the whole thing out of the tank and put it in a bucket with a little bit of tank water in it. Squirt some water conditioner around his body and see if that helps him slip out. I like Stress Coat and NovAqua. They are both supposed to help the slime coat of your fish so they make things very slippery. Use one or the other. If he can't get loose in 5 minutes or so, put him back in his tank and try again in a few minutes.

Depending on what the decoration is made of and how thick it is, you could use a "wire saw", also called a "finger saw", to cut through parts of it. (Unless his body blocks the open area, of course.) It's made of twisted wire and the thin size keeps the action away from your fish as you cut the decoration. You string one end of a few strands of twisted wire through one open part of the decoration and out another part. Hold both ends of the wire and pull back and forth until it cuts through the decoration. It's easier if you make a loop at each end. Here is a link to a photo of one being used to cut wood so you can see what I'm talking about;

http://www.surplusandadventure.com/images/product/main/commando_wire_saw.jpg

Good Luck...

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Chris, Thanks so much for all the wonderful information.  After about an hour of me trying to help the little guy, my husband came home to my rescue - it was obvious that the fish is simply too big for the decoration and there was a slim chance of him getting out on his own - we waited another hour and my husband figured out how to break the decoration with out harming the fish.  He got him out!!!  He is pretty beat up, scales missing - fins ripped.  We isolated him into fresh water and got fish medicine in the morning and the little guy seems pretty spunky for being beat up.  He is still isolated from the others.  Do you have any suggestions on helping this guy heal and how soon should we put him back with the others?
Thanks again!

ANSWER: Hi Carolyn;

I'm so glad he's free! Good job!

Just keep his water very clean to help avoid infection and you can even add aquarium salt and Melafix to his water. They both inhibit infection and help damaged tissues to heal. Change part of his water (25%) every day to really boost his immune system. Once he is actually growing back his fins and scales and there are no signs of infection such as redness, fuzzy or cottony patches, etc., you could put him back with his buddies again.

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I will definitely have to check into the aquarium salt.  My only other issue is that he is in a basic goldfish bowl as I have no other tank and it does not have a filtering system like the main tank does.  I did notice today that he keeps skimming the top like he is coming up for air.  I have not seen him eat his food flakes either - at first it looked like was spewing them back out after he eat them - now he does not eat them and it seems like he may be eating the tiny flakes after I break it up, I really can't tell if he is even eating.

I believe I need to do more to keep this guy on the right path.  I will change out 25% of the water like you mention.

You have been a super support and a great help!
Carolyn

Answer
Hi Carolyn;

I'm so glad to be able to help. ;-)

He needs a bigger container for sure. There isn't enough oxygen in there. Ammonia is building up and burning his gills too so he can't absorb what little oxygen there is. I've used some really weird containers for sick fish before so you may even have something your house already. Anything that holds at least 5 gallons of water will work. Large plastic storage boxes, plastic garbage cans, etc. If you aren't sure what was in your container before and afraid it might be toxic to fish, you might just buy a new one. If there is a lid just put a few holes in (melt holes with a hot nail in plastic lids) and put an air hose from an air pump through one of the holes too. Even a 5 gallon plastic bucket with an airstone is much better than a bowl. Or, just a bare 5 or 10 gallon tank with an airstone would be great. Change at least 25% of it every day and he should be fine. 50% daily is even better, especially with no filter. It will keep wastes down and help him heal.

Good luck!

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins