Advice needed

Andrewtfw

Andrewtfw

Global Moderators
My EBJD tried to eat a barbatus type cory cat. This was yesterday. Since then, he is swimming around with his mouth open and the cory tail hanging out. I know the barbs of the cory must be caught in the dempsey's mouth. This would explain why he can not eat or spit out the cory. Is there a way I can remove the cory without hurting the dempsey?
 
mscichlid

mscichlid

Founder
OMG! The only thing I could think of would be to use tweezers on the cory's dorsal. But I would try to find a vet who does exotics like fish.
 
jonclark96

jonclark96

Past CCA President
Yeah, you have to sacrifice one or the other. I would guess the cory is probably easier to replace. Pliers or forceps are probably the way to go.
 
Andrewtfw

Andrewtfw

Global Moderators
The cory has to be dead by now. I am concerned that I can't get into the dempsey's mouth with enough room to cut the spines on the cory. Guess I will be playing "operation" today.
 
Andrewtfw

Andrewtfw

Global Moderators
I took Matt's advice. Used needle nose pliers to break the spines on the cory while in the dempsey's mouth. I was able to remove the cory (what was left of him) and the dempsey is alive. I will check on him in a bit to make sure he can close his mouth. Thanks for everyone's help.
 
Andrewtfw

Andrewtfw

Global Moderators
I know what you mean, Jon. My friend lost a 10" peacock bass when it swallowed a six inch clown loach. The loach spun in his mouth and sliced both gills. The bass bled out and the loach ended up dying from the stress of the ordeal. It was horrifying to watch.
 
dogofwar

dogofwar

CCA Members
Good to hear. I'd give him some melafix and salt...and leave the lights off for a bit :)

I once lost a blue eye pleco (back in the '80s when they were like $20 and the "poor man's royal pleco" vs. the holy grail of pleco-keeping that they are today) when one lodged itself in a piece of driftwood and wouldn't let loose. I had to cut him out. It was pretty stressful and he ended up passing about a month after the procedure. I should have given him a quiet place vs. dumping him back into the community.

I also once removed a plastic plant piece from a 10" tinfoil barb's mouth. Just grabbed him in a big brine shrimp net and used the tweezers. Dropped him back in the tank and he took off like nothing happened. Of course, I think that tinfoil barbs could go through a cycle in the washing machine and still be swimming!

Matt
 
Lively

Lively

Members
Oh! You know how I feel about the Blues... I'm pulling for him! I had a regular do that, thankfully Lonny told me what to do, and she survived nicely! She was one of my favs even though she isn't a blue.
 
Andrewtfw

Andrewtfw

Global Moderators
I used needle nose pliers and broke the spines off the cory (it was nearly skeletonized after 1.5 days in the dempsey's mouth) and was able to pull it from his mouth. He hid for about five minutes afterward. His mouth remained fully open for about two hours after (I thought it would be stuck like that), but then closed. He ate his normal portion of worms for dinner and seems fine now. Thanks again for everyone's advice and stories.
 
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