can fish choke?

[m88a2]

I had a helfichi firefish that was doing great. He was out all the time swimming with my linespot flasher. From the very first day he was out and eating. They were fed 3-5 times a day with a combo of LRS nano, NLS pellets, and PE Mysis. As, the title asks, can fish choke? One day I found him lifeless on the tank floor with a large piece of Mysis in his mouth. This was the 3

 

[Tahoe61]

No air exchange takes place in the gills, they are not using nares or oral opening to
respire.

Edit: Water if flowing through the oral opening over the gills.

 

[m88a2]

I always thought some fish opened their mouths to allow water to flow through the gills and out...dang now I have no idea why he died

 

[Tahoe61]

Well you're actually right to a certain degree, they do use the oral opening to take in water that passes through the gills, I suppose a complete and total obstruction of the oral opening could impede gas exchange, it seems odd though that the occlusion would occur and that the fish could not expel the object. Might chalk this one up to a freak accident. I would think pellet over mysis though, oh well hot dog versus grapes in human.

 

[m88a2]

that super sucks. I really thought he was in the clear as he was so active and eating very well. he was even growing some of the fins that he lost at the LFS from bullying

 

[eatbreakfast]

Of course fish can choke, though not necessarily the way humans would, but that is why a puffer fish's defense is so effective.