Dead fish can’t get out. Please help

[Mordie101]

So as the title states, I found one of my fish dead whenever I got home from work.. my favorite fish in the tank.. it was missing until the few snails removed themselves from a mouth of a hole and I can see the fish lodged between my bottom rock in the smallest crevice possible. It’s a dwarf angel fish. Will attach picture. What would happen if I left in tank??

 

[Mordie101]

 

[jsvand5]

How large of a fish and how large of a tank? It will likely not be a problem at all.

 

[Mordie101]

How large of a fish and how large of a tank? It will likely not be a problem at all.

Fish was the largest in tank probable 3-4 inches, tank was just cycled. Red Sea reefer 250 which is 65 gallons. I have a Refugium going with a softball size cheato ball, a reef octopus 150SSS skimmer and my cleanup crew can’t reach the fish where it is now. I saw the fish after the few snails I have gave up trying to get to it.

 

[Deiblerj]

Just toss some hermit crabs in there and it’ll be gone. Your CUC should handle it especially if you have a bit of a bigger tank.

 

[Mordie101]

Just toss some hermit crabs in there and it’ll be gone. Your CUC should handle it especially if you have a bit of a bigger tank.

I’m unable to get to an LFS for a few days due to work so I have 2 nassarius snails. 1 blood red fire shrimp. 1 blue tuxedo urchin 1 small emerald crab 1 Mexican turbo snail.

 

[Dom]

You will likely get an ammonia spike. Get an ammonia alert badge and monitor. I would pull the rock out and get it out of there. I know it might be some work, but it will still be less work than the potential issues of a decomposing fish.

 

[jsvand5]

Fish was the largest in tank probable 3-4 inches, tank was just cycled. Red Sea reefer 250 which is 65 gallons. I have a Refugium going with a softball size cheato ball, a reef octopus 150SSS skimmer and my cleanup crew can’t reach the fish where it is now. I saw the fish after the few snails I have gave up trying to get to it.

What type of fish?

 

[Mordie101]

What type of fish?

Dwarf flame angel

 

[Mordie101]

Someone just gave me an idea that I didn’t think about and I’m going to attempt this. Someone on another forum said try blowing it out with a turkey baster

 

[Dom]

Someone just gave me an idea that I didn’t think about and I’m going to attempt this. Someone on another forum said try blowing it out with a turkey baster

The longer you wait, the greater the chance for an ammonia spike.

Roll up your sleeve, pull the rock and get it out! Procrastination is not a good idea in this situation.

 

[Mordie101]

The longer you wait, the greater the chance for an ammonia spike.

Roll up your sleeve, pull the rock and get it out! Procrastination is not a good idea in this situation.

I didn’t wait, both sad and relieved to say that the turkey baster worked and after about 15 minutes I was able to blow it to where I could grab it out.. very sad..

 

[Dom]

I didn’t wait, both sad and relieved to say that the turkey baster worked and after about 15 minutes I was able to blow it to where I could grab it out.. very sad..

This is great news! An ammonia spike from a dead fish could potentially have nuked your tank. Sorry about your loss.

 

[jsvand5]

Dwarf flame angel

Oh ok. I didn’t realize the pic above was of the fish when it was still alive

 

[Mordie101]

Oh ok. I didn’t realize the pic above was of the fish when it was still alive

Yes sorry

 

[Mordie101]

This is great news! An ammonia spike from a dead fish could potentially have nuked your tank. Sorry about your loss.

It’s okay it’s part of it sometimes thanks