Dead Fish Extraction

Marco S · Feb 28, 2019

This is probably a weird one, but here goes...

I recently had two fish die transferring them from my first QT to my second QT. The first one was easy enough to get out, but the second one is underneath my rocks in a place that I cannot get to unless I remove all my rock. Here is my tank:

Before you tell me that I shouldn't have rock in my QT, this QT tank is only for PraziPro and my other QT I use for copper just has a few pieces of PVC in it. These fish will be in here for a couple months before the DT is ready so I wanted to give them a more natural home instead of just PVC, (don't judge me ;Happy).

Anyway, the Foxface and one of the Cardinals was just transfered yesterday and were still a bit stressed so I really do not want to disrupt their entire world again to get the fish. Any ideas would be helpful, (I already tried blowing it out with the power head btw). It is jammed in there pretty good. It is under the big purple rock in the middle that is supporting all the other rock.

My other option would be to just leave it. It is about the size of a quarter so I am not sure how much ammonia it would create.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

James M · Feb 28, 2019

Pick up the rocks and move them

TriggerFinger · Feb 28, 2019

Can you add some hermits and put them right by the dead fish?

ShaunRobinson · Feb 28, 2019

Just move the rocks, the other fish will be fine in there. More importantly, how did the 2 fish die?

Marco S · Feb 28, 2019

James M said:
Pick up the rocks and move them

That's not what I want to hear! Lol

Marco S · Feb 28, 2019

TriggerFinger said:
Can you add some hermits and put them right by the dead fish?

I think you are being sarcastic...but if not, the start of my CUC is in another QT and still has another month before they are done and I don't want to mix them and risk it.

TriggerFinger · Feb 28, 2019

No it wasn’t sarcastic. You asked for suggestions other than moving the rocks...it was a suggestion. Sorry if I offended you.

Marco S · Feb 28, 2019

ShaunRobinson said:
Just move the rocks, the other fish will be fine in there. More importantly, how did the 2 fish die?

I have another thread here explaining, but I think it was because I did a freshwater dip before putting them in the tank and I did not match the PH. They may have been more sensitive to the PH swing then the others.

Marco S · Feb 28, 2019

TriggerFinger said:
No it wasn’t sarcastic. You asked for suggestions other than moving the rocks...it was a suggestion. Sorry if I offended you.

I wasn't offended, just thought it was funny. I'm new here and not real familiar with crabs. Would they really eat the dead fish?

TriggerFinger · Feb 28, 2019

Yes they really do...that’s why I suggested it

ShaunRobinson · Feb 28, 2019

Marco S said:
I have another thread here explaining, but I think it was because I did a freshwater dip before putting them in the tank and I did not match the PH. They may have been more sensitive to the PH swing then the others.

Just read your other thread. Could very likely be the Ph issues. Anyhow, looking at your pics above it really won’t take much to lift the rock in the middle and remove the fish. One of the biggest problems with quarantine tanks is ammonia build up. It happens very quickly and also affects fish quickly. Get it out as soon as you can.

Shaun.

Marco S · Feb 28, 2019

TriggerFinger said:
Yes they really do...that’s why I suggested it

I wish I could put them in now, but I think I'd rather risk stressing the fish by moving the rock then breaking my QT schedule.

Thanks for the advise though. I appreciate any advice I can get here and appreciate all of you!

ShaunRobinson · Feb 28, 2019

Marco S said:
I wish I could put them in now, but I think I'd rather risk stressing the fish by moving the rock then breaking my QT schedule.

Thanks for the advise though. I appreciate any advice I can get here and appreciate all of you!

Crabs and other cuc will indeed get rid of a dead fish, sometimes in less time than it takes to notice the fish has disappeared but in this case it would not be at all advisable. Trust me the current fish in the qt will not be overly stressed in the 2 minutes it will take you just to lift the rock and net the dead fish.

Marco S · Feb 28, 2019

ShaunRobinson said:
Just read your other thread. Could very likely be the Ph issues. Anyhow, looking at your pics above it really won’t take much to lift the rock in the middle and remove the fish. One of the biggest problems with quarantine tanks is ammonia build up. It happens very quickly and also affects fish quickly. Get it out as soon as you can.

Shaun.

Solid advice and I figured that would be the only way to go. I just wanted to see if anyone else had run into this and had some MacGyver solution like tying a piece of gum to a flexible straw or attaching the vacuum to a small piece of tubing and sucking it out. Lol

Thanks again everyone.

Gareth elliott · Feb 28, 2019

Macgyver advice buy a fresh water planted pair of tongs. Search for the fish. Dont cheap out and clean after done or they will rust quickly in saltwater. Recommend fluval for brand.

Marco S · Feb 28, 2019

Gareth elliott said:
Macgyver advice buy a fresh water planted pair of tongs. Search for the fish. Dont cheap out and clean after done or they will rust quickly in saltwater. Recommend fluval for brand.

LOL. Now that's what I'm talking about!

Marco S · Feb 28, 2019

Gareth elliott said:
Macgyver advice buy a fresh water planted pair of tongs. Search for the fish. Dont cheap out and clean after done or they will rust quickly in saltwater. Recommend fluval for brand.

MacGyver for the win! I actually have two heavily planted freshwater tanks, so I had a pair of plant tongs, (actually Fluval tongs for that matter). I still had to move two smaller rocks, but was able to just slide the big one forward a bit and get the dead fish with the tongs!

Thanks for the idea!

Gareth elliott · Feb 28, 2019

Marco S said:
MacGyver for the win! I actually have two heavily planted freshwater tanks, so I had a pair of plant tongs, (actually Fluval tongs for that matter). I still had to move two smaller rocks, but was able to just slide the big one forward a bit and get the dead fish with the tongs!

Thanks for the idea!

Glad i could help!