Fish choking?

[Fishflakes]

My red banded hawkfish gave into temptation and ate my rather large cleaner shrimp. I knew it was a risk having a hawkfish with a shrimp, but the cleaner was established so I thought I'd risk it. The hawk appears to be having problems swallowing the shrimp though and I'm afraid he's going to die as well. Part of the shrimp is still sticking out of the hawks mouth. It's been a whole day. Think I should try to pull it out? I've never had this problem before.

 

[Neo Jeo]

Strange! He will prob figure it out but maybe give it a little soft pull?

 

[Fishflakes]

Strange! He will prob figure it out but maybe give it a little soft pull?

I'm leaning towards that but I dont wanna hurt him

 

[madweazl]

It'll be fine; just leave it be.

 

[Fishflakes]

It'll be fine; just leave it be.

Have you seen this before?

 

[BadFish619]

My old lion did that a lot. Had a huge shrimp in his mouth for almost 10 minutes before he just spit it back out. I say he'll be fine, they know if they can't handle it or there's a problem .

 

[madweazl]

Have you seen this before?

Not specifically with a hawk and cleaner shrimp but numerous other fish with just about anything you can imagine hanging out of their mouth. I used to have a grouper that would have feeders hanging out of it's mouth because it ate so many fish more wouldnt fit in its gut. You'll know when one of them is choking; they will thrash about trying to eject what they ate.

 

[Fishflakes]

Ok, I'll wait it out. Thanks everyone

 

[Pete_the_Puma]

Fish do not "breathe" through their mouth, I would let it be.

 

[Fishflakes]

Fish do not "breathe" through their mouth, I would let it be.

True, I was worried more about an obstruction.

 

[Nem0]

expensive dinner for the hawkfish...sorry about the cleaner shrimp