Fish rescued from anemone

ross0201 · Sep 24, 2019

This morning I found my Banggai cardinal in a rock flower anemone. I felt like I did a lot of research on these anemones and didn't find many stories of them eating fish, but anyway...

I pulled the fish out but it looks rough. It was swimming erratically. Before I could get my acclimation box it stumbled headfirst into another rock flower anemone. So now it's in a acclimation chamber but looks really rough, resting on the bottom. I don't see any injuries but I could be missing something.

Any first aid advice? It looked healthy last night.

Eagle_Steve · Sep 24, 2019

You can keep an eye on it make sure it is eating well, but the biggest thing is watching for infections. If they show up you may need to setup a hospital tank to treat. I have had tons of fish recover just fine from run ins with nems, so there is hope.

LesPoissons · Sep 24, 2019

Yep you may have to treat with metroplex/focus or something, I'm kinda thinking something was going on with it already, it's pretty rare for a healthy fish to go straight into a rock flower and not be able to escape?

ross0201 · Sep 24, 2019

Eagle_Steve said:
You can keep an eye on it make sure it is eating well, but the biggest thing is watching for infections. If they show up you may need to setup a hospital tank to treat. I have had tons of fish recover just fine from run ins with nems, so there is hope.

Thanks!

MabuyaQ · Sep 24, 2019

A fish caught by an anemone wasn't doing to good in the first place. Find out what that is and treat for it.

ross0201 · Sep 24, 2019

Maya Ybry-Yagy said:
Yep you may have to treat with metroplex/focus or something, I'm kinda thinking something was going on with it already, it's pretty rare for a healthy fish to go straight into a rock flower and not be able to escape?

Could be. It slipped out fairly easily. It's been eating and I didn't see anything out of ordinary last night, but that doesn't mean that there wasn't an issue.

Eagle_Steve · Sep 24, 2019

The biggest issue I have had with fish and nems is the fish trying to eat the poo. My cardinals are the worst about it. But I have had all sorts of fish do this.

Not saying your cardinal was doing this, but it is a possibility.

ross0201 · Sep 24, 2019

Eagle_Steve said:
The biggest issue I have had with fish and nems is the fish trying to eat the poo. My cardinals are the worst about it. But I have had all sorts of fish do this.

Not saying your cardinal was doing this, but it is a possibility.

Oh, wow, that's crazy. I've never seen that happen, but that doesn't mean that it wasn't.

melanotaenia · Sep 24, 2019

MabuyaQ said:
A fish caught by an anemone wasn't doing to good in the first place. Find out what that is and treat for it.

I would not say that is necessarily true I have seen countless instances of fish getting caught in an anemone where the fish was not sick or was not exhibiting any problems

Eagle_Steve · Sep 24, 2019

melanotaenia said:
I would not say that is necessarily true I have seen countless instances of fish getting caught in an anemone where the fish was not sick or was not exhibiting any problems

I agree with this.

An easily spooked fish with nems in a tank can be a problem.
A curious fish in a tank with nems can be a problem.
Random flow with fish like blennies where nems are present can be a problem.
The list goes on and on.

Having numerous of almost every available nem in the hobby has taught me a few things. Fish will get eaten or caught at some point. Especially in the limited space we have in our small glass boxes.

But for the OP. Just watch the cardinal. They are tough critters. Be on the lookout for sores, thick white splotches (you may see some more transparent ones for the next week or so where it was burned by the nem), excessive mucus peeling from the fish, or shedding of scales/skin. If these are encountered, let us know and we can point you in the correct direction for treatment.

LadyMac · Sep 24, 2019

Awe he looks so sad. I hope he heals fast. Everyone else in the tank doing ok? No chance he was bullied and pushed over that a way?

ross0201 · Sep 25, 2019

Unfortunately the fish died overnight. As an FYI for anyone who stumbles across this thread, Humblefish recommended a 30 minute methylene blue dip. Thanks for all the advice though!

LadyMac - I have some minor bullying between a few fish but the cardinal was pretty well ignored by everyone.

Eagle_Steve · Sep 26, 2019

ross0201 said:
Unfortunately the fish died overnight. As an FYI for anyone who stumbles across this thread, Humblefish recommended a 30 minute methylene blue dip. Thanks for all the advice though!

LadyMac - I have some minor bullying between a few fish but the cardinal was pretty well ignored by everyone.

Sorry for the loss. I will have to put humbles recommendation in my notebook. I am sure I will have another get caught at some point.