Freshwater help

TheWalkman99 · Nov 15, 2018

sorry to post on R2R about freshwater but the freshwater forum I was in wasn’t any help. And he is my favorite fish.
I have something sticking out from the bottom of my cichlids mouth. It’s white and about 3/4 inch long. I don’t see any blood on the bottom of his mouth. And he doesn’t seem to stressed.
Some sort of parasite maybe? Or none from another fish he ate?

HotRocks · Nov 15, 2018

It looks like a worm of some sort.

I am no help with FW fish. @4FordFamily any suggestions here?

Scrubber_steve · Nov 15, 2018

catch it & remove offending object

TheWalkman99 · Nov 15, 2018

Scrubber_steve said:
catch it & remove offending object

Any tips for holding him as I tweaser it off?
Hold him with my hand?

Scrubber_steve · Nov 15, 2018

TheWalkman99 said:
Any tips for holding him as I tweaser it off?
Hold him with my hand?

Yeh, it won't bite

much

SoreninKL · Nov 15, 2018

TheWalkman99 said:
Any tips for holding him as I tweaser it off?
Hold him with my hand?

Wrap with a wet (aquarium water) cotton towel

Cheers

Flippers4pups · Nov 15, 2018

Looks like a stick jammed though it's mouth.

Scrubber_steve · Nov 15, 2018

TheWalkman99 said:
Any tips for holding him as I tweaser it off?
Hold him with my hand?

Let us know how it turns out

TheWalkman99 · Nov 15, 2018

Flippers4pups said:
Looks like a stick jammed though it's mouth.

So catch him and pull it out?

Scrubber_steve · Nov 15, 2018

Flippers4pups said:
Looks like a stick jammed though it's mouth.

Sort of looks like a dorsal fin spine ?

Flippers4pups · Nov 15, 2018

Scrubber_steve said:
Sort of looks like a dorsal fin spine ?

Any fish missing? When I kept big cichlids, jack Dempsey's, red devil's.......

They would swallow anything smaller than themselves.

Feeding comets was no no. Huge mess in the tank.

Scrubber_steve · Nov 15, 2018

Flippers4pups said:
Any fish missing? When I kept big cichlids, jack Dempsey's, red devil's.......

They would swallow anything smaller than themselves.

Feeding comets was no no. Huge mess in the tank.

Any fish gone missing 99 ?

4FordFamily · Nov 15, 2018

That looks like a bone or part of another fish that has impaled his mouth. I would catch and swiftly remove it as mentioned.

TheWalkman99 · Nov 15, 2018

Flippers4pups said:
Any fish missing? When I kept big cichlids, jack Dempsey's, red devil's.......

They would swallow anything smaller than themselves.

Feeding comets was no no. Huge mess in the tank.

Yeah I have some tiger barbs missing I lose count of how many I have because he eats them irregularly and I buy them when they’re on sale because I’m still holding on to the dream that I can have a school of fish in there.
I didn’t think I lost any in the last 24 hours.
But a fish bone is probably more likely then a parasite huh?
When I catch him put him in a 5 gallon bucket with stress coat? Should I leave him in the bucket overnight or put him back in the tank? I have an HOB filter I can put on.

SoreninKL · Nov 15, 2018

TheWalkman99 said:
So catch him and pull it out?

I just asked a friend having a freshwater aquarium and pond. He would pull the object, preferably at night while they rest, add a drop iodine, seal the insert wound with a liquid skin bandage and put the fish back.
If you don't want to seal then just pull and put the fish back but monitor the wound.

liquid bandage something like this -> https://www.newskinproducts.com/products/new-skin-liquid-bandage/

cheers

TheWalkman99 · Nov 15, 2018

Finally home.
I have the 5 gallon bucket have filled with tank water plus slim coat.
Now the hard part of catching him. I’ll keep you guys updated.
Thank everyone a ton for your quick response and advise! I really appreciate it!
I know this isn’t a freshwater forum but I really appreciate everyone stepping up to help me.

TheWalkman99 · Nov 15, 2018

After being pateient and waiting for him to take the bait by feeding he was still skittish.
I started chasing him around the tank and now he’s really stressed out. So going to clean up since it’s close to my bedtime and try again tomorrow when I have more time. And I when I have bloodworms to bait him with since they’re his favorite snack.

Scrubber_steve · Nov 15, 2018

Often their easier to get after lights out,,, using a torch,,, unless he hides away somewhere?

TheWalkman99 · Nov 16, 2018

He usually swims around until 10 or so. And unfortunately I have to wake up at 3 for work.
Let him settle down.
On a side note are the acrylic fish traps any good? Because I’m really bad at catching fish. Earlier this year I had a really time catching my convicts to transfer them.