Gem tang stuck in pump...

revhtree · Sep 15, 2017

Well I went to feed my tank and found my little gem tang had his mouth/head stuck in a Rossmont pump intake side. He wasn't moving but I immediately pulled him out. He jerked a little and just floated to the bottom on his side.

MY HEART WAS IMPLODING!!

I said a prayer and reached in and steadied him as one little fin started to jerk. He was so out of it that the current kept sending him right to the corner where my clowns had laid eggs and they began to bite at him, tail whip him, etc. I pushed him away from them. Slowly he begin to regain composure and amazingly enough after a couple of hours fully regained normalcy.

This was about 3 days ago and he is back to himself with no visible injuries and eating like a little pig. I think I was blessed to have just caught this right after it happened. He has been in the tank for several months and never had an issue with those pumps. I am on the lookout for a cover for them.

Just felt like sharing.

zachxlutz · Sep 15, 2017

YIKES! Glad to hear he's back to his normal self! Scary stuff!

yellojello · Sep 15, 2017

He knows how expensive he is and pulled a prank on you.

revhtree · Sep 15, 2017

yellojello said:
He knows how expensive he is and pulled a prank on you.

Lol! Without connections there's no way I would own this fish! Ha!

VelocityTech · Sep 15, 2017

Sheesh!! Photo!!

Mfreddy · Sep 16, 2017

Yikes. Good catch!

mrtian97 · Sep 16, 2017

great to hear he made it through

Reefbuds · Sep 16, 2017

Wow dude lucky night for you! Poor little guy had a rough day.

SashimiTurtle · Sep 16, 2017

I would have had a heart attack and died...

Reefbuds · Sep 16, 2017

Robin Haselden said:
I would have had a heart attack and died...

Lol.

Velcro · Sep 16, 2017

Had the same exact experience with my mandarin... it was a miracle that I just happened to check on the tank before I went to bed.

VelocityTech · Sep 16, 2017

revhtree said:
Lol! Without connections there's no way I would own this fish! Ha!

We need a photo man!

mfinn · Sep 16, 2017

Sorry this happened, but I'm glad to hear the tang is recovering.

Crabs McJones · Sep 16, 2017

Good thing you caught it in time, happy that the tang is doing well

DSC reef · Sep 17, 2017

My heart just skipped a beat or two. Glad he's not hurt.

saltyhog · Sep 17, 2017

Oh man! My $200 C. isoscoles that just completed QT went MIA for 12 hours and I was sweating bullets. Can't imagine how you felt!

Katrina71 · Sep 17, 2017

I get attached to all of our little guys. It doesn't matter if they are 12.00 or 1,200.00. I'd be a little heart broken if any of them got hurt.

revhtree · Sep 18, 2017

Katrina71 said:
I get attached to all of our little guys. It doesn't matter if they are 12.00 or 1,200.00. I'd be a little heart broken if any of them got hurt.

Soooo true! I feel the same way when anyone gets hurt or goes missing. Although this was a little more intense for me. HA!

revhtree · Sep 18, 2017

Tang is doing GREAT!

saltyhog · Sep 18, 2017

Katrina71 said:
I get attached to all of our little guys. It doesn't matter if they are 12.00 or 1,200.00. I'd be a little heart broken if any of them got hurt.

Absolutely! Sorry if that came across as calloused or unfeeling!

When the fish (or coral for that matter) is a dream fish/coral. One that isn't available often, or one you've had to save up and sacrifice for because of it's cost, it is all the more devastating. The analogy would be a distant cousin in a far away place passing away vs your spouse! I know, lousy analogy but hopefully it clarifies my meaning!