I stupidly gave my Fahaka way too big chunck of a squid today as I was in a rush. Didn't take the time to slice the meat in small pieces.
Then, he started to swim desparately back and forth splashing water out of the tank and crashing into spraybars making a crazy mess. Then, he was able to cough and let go some of the food, and is currently resting at the bottom. There is still a lump close to his throat which indicates he is still struggling.
Has anyone experienced how to deal with it?
Info:
- My current take on it is to simply turn off the light and let him rest until it lets go naturally
- I also lifted the spraybars and maxed the air pump to produce more oxygen for his digestion
- He is very healthy, active and strong. I have never seen him panick like this. This accident happened suddenly and there is no need to discuss water parameters etc.
I attached a picture showing the lump.
Thanks!
URGENT: Squid stuck and causing breathing problems
Forum rules
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.
We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.
We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
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Fahaka Fakka
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URGENT: Squid stuck and causing breathing problems
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bertie 83
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Re: URGENT: Squid stuck and causing breathing problems
You can just leave him be for now, if he has stopped panicking he should be in no immediate danger I would hope. I am not sure if you could burp it out of him? Wait for others to chime in first though.
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
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Fahaka Fakka
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- Location: Oslo
Re: URGENT: Squid stuck and causing breathing problems
I tried to get his attention with his pincher and he started following me, but he was sort of hovering around in a clumsy way. At least he seems to want to fight for more squid as stupid as it sounds, but it´s a good sign. I believe he should be ok. I was really worried when he panicked and bumped into every corner of the tank at full speed. Luckily I have a tight lid..otherwise he might have jumped out causing even more harm..I just hope he did not trap any air to be expelled from his stomach. Let´s see how things turn out tomorrow morning.
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sgtmyers88
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Re: URGENT: Squid stuck and causing breathing problems
I am sure fish have to deal with similar circumstances of biting off more than they can chew in the wild. I think this will work itself out. Handling the fish in order to rectify the situation my do nothing but stress the fish even more.
WARNING: Puffers are mischievous little blimps with enchanting powers. You may not be content with having just one.
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defool89
- Fahaka Puffer
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Re: URGENT: Squid stuck and causing breathing problems
He will be okay. If he is breathing itll pass. Like any animals the digestive syste. Is wider than the mouth so once its in its good to go, plus it will dissolve slightly making the exit easier. Question, how big and or old is your fahaka. Its pretty, reminds me of mine but waaay bigger
You have the right to bear Puffers.
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Fahaka Fakka
- Dwarf Puffer
- Posts: 53
- Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2012 6:32 am
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: 1 x Fahaka
Also kept:
2 x South American Puffers (SAP) - Location (country): Norway
- Location: Oslo
Re: URGENT: Squid stuck and causing breathing problems
Thanks all. Everything's back to normal. In response to your question, I think he is about 12 inches by now and still growing. I got him one year ago when he was about 2 inches. Here's a photo of him coughing for air. He had the shape of a balloon then and I was worried he was about to inflate himself on top of things..
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defool89
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Re: URGENT: Squid stuck and causing breathing problems
He looks like hes about to breath fire. Or growl some black metal 
You have the right to bear Puffers.
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Fahaka Fakka
- Dwarf Puffer
- Posts: 53
- Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2012 6:32 am
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: 1 x Fahaka
Also kept:
2 x South American Puffers (SAP) - Location (country): Norway
- Location: Oslo
Re: URGENT: Squid stuck and causing breathing problems
He was actually spitting out Transilvanian Hunger by Darkthrone but I thought it was unsuitable to comment on it in this forum:)
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defool89
- Fahaka Puffer
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Re: URGENT: Squid stuck and causing breathing problems
Cold! Cold!Fahaka Fakka wrote:He was actually spitting out Transilvanian Hunger by Darkthrone but I thought it was unsuitable to comment on it in this forum:)
You have the right to bear Puffers.