HELP my cat fish ate one of them suction tings that stick onto your glass I can’t get it out thru her mouth i can see it thru her gills but it’s to big to fit thru without damaging anything can someone tell me how I can get it out I don’t want her to die I’ve had her for to long please help
Catfish ate suction thing
- Thread starter Fishgirl23
- Start date
How big is the cat, and what type? Before anything else, I would leave it for awhile to see if the fish manages to spit it out on its own, as long as it appears to not be excessively agitated.
If it doesn't cough it up, a long pair of forceps should allow you to pull it back out through the mouth. You can make a wire "gag" to hold the mouth open so that you can see what you are doing and reach in. If the fish is big enough, you can use a jaw-spreader, sold in fishing tackle stores for just this purpose, i.e. removing hooks and lures that have been completely taken within the mouth.
This is nerve-wracking, especially if it's your first time, but it is surprisingly easy to do. If the object seems jammed up awkwardly then you could even reach it with wire-cutting pliers and snip it into pieces for easier removal. Hold the fish in a wet towel, be careful of the pectoral and dorsal spines, and just work quickly and smoothly.
Good luck!
If it doesn't cough it up, a long pair of forceps should allow you to pull it back out through the mouth. You can make a wire "gag" to hold the mouth open so that you can see what you are doing and reach in. If the fish is big enough, you can use a jaw-spreader, sold in fishing tackle stores for just this purpose, i.e. removing hooks and lures that have been completely taken within the mouth.
This is nerve-wracking, especially if it's your first time, but it is surprisingly easy to do. If the object seems jammed up awkwardly then you could even reach it with wire-cutting pliers and snip it into pieces for easier removal. Hold the fish in a wet towel, be careful of the pectoral and dorsal spines, and just work quickly and smoothly.
Good luck!
She is a pretty decent size u can see the lump I had her mouth open but it was so far down I couldn’t get it I tried gently moving up towards her throat so she would try to throw it up it’s a pretty big piece idk why she would even eat it it’s stuck in there pretty good the part u would stick something into the suction thing in facing down thts why u see tht lump I can see part of it sticking out of her gills when she breath this is my first time seeing something like this as to this being my first cat fish it has been in her for 3 days now at fist I though she ate one of the litter fish but I didn’t got away she was fine swimming and everything today is when I really got worried bc she wasn’t swimming around she lay on her side look like she going to die my boyfriend trying getting it out thru her mouth no luck it’s a red tail/tiger square nose catfish
Yeah, if it hasn't dislodged it on its own in three days it's not going to. If the suction cup is visible, then at least part of it has not passed through that sphincter at the rear of the mouth that leads into the digestive tract. At this point you have nothing to lose by grabbing that with a long set of tweezers or forceps and gently pulling it out. You want to avoid touching or damaging the gills, so you must do this through the mouth.
I've had to do this a couple of times over the years, including one time when I was forced to reach through the sphincter and grab the object sight-unseen, strictly by feel. Didn't lose any of my "patients", including that one.
You could try a vet...and I will bet that he will do exactly what I just described. Not sure what else to suggest; hopefully some more DIY fish surgeons will chime in with ideas.
I've had to do this a couple of times over the years, including one time when I was forced to reach through the sphincter and grab the object sight-unseen, strictly by feel. Didn't lose any of my "patients", including that one.
You could try a vet...and I will bet that he will do exactly what I just described. Not sure what else to suggest; hopefully some more DIY fish surgeons will chime in with ideas.
It’s one of theses but without the piece sticking out and the top part we’re u would stick something in it is face down idk how I would have to turn it or dislodge it
A super sharp pair of scissors and a long pair of tweezers or hemostats. I would use some clove oil to sedate and then cut the suction cup in half to remove.
2 people might be required. One to hold and the other to extract.
2 people might be required. One to hold and the other to extract.
It’s only visible thru the gills on one side I haven’t checked the other side I’ll try again tomorrow I don’t want to stress her out anymore today
Just to clarify...this is all done through the mouth opening, not the gill slit.
All of this should be done through the mouth only as others are saying. You are most likely going to need a second person to help hold the mouth open.