unclenedsfishfactory.com

No laughing please...

I've got an adult Pseudotropheus saulosi with a piece of dolomite stuck in its mouth!

He's been digging up a storm the last couple of days, redecorating his home turf. This evening he didn't eat, and I see what sure looks to me like a piece of gravel stuck in his mouth.

Any suggestions?

My sugggestion - if you don't remove it, he will die. Net him out and use whatever tool you need to to remove it with minimal damage. Fish are tough and will survive mild trauma with time. Better for him to be without it.
D

If you grab the lower lip
then hold the gill flaps down
the mouth will usually stay open while you work
( same as when taking eggs or fry from a holding female)...
I'd suggest good quality tweezers or very small needle nose pliers

I decided to wait overnight to see if he would figure out how to spit it out on his own.

Yesterday a.m. he was hiding and I dismantled his cave to catch him. I could no longer see the gravel. We used a very fine pointed pair of forceps, but found nothing. And could see nothing with a flashlight as well.

He hid the rest of yesterday. Today he's out and swimming, but won't eat anything. That's not good.

Is it possible he could have swallowed it?

Thanks.

not likely, but one never knows. all you can do now is hope he didn't and he gets his appetite back, good luck.

He hid and didn't eat for a few days. But then he ventured out and is back to normal!