My Tang Choked!

Paule · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 13

I think... After feeding him thawed out frozen food (like we do every
other day), he fell to the bottom of the tank an laid on his side. I
lifted him with the net and he spit out a bunch of food and fell back
to the bottom of the tank. I lifted him again and he started swimming
normally.

He scared us.

What's the deal? Has this ever happen to you?

Archived from group: rec>aquaria>marine>misc

Pszemol · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 643

"Paule" wrote in message @l12g2000cwl.googlegroups.com...
> I think... After feeding him thawed out frozen food (like we do every
> other day), he fell to the bottom of the tank an laid on his side. I
> lifted him with the net and he spit out a bunch of food and fell back
> to the bottom of the tank. I lifted him again and he started swimming
> normally.
>
> He scared us.
>
> What's the deal? Has this ever happen to you?

How long do you have this fish ? Was food warmed up or still frozen ?
What kind of tank is it ? Does the fish have any places to hide ?
Mine always seeks a place under the rockwork to hide...
Sometimes in horizontal position, but breathing normally with gills.

Paule · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 13

> How long do you have this fish ? Was food warmed up or still frozen ?
> What kind of tank is it ? Does the fish have any places to hide ?
> Mine always seeks a place under the rockwork to hide...
> Sometimes in horizontal position, but breathing normally with gills.

Since August.
He does get a little sideways while he swims sometimes, but this
incident was "down for the count". Called the LFS the other day. They
said Tangs can choke on their food. Go figure.

My tank is 155 gal, sand bottom with a pile of live rock in 1 corner
and rock arch setup on the other side. Have some coral banded shrimp,
and 5 small damsels. The water condition is fantastic.

The food was room temp. We always let it dislove a bit in an oz or 2
of saltwater from the tank before swirling it in from the top.

Mike D. · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 32

I guess the good thing of it is, a fish can choke on food, without losing
it's oxygen supply- since they breathe through their gills, their throat is
not an airway. So, if a fish gets food lodged in it's throat, it is not an
urgent life or death emergency to dislodge the blockage, the fish victim has
time to get it's throat clear without fear of falling unconscious. Mike.
"Paule" wrote in message@f1g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>
>
> > How long do you have this fish ? Was food warmed up or still frozen ?
> > What kind of tank is it ? Does the fish have any places to hide ?
> > Mine always seeks a place under the rockwork to hide...
> > Sometimes in horizontal position, but breathing normally with gills.
>
>
> Since August.
> He does get a little sideways while he swims sometimes, but this
> incident was "down for the count". Called the LFS the other day. They
> said Tangs can choke on their food. Go figure.
>
> My tank is 155 gal, sand bottom with a pile of live rock in 1 corner
> and rock arch setup on the other side. Have some coral banded shrimp,
> and 5 small damsels. The water condition is fantastic.
>
> The food was room temp. We always let it dislove a bit in an oz or 2
> of saltwater from the tank before swirling it in from the top.
>

Paule · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 13

Mike D. wrote:
> I guess the good thing of it is, a fish can choke on food, without losing
> it's oxygen supply- since they breathe through their gills, their throat is
> not an airway. So, if a fish gets food lodged in it's throat, it is not an
> urgent life or death emergency to dislodge the blockage, the fish victim has
> time to get it's throat clear without fear of falling unconscious. Mike.
> "Paule" wrote in message
> @f1g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> >
> >
> > > How long do you have this fish ? Was food warmed up or still frozen ?
> > > What kind of tank is it ? Does the fish have any places to hide ?
> > > Mine always seeks a place under the rockwork to hide...
> > > Sometimes in horizontal position, but breathing normally with gills.
> >
> >
> > Since August.
> > He does get a little sideways while he swims sometimes, but this
> > incident was "down for the count". Called the LFS the other day. They
> > said Tangs can choke on their food. Go figure.
> >
> > My tank is 155 gal, sand bottom with a pile of live rock in 1 corner
> > and rock arch setup on the other side. Have some coral banded shrimp,
> > and 5 small damsels. The water condition is fantastic.
> >
> > The food was room temp. We always let it dislove a bit in an oz or 2
> > of saltwater from the tank before swirling it in from the top.
> >

We found it was food problem. Frozen algae. Either he did not like it
or it was making him ill. Either way, he kept spitting it back out. We
threw it out.