Comet ate a live oto

[MrJim]

This morning I saw the tail fins of one of my otos hanging out the mouth of the comet~she seems to be in distress cause she can't get it down. I catch her and take some needle nose pliers in a gentle attempt to pull it out, and the tail starts flapping around, so I'm figuring it's still alive. I don't expect the comet to live through this stunt...

[Northernguy]

Did you pull it out or leave it there?
You oto was unfotunately too small for your tank.
I can't see the comet being able to get it down.

[robflanker]

wow!

how big was the comet and the oto? Can you not get the oto out?

[MrJim]

No I couldn't get it out~afraid to yank it too hard, tore some of the tail fins off the oto. I'm figuring the oto has latched onto the inside of the comet~do ya think I should just try to pull it out or see if she can spit it back out?

[jaysee]

If the comet is toast, I would finish the job and cut the bottom of the mouth towards the belly and get the oto out. Scissors would probably work best.

[robflanker]

Two choice, cut tail off oto so it dies and lets go inside and maybe comet can get it down.

Or as jaysee said, do surgery on the comet and try and get the oto out

[MrJim]

Two choice, cut tail off oto so it dies and lets go inside and maybe comet can get it down.

Or as jaysee said, do surgery on the comet and try and get the oto out

I'd rather try to save the comet; let's see how cutting the oto tail goes.

[PostalPenguin]

I think the oto has a spike in its dorsal fin that is supposed to keep it from being eaten. I may be wrong, but that spike could be latched into the mouth of the fish. Perhaps try pushing forward then back.

[MrJim]

I think the oto has a spike in its dorsal fin that is supposed to keep it from being eaten. I may be wrong, but that spike could be latched into the mouth of the fish. Perhaps try pushing forward then back.

I wondered about that, but didn't know for sure..

[jaysee]

Is the comet big enough to stick something in through the gill plate to push the oto out? That might also allow you to fold the spine down before you push.

[robflanker]

I wondered about that, but didn't know for sure..

See if you can find a picture of the oto and see if it has a spike, you may need to reallly cut it into pieces in the mouth of the comet if it has a barb and you cant get it out

[MrJim]

Is the comet big enough to stick something in through the gill plate to push the oto out? That might also allow you to fold the spine down before you push.

I didn't think of that. I was just in the tank; I pulled fairly hard but it is wedged in there really tight. Stupid comet doesn't seem to mind, it's trying feed like there's nothing wrong...so there is definitely a spine on otos?

[jaysee]

I assume so since it's a catfish, but don't know for sure.

I would use a pair of tweezers. Also, if the comet is big enough and the oto small enough you could possibly pull the oto out through the gill. That's probably a stretch

[MrJim]

I'm not able to do anything through the gill, I've tried all manner of extraction attempts; I think I have to see what nature is going to do here..

[jaysee]

Hope it works out for you.

[MrJim]

It was one of my pepper corys, NOT an oto.

I got it out, I snipped the spines that were on either side of the comets mouth and just kept working it until it was out. When it was out I could see it wasn't an oto..and the poor cory was still alive...though in pieces

This sucks, I didn't that comet would try to eat something that was still alive, I think I agree with my 9 y/o son, who bravely assisted in the project--she needs to go to the pond.

Thanks to all for your help.

[jaysee]

So everyone is alive and kicking or is that a strategicly placed "was"?

[robflanker]

I think thats got to be a past-tense situation as he said he chopped up the parts hanging out of the comets mouth right?

[PostalPenguin]

Corys definitely do have the spines. Sorry to hear about that.

[troy]

I would advise taking all the corys and otos out of this tank so it doesn't happen again.

[Northernguy]

I would put both both the comets into the pond!
Fish eat fish if it will fit into their mouths or even almost fit as you can see.
Sorry to hear about your cory and hopefully not the comet.

[Oscar_freak12321]

Poor little cory! Yes, I would definitely move those comets to the pond so this doens't happen again...

[MrJim]

9 hours later~I just got home from work, and the comet seems fine. Yeah the cory didn't survive. I tend to agree to send to pond but it's the Mrs. favorite fish, she wants to give it another chance...I offered to move out the stove to make room for another tank...:ssmile:

Thanks to all for the help in this little crisisthumbs2: