How to Get Gravel Out of a Fish's Mouth

A pet fish often lives in a fish tank that has decorative gravel at the bottom. It can sometimes end up with a piece of gravel lodged into its mouth. Luckily, this doesn't lead to choking because a fish breathes through its gills rather than its mouth, but it can definitely cause eating complications. With a fish net and some small tweezers, you can get gravel out of your fish's mouth without harming it.

Things You'll Need

  • Fish net
  • Small tweezers
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Instructions

    • 1

      Use your fish net to remove your fish from the tank. Place your fish on a clean, hard surface, such as a kitchen counter.

    • 2

      Press gently with one finger on the throat of your fish if its mouth is not already open.

    • 3

      Place your tweezers into your fish's mouth and get a hold of the piece of gravel before removing it. Then slowly pull the tweezers out. Without a firm grip on the piece of gravel, you could lodge the gravel deeper into the fish. Try again if you could not remove it the first time. After 30 seconds, if you still have not been able to remove the piece of gravel, place your fish back into the tank to let it recover for 10 minutes or so before your next attempt.