How to Save a Choking Fish

The bottom of most hobby aquariums are covered in a gravel substrate. This is easy to clean and widely available. However, some fish like to eat the food along the bottom and will pick up pieces of gravel as they go. You may see the fish choking on a piece of gravel. Most of the time the fish will be able to work the gravel out, but if you are sure the gravel is stuck, you will need to remove it. Act quickly during the removal process to lessen the stress on the fish and decrease the chances of it dying. Fish can only survive for a few minutes out of water. This varies depending on the type of fish.

Things You'll Need

  • Fish net
  • Cloth
  • Tweezers
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Remove the fish from the tank with a fish net. Act quickly and gently.

    • 2

      Set the fish on a clean cloth and wrap the cloth around it to keep it from wiggly too much.

    • 3

      Remove the object from the fish's mouth with a pair of tweezers.

    • 4

      Return the fish to the tank immediately.