a bad day

[maggie]

Talk about a way to a bad start of a day----
went down to feed my fish today and the last tank to feed I opened the hood no one came up to feed, I knew rite away something was wrong since the 4 baby clowns and the baby tang are always waiting for food. looking around I see one of the clowns seemed to be stuck in the long spine urchin. the clown was stuck---one of the spines had gone thru the clown and was sticking out the other side by 1/2 in.
After PANIC I took a few sections to think----took pliers' and broke off the spine the clown was stabbed with. Got him out of the tank and I laid him on a paper towel and broke off both ends of the spine. I put him back in to the tank in a small floating breeder tank. he is swimming around so I have my fingers crossed he will make it
The 4 paired up in the tank (a 40 long) and the mate of the stabbed one seems to be a little frantic swimming around on there end of the tank looking for her mate I think. Of the 4 the stabbed one was smaller then the other 3 so I assumed he was a male and the other 3 females. Just by guess? First time I had to do surgery on a fish and hope it the last. Where is Doc. Stan when you need him ?

 

[lzkamp]

That is one crazy story. I am so sorry about your clown. Let us know if he makes it.

 

[mattyice]

wow that is a crazy story, i really hope the little guy makes it

 

[anaelitz]

That is the craziest thing I have ever heard. All in one night like that. Holy cow...I hope all turns out well.

 

[pgolnick]

New book "First aid for fish". Hope he is alright.
Phil

 

[cash03ins]

Did you have a power head push then into the spines or what could have happened?
Wayne

 

[maggie]

no power head in the way---i think he may have darted when the lite came on and was in the wrong place at the wrong time but i really dont know. he didnt eat last night but he sure made up for it this morning, eat like a pig

 

[GSMguy]

here is my feeling on what happened

a group of clowns often kills off the smallest one i would guess he was chased and now the three remaining will form a group or just kill off the mate. good luck

its never reccomended to put more than a pair in under 200g.

 

[t11t5]

I had a Black Long Spined Urchin. My yellow watchman goby got stabbed in the eye. There was a little piece of the spine hanging out. I left it and he was ok after awhile. About 6 months later there was another spine all the way through him about half way down his body. He died shortly after. I no longer have the urchin.

 

[t11t5]

I guess my post scared everyone away.

 

[mattyice]

im just going to stay away from those types of urchins, i do like the pin cushion urchins though

 

[maggie]

im lucky mine only got speared 1 time and by the way he is doing OK. the skin has grown around the small piece of spine that was sticking out of his side . he is no longer in the same tank with the urchin.

 

[sohal1025]

Is that something common for a fish to get stabbed by an urchin?

 

[maggie]

Is that something common for a fish to get stabbed by an urchin?

no its not common t11ts and i are the only 2 that i know off that has had it happen---though im sure there are others. i think it more like the fish stabbes it self by swimming in to the urchin.