Hippo swallow hook. What antibiotics?

[firemedix911]

Sup peeps? I had to remove my blue hippo from my tank bc she was nipping at my dun cans and my flower pots. I used a size 3 hook to catch her and my candy cane hog. The hog was easy and went without incident. The Hippo went hard at the hook and swallowed whole. Needless to say I just cut the line and let it be as I had no way of removing it at that point. I want to make sure she doesn't catch and infection from this and was thinking to give her some prophylactic antibiotics. Is it even necessary? I feel horrible over this. but tearing my tank down wasn't an option.

Anyone dealt with this before. Will the hook dissolve over time or will it be her demise?

 

[jbvdhp]

I highly doubt a metal hook will dissolve, may ultimately rust too (I've had my fair share of rusted hooks). I can't imagine this turning out good for your hippo unless it's removed.

BTW, there are other ways to catch/trap fish, and I, myself, would have avoided fishing in my own tank.

 

[xcorallusx]

I would suggest researching something like this before you do it...

 

[Dmorty217]

Thats what they make nets for... The hook will rust and cause other issues in your tank. There are plenty of antibiotics you can use but they all negatively affect nitrifying bacteria

 

[ThRoewer]

Thats what they make nets for... The hook will rust and cause other issues in your tank. There are plenty of antibiotics you can use but they all negatively affect nitrifying bacteria

Well, as I understand he has the fish in a separate tank so treatment should be possible.
I would be more concerned about internal injuries.
But fish in good health may survive this.
You can't really do much more than wait and see.

 

[firemedix911]

Thanks guys for the help. I did researched it. as a matter of fact I read well over 10 pages of methods to catch the fish. One of them was to use a hook. With I did it went further to explain that even if the hook go too far down it'd actually dissolve with time. More reading on google also explained that fish seem to have something in their blood that's capable of dissolving hooks or something along those lines. The big nono was to never pull on the hook if it is in the gills or the stomach.

On to an update. She doing really good today. Ate two sheets of nori and frozen shrimp. She's really skittish though. But then again she's always been and to be honest I expected it to happen after the whole ordeal. Hopefully she pulls thru. The dun cans she was munching on don't look as good. I really hope they do bc it is a nice piece with over 30 heads.

Thanks fellas.

 

[ejk17]

I would never catch a fish with a hook in my own tank... I have never heard of a metal hook dissolving. I have had a couple of friends try this with freshwater fish and they swallowed them and felt bad and kept them and eventually lost them... How do u know if hook dissolved if they swallowed it??? It's risky way to catch a fish.

I personally would have gotten rid of the Duncans or let them get eaten. They don't have a brain they don't have a nervous system...

I don't think people understand that hooks were invented to catch and kill fish, not to release. Please do not use hooks to catch fish. They will do more harm than good.

 

[ThRoewer]

Yes, they will rust and dissolve eventually. They are kind of designed for it because things like this happen a lot with sports fish that are caught and then released again.
An otherwise strong and healthy fish has good chances to survive it.

 

[Dmorty217]

Well, as I understand he has the fish in a separate tank so treatment should be possible.
I would be more concerned about internal injuries.
But fish in good health may survive this.
You can't really do much more than wait and see.

Doesn't really matter if the fish is in the DT or a HT the antibiotic will negatively affect nitrifying bacteria regardless. I'm dumbfounded that a hook was used in the first place. How did the OP think this was a good idea, or that it would end in any other way then having the hook lodged in its mouth? :headwally:

 

[jbvdhp]

Not to mention the negative effects of rust as a whole...

 

[albano]

I'm dumbfounded that a hook was used in the first place. How did the OP think this was a good idea, or that it would end in any other way then having the hook lodged in its mouth? :headwally:

As OP mentioned, there are plenty of posts mentioning the use of BARBLESS hooks for catching fish in a tank... Nothing shocking about that...

Not to mention the negative effects of rust as a whole...

What would be the negative effect of the hook (small enough for a tang to swallow) rusting?

 

[sbreefer]

fish hooks are coated....

 

[Dmorty217]

As OP mentioned, there are plenty of posts mentioning the use of BARBLESS hooks for catching fish in a tank... Nothing shocking about that...


Yes barbless being the key word

 

[firemedix911]

As OP mentioned, there are plenty of posts mentioning the use of BARBLESS hooks for catching fish in a tank... Nothing shocking about that...


Yes barbless being the key word

Wow you are quick to throw the first stone? You've never screwed up I guess. Good for you. I used a barbless hook as it was the way to do it. I followed instructions to the T. Tang hit the hook hard and swallowed it whole. I didn't like and felt bad about it. The last thing I need is for you to try to flagellate me bc of this. I want the best outcome for the fish just like you so your self-righteous comments don't accomplish anything. But thanks for your input anyways. If you've never screwed up in this hobby gr8 and I hope you never do.

For those that are following this thread for the right reasons. The fish is going great. Eating like a pig and sings of problems. The same goes for the other fish I got with the same hook. Both eating well and healthy. I will keep posting updates to see the outcome.

 

[Dmorty217]

No I have screwed up plenty in the 16 yrs in the hobby but have never used a hook to catch a fish out of my tank... Whatever lesson learned. As far as the fish swallowing the hook you could try antibiotics but I'm not sure they will be of much good to you. If the fish is acting normal for the most part and is still eating it could survive this. The hook will take many months or more to dissolve in the tank. Being it's been swallowed I'm not sure anyone can tell you the effect of a rusting hook (if it wasn't coated) in your hippo tangs stomach. For the record I misread the first post so my apologies for that, didn't realize you did in fact use a barbless hook... People have posted crazier things on here before so forgive me.

 

[firemedix911]

No problem Morty. It's all good. I think and hope she's gonna pull thru. There's absolutely no signs of distress whatsoever so that gives me hope. Im just like gonna wait t it out. No meda for now. Thanks.

 

[bluetang18]

I've never heard of anyone fishing in their own tank.crazy!

 

[ThRoewer]

I would say using a (barbless!) hook is a legit way of catching a fish if it is the only means at hand and the fish needs to be removed quickly.
Traps are of course the best way, but not everyone has one at hand or can borrow one. And with some fish traps just don't work (or you would need a really big one that might not fit into the tank).

I used hooks before, as did many others, with no long term ill effects to the fish.
A fish swallowing a hook is a rather rare event but even that shouldn't do too much harm. As I mentioned above, it happens all the time with "catch and release" sport fish and they usually survive it.

 

[Martini5788]

Just a thought, but I read a post by sk8ter a few weeks ago about poly-filter. It might not be a bad idea to run it on the tank that the hippo is in so absorb some of the metals that will be released from the dissolving of the hook.

 

[firemedix911]

I've never heard of anyone fishing in their own tank.crazy!

Yeah if you can even call it that. It's no even fair to the fish. I've done plenty of fishing but spearfishing not with the hook. Don't have that patience for it.

I would say using a (barbless!) hook is a legit way of catching a fish if it is the only means at hand and the fish needs to be removed quickly.
Traps are of course the best way, but not everyone has one at hand or can borrow one. And with some fish traps just don't work (or you would need a really big one that might not fit into the tank).

I used hooks before, as did many others, with no long term ill effects to the fish.
A fish swallowing a hook is a rather rare event but even that shouldn't do too much harm. As I mentioned above, it happens all the time with "catch and release" sport fish and they usually survive it.

^^^This. I was starting to question myself if I missed read that lengthy thread of catching fish. Trust me I tried the net, the different traps etc. She wouldn't even come close to the trap. I was able to catch every fish but her. It ought me by surprise bc tang generally have a small mouth and having just caught the 5" candy cane hog I was cool, this with this large mouth didn't swallow the hook there' no way the hippo will do that. But like everything else in this hobby **** happens. I don't like at all but what can I do at this point. I'm starting a new build and my tank has to be without fish for 72 days. I've learned my lesson. I now have a dedicated QT/HT. 30gallons at that so they'll be ok in there for a little bit. 3

Just a thought, but I read a post by sk8ter a few weeks ago about poly-filter. It might not be a bad idea to run it on the tank that the hippo is in so absorb some of the metals that will be released from the dissolving of the hook.

Thanks martini I'll also look into that. I don't take my pets lightly. I love everyone of them and feel horrible every time something goes wrong. So judge me for not knowing enough, judge me for jumping the gun but don't judge me on how much I care about this animals.

This last statement isn't directed at anyone specific. So no hard feeling here guys.