How long can fish live outside of water? 1.5 hours??

[SchnitzelReef]

So this morning I got out of the shower and my blue tang was laying on the floor. I quickly tossed him back in and he wasn't looking too hot. After about 15 minutes he started swimming and went to his sleeping spot to hide from the other fish. Got home from work and he was swimming around like nothing happened.

I checked my camera to see when he jumped....1.5 hours laying on the floor. I kid you not. I was like NOOO WAY. My cat came up to him and sniffed him then walked away. My little dog came up and sniffed him and left him alone. I couldn't believe it. I always assumed fish would be dead within 10-15 minutes out of water. I have a video of the whole thing, let me try to post it.

Anyone else seen fish out of water that long and live?

 

[untico]

That fish lost 8 lives. What a lucky fish. Congrats for saving him, now throw a big party for him with lots of snacks [emoji512][emoji323][emoji323]


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[Anemone]

Pretty incredible!

Kevin

 

[COENONE]

Maybe the cat and dog know cpr!

 

[minus9]

That's awesome! I'm glad he/she survived.

 

[LessThanJaker1]

What the heck! That's crazy!

 

[stephj03]

I've heard of this with FW fish before. We had a Texas Cichlid that did it. Dog brought it to my then girlfriend and left it in her lap looking dry and crispy. Same recovery you describe. Scales and slime do a lot I guess.

I think maybe it's more about how hard they hit their head on the way down. If they avoid that and sit still, they might not need a lot of air.


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[OG Reefs]

Depends on the climate. Fish die because their gills dry out and stop processing oxygen. If the room is humid, the fish will survive longer.

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[BeanMachine]

That's awesome Nick. Good save


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[SchnitzelReef]

here's a little time lapse of the fish jumping out. if you look on the floor in the middle of the tank, you can see the fish flopping around. then you see the dog, the cat, my house keepers, and finally i come and save the day at the end hahah

he jumped at 9:30 and i tossed him back in at 11

https://youtu.be/OIYpbNz1f2A

 

[Raptor72]

I have a Midas Blenny that jumped onto the carpet for 45 minutes. It lived to tell the other fish about it. No one has tried it since. [emoji23]

 

[Jhuneke]

How long can fish live outside of water? 1.5 hours??

That is so crazy!! Lucky fish... my dog and cat would have been fighting to the death over which gets to eat him !


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[lolgranny]

I love that you got that on camera LOL!!!

I've had one jump and no clue how long he was out but he was dry. Tossed him in and he lived.

I had another I was sitting there looking at the tank, the fish jumps out and slaps me in the face. He must have not liked lunch.. or wanted more LOL


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[abraha]

That is a long time! I would not have guessed they could live that long out of water.