How long can fish stay out of water? What can i do to save it?

[nate12]

My fully adult yellow belly blue tang decided to jump out and land on top my tank. I dont even know how long he been out of water. I thought he was dead but saw him still breathing. Put him back in the tank but he look pretty bad. I was able to feed him a little by shoot food next to his mouth and he suck it in. Any change he will recover?

 

[kegogut]

If he was eating then chances are he'll be ok. Not much else you can do to help him other than get some screens for your tank to prevent it from happening again. Good luck and hope he recovers!

 

[craig813]

How's he doing? Might be too late, but you probably could have moved him back and forth in the water helping him get water to his gills. that's what we do to help big fish recover when we're sport fishing #catchandrelease

 

[rackman]

How's he doing? Might be too late, but you probably could have moved him back and forth in the water helping him get water to his gills. that's what we do to help big fish recover when we're sport fishing #catchandrelease

For future reference i used to do the same thing until i was told to only move the fish through the watet the way it swims...going the opposite direction can cause permanent damage to the gill system.

#catchandrelease:fish1:

 

[lifeoffaith]

For future reference i used to do the same thing until i was told to only move the fish through the watet the way it swims...going the opposite direction can cause permanent damage to the gill system.

#catchandrelease:fish1:

Interesting, I've never heard that. I know many Koi keepers who suggested this when a koi jumped out of their ponds. Obviously saltwater is a different world, but I would have figured that the concept is still the same.

 

[craig813]

good suggestion - sounds hard over the side of a boat, but I'll definitely be more careful in the future

 

[jd371]

How's he doing? Might be too late, but you probably could have moved him back and forth in the water helping him get water to his gills. that's what we do to help big fish recover when we're sport fishing #catchandrelease

Same here, C & R. I hold Stripers facing the current until they swim out of my hands on their own.

 

[Nanook]

Same here, C & R. I hold Stripers facing the current until they swim out of my hands on their own.

I do the same with trout.

 

[nate12]

Sadly Dory passed away.

 

[Nanook]

Bummer Get a cover.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Yep, screen top or a canopy!