Goldfish swallow gravel

crimsonmoon

crimsonmoon

Gotta love those cories...
Aug 31, 2008
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Memphis
Ok, so i heard this really weird tapping sound in my aquarium for a while, it was getting annoying so i got up to see what it was. One of my goldfish had a piece of gravel stuck in its mouth! I opened the lid to try and help it out (don't know how i would have helped actually) and as i did it either came out, or swallowed it. I didn't see. All i know is that its not stuck in the mouth anymore. If it swallowed it, how would i know? Will she die? How do i monitor her? What do i do???
Any responses GREATLY appreciated
 
im planning on taking out the gravel and making a bare bottom tomorrow, should i just go asap and do it now??
 
Goldfish always move gravel about. I don't know if they swallow it but it is a natural behavior. I can't imagine that they would do it if it would hurt them.
 
I have 11 aquariums of just fancy goldfish and they are forever moving the gravel around putting it in there mouths and spitting it out and I have never had one die from doing it. I would leave the gravel and not worry it just seems natural they root around in the gravel looking for bits of food.
 
If it were still stuck in your fish's throat, then you would need to remove it before it impedes feeding or causes a wound internally. If your fish swallowed it, its likely that there will be further complications down the road. Hopefully it was able to spit the pebble out. Goldfish will generally pick up and move substrate, as was pointed out above, but it is important to ensure that the gravel is of a grain size that is either too big to be mouthed (but perfect for trapping detritus), or small enough where you don't have to worry about pieces getting lodged in your fish's throat. Id make sure that your fish gets pristine water in the upcoming weeks.
 
Ok, thanks everyone, ill stop freaking and just keep an eye on her
 
if the pebble was big enough to seem lodged in the fish's mouth, then it is likely that it ddi not swallow it.
 
My fan tail had a piece of gravel stuck in its mouth once. When I put my hands in the water she came over and I just pulled it out. It slipped right out I didn't have to tug. My guess is it just spit it out. Before I took the rock out of my fish's mouth it was trying to work it out with its lips. I would assume if the fish is going to the bathroom normally that it did not swallow it.
 
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