Dropped my Fish!!!!!!

Sailfin11 · Nov 4, 2019

I was moving my juvi red coris wrasse into a different tank (have had him for a year) and I dropped him from about 4 feet. Then he thrashed around to the back of my stand. It took me about 15 seconds to get to him. I decided to just put him in the tank without any acclimation because I didn't want to stress him out more. I put him in and it looked like his back was arched and he also couldn't dive into the sand. Now, he is resting against the rock and breathing heavily. It turned off the light in the hope that he would relax.

At this point, I have no idea if it has a broken back or is just stunned. After all, he was pulled out of the sand, dropped on to the floor, and thrown into a new tank. Also, this fish is SUPER shy. He has never stayed out of the sand for more than a few hours per day in the morning. I am going to wait it out and see if he improves. I am so upset because it is only now that I am seeing the adult blue spots starting to emerge on this special fish. Please let me know if you have had any similar experience or tips. Thanks!

stanleo · Nov 4, 2019

I dropped my tiger goby from a couple of feet and it took me a few seconds to catch him and put him in the tank. He is fine several months later. But in my case I was taking him out of the acclimation bucket and into the tank.

MTBake · Nov 4, 2019

Unfortunately there isn't much you can do but give it time. Turning off the light was a good move, imo. Should help it calm down.

Hope it pulls through for you.

NatD · Nov 4, 2019

Stuff happens. It’s was just an unfortunate accident. Best wishes to you and to him.

Darryl · Nov 4, 2019

I Know your upset but i think he will be ok and he will find a new sand home during the night!

LAReefer4Life · Nov 4, 2019

Sorry this happened. Just keep the stress level low and water conditions pristine and hopefully all will work out.

Mastiffsrule · Nov 4, 2019

Everyone has already given great advice. Fingers crossed.

Just wanted to add #WelcimetoR2R . Hope your first thread ends in an alls well

Idoc · Nov 4, 2019

I had a clown fish jump out of the tank trying to bite my hand that was above the waterline. She dropped about 5 feet onto a tile floor. After i put her back in the tank, she acted very shy and hid in a corner fir a couple days. Then, she turned back into an evil devil and started acting normal trying to bite me all the time.

Zos4me · Nov 4, 2019

Fish are very resilient given it time and see what happens

SPS247 · Nov 4, 2019

He should be fine from the drop. I seen my Christmas Wrasse shoot out of the tank once as I was walking up to feed the tank. He was little excited. He slapped the floor I struggled to pick him up and throw him back in the tank. He was in shock but the next day he was out and about as if nothing happened. That was about a 4-5ft drop.

Bastray · Nov 4, 2019

I’ve had numerous fish jump out during water changes, feeding or whatever. Every time it’s happened and I’ve put them back in the tank they have survived. They are pretty resilient.

Dragon52 · Nov 4, 2019

Sorry to hear about your fish, hope it makes it.

Sailfin11 · Nov 5, 2019

Thanks for your help, everyone! He managed to bury himself under the sand last night and is now swimming around like nothing happened

Dom · Nov 5, 2019

Poor little guy... certainly makes for a bad day for him. He should be okay.

Personally, I would have put him back into the tank from which he came so that he had time to calm down in familiar surroundings, then try again another day.