Regular Member Pixiefish Posted October 28, 2008 Regular Member Share Posted October 28, 2008 I thought I'd post this topic just for interests sake and in case anyone ever finds their fish out of the pond or savaged by a predator. I found this 6/7 inch fish under my dining table yesterday morning. One of my awful cats must have dragged it out of someone's pond. I assumed it was dead as it was completely motionless and had become stuck to the floor (gha!); I had to use a slice to prize its tail off the floorboards I was about to dispose of it when something I'd read from one of the pondies here, ages ago, rang a distant bell in mind. I put the fish in a bowl and poured some tankwater over its gills. After a second it twitched and two seconds later its gills began to pulse. I couldn't believe my eyes. I quickly filled a 10gal tub to put it in and by the time it was ready the fish was almost flipping out of the bowl!!! I put him in and 'walked' him back and forth to oxygenate his gills. Here's what I did to treat him: Once he had begun swimming, I mixed a 0.1% solution of salt to add to the water in order to keep conditions sanitary and to help with osmo-regulation (always a problem when a fish has wounds). After a while I took him out and sprayed him with Savlon Wound Wash, being careful to avoid the gills. We cannot get any of the Maracyns or Sulfa treatments here so I had to improvise with medicine cabinet items! It is important to provide as much surface disninfection as possible when the slimecoat has been breached as bacteria will quickly make its way inwards. I decided against HP as he'd lost a lot of scales and flesh and I thought it might be too caustic. I dipped him in some fresh water to wash off any excess and then briefly took him out again to apply some Savlon Dry wound seal which also contains a little iodine - I left him for about 30 secs on a long plate so that it could have a chance to adhear to the wounds. I returned him to his tub and added an airstone, only - as he had been badly traumatized I didn't want him having to fight a current. Today he has been moving around the tub and gobbled a pellet I accidentally dropped whilst feeding the main tank. I plan not to feed him for the next few days though, until he seems stronger. I am amazed that he is doing so well as I would never have expected him to be alive. But apparently, fish can last a surprisingly long time out of water, especially if it is cold. I plan to change his water every day to prevent the build up of harmful bacteria and to keep ammonia away. He's very badly torn up and has shredded fins and flesh wounds - but I'm hoping he'll recover. Here are some pics. Wish him luck!!! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member jyoti411 Posted October 28, 2008 Regular Member Share Posted October 28, 2008 Oh my god..that is truly amazing Pixie...this is wonderful...that is such a gr8 job saving the poor guy...wow... ..I would never think of it...I will always remember this... You are doing a wonderful job with him...Here's wishing you and the little one all the luck..Hope he gets better each day...and gets healthy soon... ..Keeping my fingers crossed for the baby... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member claire_uk Posted October 28, 2008 Regular Member Share Posted October 28, 2008 Aww poor fish. Im glad you found him when you did, he looks very pretty even in his torn up state. I wish him the best of luck in making a full and speedy recovery. I have heard of fish recovering well after being out of water before, especially when on something that doesnt absorb water as quickly. Are you going to keep him? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member shiftzsentra05 Posted October 28, 2008 Regular Member Share Posted October 28, 2008 That's amazing Pixie! Oh my goodness.. such a great job, lucky he ended up in your hands rather than anyone elses! I'll definitely be praying for the little guy! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Pixiefish Posted October 28, 2008 Author Regular Member Share Posted October 28, 2008 Thanks hun. Pretty amazing isn't it? Who'd have thought a fish like that could still be alive? I'll do what I can, although it would not be surprising if he goes down with some horrible internal infection over the coming days. Cats have bacteria all over their teeth and it is hard to know how deep the bites have gone and how long he was lying on the floor Anyway, fingers crossed.......... PS Ooops - posts all crossed at once! I was originally replying to SGurl. Thanks everyone else, too. I'm not sure what to do with him if he survives. We're still trying to find out who he belongs to. I think he needs to be back in a pond once he's better as he's pretty big. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member seheap Posted October 28, 2008 Regular Member Share Posted October 28, 2008 O poor guy! But he has more than a fighting chance in your capable hands, Pixie! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member claire_uk Posted October 28, 2008 Regular Member Share Posted October 28, 2008 I am hoping and crossing fingers for you that he lives. Hopefully the bites havnt gone too deep, and he has enough immunity to fightoff infections. I think it is a good sign that he wanted to eat too,. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Chrissy_Bee Posted October 28, 2008 Regular Member Share Posted October 28, 2008 That is really amazing. I thought about the cat mouth bacteria too, but here's hoping he pulls through!!!! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Trinket Posted October 28, 2008 Regular Member Share Posted October 28, 2008 He's so lucky! I am sure he will survive and go on to thrive under your meticulous care. He is a lovely bright color isn't he? Must have been cared for well prior to his catnapping. Let us know how he does and how that slimecoat heals up. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Hidr Posted October 28, 2008 Regular Member Share Posted October 28, 2008 Poor thing. Hope he gets all well soon. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member shuvo Posted October 28, 2008 Regular Member Share Posted October 28, 2008 poor fish.it`s a comet r8.if it was a fancy dont know it would live or now.best of luck...finger croosed 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member misty_blue16137 Posted October 28, 2008 Regular Member Share Posted October 28, 2008 Wow,good luck pulling him thru'. At least he has a fighting chance thanks to you! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member lynda441 Posted October 28, 2008 Regular Member Share Posted October 28, 2008 Well, at least it was YOUR cats who got ahold of it vs. someone else's cats and at least your cats dragged it home. It's health couldn't be in better hands! Good luck to you and the fish! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Jon Posted October 28, 2008 Regular Member Share Posted October 28, 2008 He looks like he was a strong healthy fish prior to the incident. Hopefully he'll pull through. Keep us informed! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member amynmitchell Posted October 28, 2008 Regular Member Share Posted October 28, 2008 What if the goldfish heard all about your skills and ran away from home so you could take care of it? Well, makes a good story anyway. That is amazing...great job rescuing! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Chester's_Mommy Posted October 28, 2008 Regular Member Share Posted October 28, 2008 First thought upon seeing those pics: "Aw, fingers crossed that he totally recovers!" But seriously, thank goodness you know what you're doing! I'm sure he'll make it. Second thought upon seeing those pics: "Hmm... I wonder if I can train my cat to steal me goldfish?" Do you want to teach me your secret? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Jed Hester Posted October 29, 2008 Regular Member Share Posted October 29, 2008 Amazing story. Keep us up to date oh his progress. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Jeana727 Posted October 29, 2008 Regular Member Share Posted October 29, 2008 Well, of course I, too, am adding my best wishes! But I also gotta say............................WOW!!! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member arabpaso Posted October 29, 2008 Regular Member Share Posted October 29, 2008 That's got to be a miracle--how awesome. I love rescue stories and this is one of the best! Hope to see updates. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member alexiscool Posted October 29, 2008 Regular Member Share Posted October 29, 2008 glad you found him in time he is in good hands now 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member CountryLovah Posted October 29, 2008 Regular Member Share Posted October 29, 2008 That's amazing!!! Good job Pix! : ) I would have never thought he might make it, and that's just soo great that you are there.. If he has any chance to survive, it's with you... Yay!!! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Chloeheartsfish Posted October 30, 2008 Regular Member Share Posted October 30, 2008 Wow!! Amazing story! It sounds like you are super-wise in the ways of goldfish from the accolades that others here are giving you, so I'm hoping he will bounce back better than ever before with you! Keep us posted with pics of his recovery - I love a good underdog story!! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Shamu23 Posted October 30, 2008 Regular Member Share Posted October 30, 2008 thats great!! He's a very lucky fish that u found him and saved him! I bet anyone else wouldnt have even tried! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Pixiefish Posted October 31, 2008 Author Regular Member Share Posted October 31, 2008 Well, I came home tonight having been out all day and he looks as strong as a bull. He's rampaging around the tank like Moby Dick and begging for food! I'm amazed. I'll try to take some pics tomorrow to see if he looks different at all. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Chrissy_Bee Posted October 31, 2008 Regular Member Share Posted October 31, 2008 That's great news!! I hope he continues to improve 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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