Bloodworm hanging out of gill of tiny cory

[Deb]

Something wierd just happened!

One of my C. habrosus just inhaled a bloodworm, and it's hanging out of his gill. he's acting like he's uncomfortable, but I don't know what to do. Should I do anything?

Deb

[FishFin23]

One of my bronze cories got a piece of gravel stuck in his gills once. I was really worried since he couldn't move his operculum because of it. I panicked there for a little while, but it eventually worked its way out. Don't know how, but the next day it was gone. I'm guessing if fish can get rid of a piece of gravel they could get rid of a bloodworm too. Hopefully things turn out ok!

[shammonds]

In all likelihood, the worm will work itself loose. I suppose you could attempt to remove it gently with a pair of tweezers if you're concerned, but I'd be very careful not to cause more harm or stress to the fish by forcing it out.

If I was to try a removal, I'd gently net the fish and bring him up to just below the surface. Keep him inside the net so that he has a very limited space to struggle, and keep the net very still (rest the frame and handle on the edge of the tank if possible). Once he's relatively still and calm, carefully grasp the protruding worm with a tweezers and gently try to pull it out toward the tail of the fish.

[bronzefry]

How long has it been stuck there? Are you feeding the blood worms whole?

With Aeneus and Paleatus, this isn't at all unusual, but they are larger than C.Habrosus. I've watched both Aeneus and Paleatus chew the worms, let them go 1/2-way out the gills, then back out their mouths, for further chewing. This can go on for quite a while. I've seen sub-adults sit behind the gills of their parents, waiting for the worms to come out. The 1/2-chewed worms make a great meal for little ones. With the frozen tubifex, they just let it fly out their gills and go racing after it, like it's new. I haven't seen them do this with brine shrimp or daphnia, though. Those foods tend to stay in their mouths. (I've stopped feeding blood worms in the 75 gallon tank because the Otos and the Chaetostoma weren't able to manage the size. They tend to be veggie/algae/raspers, but they do like a wormie treat every few days.FD or frozen tubifex are favorites all around.) These are just my hobbyist observations. Please take them as that.

Have you tried any other foods with them?

[corybreed]

A good way to feed live Blood worms to smaller Corys is to use a rolling mincer which is available at most home cookware shops. The mincer cuts the worms into managable pieces for the smaller fish. You can cut the worms on an inexpensive plastic cutting board.

Mark

[Deb]

Thanks for all of your encouraging answers.
FF23, I decided not to panic after I read yours!

This is what happened : I thawed some frozen Bloodworms (full size) in some aquarium water, and then squirted them in the tank with a turkey baster (one I use just for this purpose.)

In seconds, the cories were all over them, and the Otos were even faster. The cory I posted about sort of startled himself by snorting one, but maybe he knew what he was doing. It sounds like they do it on purpose. All seems ok now. I don't see any worms hanging out of any of them.

Bronzefry, I'm glad you said the chewing could go on for quite a while, because it did, and he looked like he had more than he could handle. Your observations are worth remembering.

(My Otos eat 'way more than their share of the meat, but that's another forum.)

I'll definitely cut up their Bloodworms from now on.

Deb