Hi everyone,
I had a shipment of stressed fish come in today. As I was netting the McCosker's wrasse to introduce him to the tank, he clamped down on the net with his teeth. I tried to get him unstuck, but he wouldn't come off. I then laid the net in the aquarium to see if he would swim off himself, but he didn't after 30 mins or so. I ended up cutting the net, so only a 1/2 inch square is caught on his teeth, but this was a very stressful process for him. He is currently on the bottom of the tank and breathing slightly heavily. Both of his jaws are caught on the net. Is there anything I should do, or should I keep the lights off and let him try to get it off on his own? I was not aware that flasher wrasses commonly bite down on nets with their teeth, and now I feel really stupid for making a mistake that I could have easily avoided. Thanks in advance and for reading through. Any help is greatly appreciated!
I had a shipment of stressed fish come in today. As I was netting the McCosker's wrasse to introduce him to the tank, he clamped down on the net with his teeth. I tried to get him unstuck, but he wouldn't come off. I then laid the net in the aquarium to see if he would swim off himself, but he didn't after 30 mins or so. I ended up cutting the net, so only a 1/2 inch square is caught on his teeth, but this was a very stressful process for him. He is currently on the bottom of the tank and breathing slightly heavily. Both of his jaws are caught on the net. Is there anything I should do, or should I keep the lights off and let him try to get it off on his own? I was not aware that flasher wrasses commonly bite down on nets with their teeth, and now I feel really stupid for making a mistake that I could have easily avoided. Thanks in advance and for reading through. Any help is greatly appreciated!