Can fish choke to death?

[alyssia]

Just wondering; sometimes I see my fish take in pieces of food that are way too big.

 

[fedukeford]

when mine take in pieces to big they usually just spit it out and it comes out mushed up, so they then take littler pieces

 

[alyssia]

Originally Posted by fedukeford
when mine take in pieces to big they usually just spit it out and it comes out mushed up, so they then take littler pieces

That's what mine do too, but I was wondering if they could actually choke.

 

[alyssia]

up

 

[ryanhayes9]

my goldfish used to pick at the gravel and would get it stuck in his mouth until we took it out

 

[reefiness]

Originally Posted by ryanhayes9
my goldfish used to pick at the gravel and would get it stuck in his mouth until we took it out
thats pretty funny...

 

[fishy head]

some times my fish will eat a bunch of food all at once and then spit it out all over my tank,,,then he goes back and eats it

 

[madman33]

had a freshwater fish (geophagus spec.) that had the gravel go to far down his throat and by the time i noticed he died (for those who dont know geophagus mean earth eater because the suck up a bunch of gravel into their mouth filter out the food then spit the gravel back out...its quite entertaining to see how much tey can fit in there)

 

[bellanavis]

My lion sometimes looks like he is choking, but he always ends up fine.

 

[xdave]

Yes, they can choke. Don't put in pieces that are too big. Freeze dried food can be soaked in fresh water for a minute first which also helps.