trigger in shell

[frankb]

My Niger trigger went into a large conch shell 4 days ago and no longer comes out to eat. It often slept in the shell at night but I have not seen it emerge at all (I watched the tank very carefully over the weekend). I can see the end of his tail so I know he is in the shell. I imagine he is sick. I can recall losing a juv. clown trigger this way about 4 years ago. I did nothing and it eventually died. I only removed the conch after the stink and would not like to contaminate the tank. Any way to save him?? or just get him out?

 

[beth]

Yes, prepare a separate hospital tank large enough for the conch shell. You can remove the conch while the fish is still in it to the the hospital tank. If you want remove him from the shell, then he will likely fall out if you tip the conch over the top of the hospital.
There's no way to advise you about fish disease, as you can't see the fish to see if he is even sick. Have you tried looking at the tank in the dark to see if the fish is coming out at night to feed?

 

[frankb]

I have watched the shell in the dark at night but he does not come out (which does not surprise me because that is where it usually went at night). I moved the shell to a hospital tank but he still did not emerge. I poured the water out of the shell and held it over the water for about 20 seconds but no luck.

 

[beth]

Can't you coax him out?? Use one of those airlift cleaner brushes and tickle him out of there. Swish the shell around the water to see if he'll come out. Aim a powerhead at the shell entrance to see if the blast will get him out. [As gentle as possible].

 

[pufferlover]

I hate to say this but is there a chance it has stuck itself in the shell (normally Triggers will sleep in a close spot and lock themselves in). I had a goby omnce that stuck its front half in a barnacle and got stuck I had to take a screwdriver and break the brnacle and out it came a little flustered and scraped up but it lived on. Do you see the fish moving in there at all tail anything?

 

[frankb]

Yes, occasionally the tail moves when I handle the shell. SHOULD I BREAK OPEN THE SHELL?

 

[fishymissy]

I would try to, what have you got to lose? If the fish is stuck, then you have to help him. If he's just being stubborn because he's sick, then you have to get him out to treat him.
Not sure how to break the shell without hurting the fish though......maybe pliers on the open end to pull it apart?