zeebo

I just dropped my fish on the floor. It happened while I was transferring her from tank to tank. There was a loud 'thud' when she landed on the floor. I quickly picked her up and put her inside the tank. I also aerated the water vigorously.

Will she die? I feel so stupid.

purple_phoenix

My fish quite often jump out of their tanks themselves. I think they might actually have come to enjoy it... I just keep an eye on them afterwards, but have never found any infection, and apart from dying because I didn't notice in time (), none of my 'jumpers' have ever been affected by their little escapades.

You definitely did the right thing. If I dropped one, I'd probably stand there staring and screaming for a minute or two first. I wouldn't worry about them too much, unless you can see anything wrong with them - just keep a close eye on them. Oh - what sort of fish was it, by the way? I'm guessing it was fairly large if they managed to make a thud...

Peterpiper

If this ever happens again, dip your hand in the tank water before you pick up the fish, this will help stop / reduce the damage to the slime coating on the fish when you pick it up.

Narcicius

thats a cool trick peterp. I will definitely keep that in mind if any of mine take to the sky. lol

sirdarksol

I have a koi that survived two four foot drops to PetSmart's floor. He's been with me for over a year, and seems to have suffered no ill effects.

COBettaCouple

The Platy we just lost to old age got dropped on the floor at the pet store when we got her. She never had any problems and wasn't even ever sick and happily lived to old age.

If you have anything that enhanced slime coating though, it would help to add that to the water for a few days at least.

steveangela1

I have dropped guppy fry on the floor and they have grown to be healthy fancy tailed guppy.. they were so small I couldn't keep them on the net..

susitna-flower

One thing you might do is to use some stress coat, prime, or fish protector once the fish is back in the tank, just in case the slime coat was damaged, or there was any bruising. Hope your fish is ok.

Barbrella

Don't feel stupid! I think we've all had a fish land on the floor at one time or another. Accidents happen!

I hope your fish hasn't suffered any damage!

Morph

my first fish was a tri colored shark that the pet store guy dropped on the floor as he was putting him in the bag, my fish didn't last 2 days.

zeebo

Hi All,

Thank you for all your posts! I really appreciate it.

Oh Morph, sorry to hear abt yr 1st fish.

My heart sank when she fell from 150cm high. She looked lifeless on the floor.

purple_phoenix, She's a Molly - approx. 8cm long.

Luckily my hand was already soaked with aquarium water when I picked her up (Thanks Peterpiper for the tip). I would not have thought of doing it otherwise.

When I put her back in the tank, she was sorta unconscious and had her belly up.
She wasn't swimming but just sinking. I was close to tears and quickly posted on Fishlore for advise.

After which, I immediately, put her in an isolation tank with salt & methylene blue. I aerated the water vigorously. She soon rouse and was bobbing up & down for air. Within seconds, she turned her belly down and started swimming normally.

I left her in the isolation tank for a few more hours and watched her closely.

Later in the night, I transferred her into the main tank but kept her in the big breeding net in case she feels unwell and had to be fished out. She didn't eat normally though. I also noticed she has a RED SPOT on her gill.

Today, I gave her another salt bath and continue to monitor her closely. She is swimming but not eating.

Thank You.

COBettaCouple

They can be pretty tough.. our platy Minnie was just a young platy when she was dropped from higher than that onto a concrete store floor. I hope your molly fully recovers soon.

STEVIEG

use some stress coat great product should get her bavk to normal for you

zeebo

Thanks COBettaCouple & STEVIEG

zeebo

Hi,

Update: My fish is ok. She is alive & eating!

sirdarksol

Great news!

COBettaCouple

Great to hear.

zeebo

Thanks sirdarksol & COBettaCouple