Choking fish!

I just got home from work and saw Orca laying on the bottom of the tank on his side. I scooped him up and it looks like he swallowed a piece of the plant substrate. Is it okay to pull this out with tweezers? Is there a better way? I don't want to hurt him even more. I have him in a small dish away from the other fish and water current. He is still breathing

 

I don't know ;_; Wish I could help you! I can say that I can't think of another way besides turning him upside down and shaking him which would probably be even worse. If no one else answers in a few minutes you may have to go for it. If he's not breathing well you can swish him gently forward and back to help move water through his gills.

 

It occurs to me that you may want to make him go to sleep to do it but I'd say that's a risky thing to do under the circumstances. If he's already in distress it could knock him out entirely...I'm no expert but I'd say don't anesthetize him if you were thinking about it unless someone tells you otherwise.

 

I just held him firmly upside down and took it out with tweezers. He rested in my hand a couple of minutes before he swam away. He seems to be doing fine except he isn't fully closing his mouth. I think it might be broken. Will this eventually heal up? I feel bad about his mouth but at least he isn't choking to death

 

He's probably just sore...but I wouldn't know for sure...

 

I hope he feels better soon <3