Ok, I know this isnt a goldfish but my large orange cichlid, Cherry has his head stuck in the bottom of a pagota house! His front fins are in with him so its hard to pull him out without the fear of breaking them off. I gripped him with a wet paper towel and tried pulling him but hes pretty lodged. He is strong enough to pull himself back in if I get him a tiny bit out. Any suggestions or should I break the decoration?

I would try to gently break the ornament enough to get him out but my worry would be harming the poor guy further.I know how I felt when Tiny got stuck in the syphon.
Hope someone has ideas soon don't want you to lose the guy.

Thanks Blue. I guess I will have to bust the ornament, darn! I think pulling him out may kill him. I knew I should have taken it out too.

OMG, Erin, have you gotten him out, is he alright?

Erin,
How is everything now? Is he ok?

Still stuck guys.

Im afraid to break the thing cos I dont want to hurt him but I think Im going to have to.

Erin I really hope you get him out soon

Can you push him in to the ornament. It may be better than pulling. If not then you are going to have to break the ornament or the fish may die.

Got him out guys. Hes a bit stressed but he should be ok. I broke the ornament to get him out.

Ah man, Sorry that you had to break that pretty ornament to get him out, But I am glad that he got out safely and is doing okay now.

Maybe you could glue that back together and use it elsewhere?

good news... hoping he is doing well afterward

Erin I'm so relieved you got him out alive.Guess he just needs some quiet time now.

Thanks guys. His dorsal fin is a bit damaged but he is active so thats a good sign.

Della, Yeah I know! I didnt want to break it but I guess its more important that he lives.

u could use the broken pecies in the tank as the rumble create by the gaint cichlid

OMG Erin! I am glad you got him out OK. How on earth did he get in there to begin with? If you find another of those beautiful pagodas I think I would fill it with gravel and then seal it all off with a thick layer of hot glue. That way you don't worry about stagnant water, or big guys trying to pretend they are small.

I'm so glad to hear he's OK.

I was horrified and humorfied at the same time.

When I got to the part where you said you broke it off him and he's OK - I laughed (don't tell him).

It's like when a kid sticks their head between fence bars, or sticks their tongue on something in the freezer. You feel bad - but it's funny at the same time.

I'm happy to know your fish is safe. I think he'll have a phobia of Chinese architecture though.

Better find a good fish psychiatrist.

LOL, Im telling him what you said Daniel!!! Meanie!

LadyD, yeah Ill probably try to find another pagota, Im not sure though. I usually lifted it and made sure all the air bubbles came out when I did a waterchange. Im glad it wasnt made of plastic otherwise I would never have gotten Cherry out!

Holy cow! I can't believe that....

Hmmm wondering about my new rocks I just drilled....Maybe I should make BIG GAPING holes lol...

Ai yi yi!

What tank are the rocks going in Katalyst? If you make the holes too small for any fish to even remotely fit in, you should be OK.

In my 39 gallon the one I just posted pics of at the moment the holes are 3 times the size of my little guys and they seem to enjoy swimming in it. I also have much larger rocks with much larger holes as they grow I'll switch them out.

Oh ok, so with goldies? Just watch it as they grow like you said.

Here is the culprit.