Well, I just came back home after being out for the last 8 hours and I noticed my golden loach, Linguini, wasn't there. So I was searching on the floor in the immediate surrounding area, presuming he was dead somewhere but I couldn't find him, then mum finds him on the other side of the room. He was darker, his eyes had glazed over and I just knew I'd lost him. So I picked him up and miraculously he started moving in my hands! He was sticky, almost dry feeling and yet he was still moving and as soon as I put him in the water he seemed to be moving around like normal, if not a little bit stiff initially. I know bettas can survive out of the water for a long time, but they're well known for it being labyrinth fish but how on earth could Linguini survive so long to almost completely dry out and still be alive?? I'm utterly confused

Fish can actually live quite a long time out of water - but there will be consequences to pay - ones that you may see in a day or two. When the fish is out of water, its gills can close down tightly - and actually stick closed. This tight seal made by the fish's slime coat as it dries is actually what will save a fish's life. As long as the gills remain damp the fish has a chance. IF he landed on a carpet that he could wet - all the better. I have found that ones that are on hard floor can sometimes sit in a small puddle of water - and stay wetter. So much depends on the humidity, absorbancy of the surface they are on, etc. Sometimes when you put the fish back in water after being out for a while it takes a bit of swishing to get the sealed gills to open! If he is not dry and crackly - try it!

Your fish probably had the edges of the fins dry out. These edges will die back in a day or two. THe poor thing may look ragged and really really sad and nasty. But, with clean water and no further infections/problems it should be able to come back strongly. Depending on how much of the fins dried out, the fins may or may not be able to completely regenerate!

I once workedon a team that revived a koi who had been out of water for several hours. We walked that fish for 8; ours - round and round and round. He survived and, after a year or so, was as spectacular as ever.

Fish are truly amazing creatures!

I'm so happy to see he made it. Of course you know this, but be sure he can never get out like that again. You are one lucky fish "mom".

One time, my mom's common goldfish, Four, jumped out of his tank and spent almost and hour stuck in a dust bunny behind a bookshelf. He was almost completely dry, (not to mention, covered in fuzz ), but he survived and went on to live for another 7 years!!! So I'm happy your fish made it and with good care he should be fine despite his ordeal!

Yeh, he seems a bit sorry for himself. His barbles seem to have gone so I'm guessing they dried out and died off but apart from that he seems surprisingly ok. Thanks for he info, Daryl Another quick question, are loaches ok with PP treatments? The reason he was able to jump was because I'm treating everyone for these resistant costia at the moment so they're all in a tub. So much easier to handle than a 90 gal tank! I was very kindly sent some PP from Mr Bumblebee which I'm just about to begin putting in the tub but Linguini is in a seperate, deeper tub at the moment. Chances are he might stay in this one lol They're on half dosages already but I know loaches are sensitive to some treatments so I thought I'd best check with the experts before I put anything drastic in the water