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Recovery Advice for NHS


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#1 Sean Phillips

Sean Phillips
  • NANFA Member
  • Allegheny River Drainage, Southwest PA

Posted 09 June 2015 - 08:41 PM

Was out fishing earlier is evening and caught a few trout. Threw my lure downstream and snagged so I went to retrieve it and after picking it up off a rock I looked over and saw the largest northern Hogsucker I've ever seen in person lying half on it's side in shallow fast running water breathing heavy. I felt bad for the little guy (well big guy actually) so I picked him up and tried to revive him in a riffle for a few minutes. It had barely enough energy to swim away and when it tried to it would spiral 360 degrees repeatedly until it came to a rest in shallow water, this happened several times. After further examining it I noticed a pale stab wound on its back behind it's left operculum. This enraged me because I'm sure it was some idiot game "fisherman" that hooked this poor fish while trying to catch his trout dinner and in complete disrespect for native fish that were once rare in PA streams stabbed it and threw it back in to die. So I put it in shallow water until I left 10 minutes later and took him home in a 5 gallon bucket. After some quick moving things around in the Fishroom I now have a 14" Northern Hogsucker in a 20 gallon Rubbermaid bin with a cycled sponge filter in it for aeration and filtration (if by some miracle I can get it to recover it'll go in a 180 with some sunfish, chubs, and a bullhead). This isn't ordinarily something I'd do because if it was dying of old age (and this fish has to be fairly old to be as girthy as it is!) I'd just leave it alone to continue the life cycle, but something about the fact that a person did this to such a beautiful animal sort of gave me a feeling of responsibility on our part for me to try to help this fish live as long as it can after what it has been through.

So does anyone have any advice for me on trying to get this fish to recover? I'm currently treating the water with 1 tablespoon of salt per 8-10 gallons to try to regenerate slime coat and heal up the stab wound as quickly as possible. As for feeding, I really need some ideas on something that I can "bottle feed" it directly into it's mouth through a large syringe because this fish is no where near in condition to be wanting to eat on its own. As for medicine, I have fungus guard and API general cure on me in addition to aquarium salt but I think salt is really the only thing that will help a stab wound, that and time to heal.

Thanks all for any advice and hopefully I can restore this fish to health again!
-Sean

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Sean Phillips - Pine Creek Watershed - Allegheny River Drainage

#2 Sunfish Catcher 321

Sunfish Catcher 321
  • NANFA Guest
  • Illinois

Posted 09 June 2015 - 09:10 PM

I think it is great what your doing and wish you luck. It should heal on its own. I usually get norther that have scars from boats hitting them that are healed.

#3 CCat

CCat
  • NANFA Member
  • Denver, CO

Posted 09 June 2015 - 09:41 PM

Alas I have no useful advice, but I'm glad you're helping that fish.



#4 gerald

gerald
  • Global Moderator
  • Wake Forest, North Carolina

Posted 10 June 2015 - 09:55 AM

Might also be from a kingfisher or heron that misjudged his size.


Gerald Pottern
-----------------------
Hangin' on the Neuse
"Taxonomy is the diaper used to organize the mess of evolution into discrete packages" - M.Sandel


#5 Matt DeLaVega

Matt DeLaVega
  • Forum Staff
  • Ohio

Posted 10 June 2015 - 01:11 PM

That is exactly what I was thinking. My money is on a heron.

 

I would put it of its misery. It is a nice thing to do but the odds are not in your favor. You are an angler, you should not have much trouble putting a fish down humanely.


The member formerly known as Skipjack


#6 Sean Phillips

Sean Phillips
  • NANFA Member
  • Allegheny River Drainage, Southwest PA

Posted 10 June 2015 - 01:15 PM

Made it through the night so that's a good sign. Tried to squirt some bloodworms down it's throat but it just shot them all out of its gills. If I can't get it to eat by tomorrow morning I'll probably euthanize it.
Sean Phillips - Pine Creek Watershed - Allegheny River Drainage

#7 Sunfish Catcher 321

Sunfish Catcher 321
  • NANFA Guest
  • Illinois

Posted 10 June 2015 - 04:56 PM

I would wait till it lost some serious weight.

#8 Sean Phillips

Sean Phillips
  • NANFA Member
  • Allegheny River Drainage, Southwest PA

Posted 10 June 2015 - 09:51 PM

Came home from fishing tonight and upon further inspection, noticed it was dead :(. At first I saw it laying normally on its stomach so I thought maybe it was getting better but then noticed it wasn't breathing, guess the raccoons will be eating well tonight. Shame I couldn't heal it but I doubt it was long for this world anyway when I found it.
Sean Phillips - Pine Creek Watershed - Allegheny River Drainage



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