Help! My African Dwarf Frog & Oto are in a Deathlock!

Chesherca

Snappy wouldn't have told you to do it if it would cause harm. He knows what he's talking about. Try it, be gentle and see... Glad they're both alive still...

Snappyarcher

Speed is important here or you will lose the frog... Just gently squeeze the otto.... Now!
Posted via Mobile Device

Aoibhell

I squeezed him just below his pectoral fins, but nothing. I tried squeezing him at his back, above his fins, but no luck. I'm afraid that if I squeeze any tighter, I'll crush him.

Is the cold water thing a bad idea?

Chesherca

Any word over there? I wish there was something more we could tell you. . . this is kind of unheard of, I think :/

ETA, I don't know... a sudden temperature change COULD kill them, too!

Aoibhell

Nothing's changed. They are still attached and alive. I turned the light on to see what's going on (and because there are other fish and plants to consider) and the frog was still struggling to get away. It's such a freak thing.

My husband is going to try to push the oto in and then out to try to unhook him when he gets home tonight. He's more worried about losing the frog over the fish. I don't want to have to choose because I don't think either was the clear aggressor.

Thanks for following up with me. If you think of anything else, please let me know. I will update with the end result.

fish monger

Well, this is totally weird. Out of desperation, I'd put them on a plate and see if one of them gives up. You basically have nothing to lose. It has to be an uncomfortable situation for one or both of them before something will give.

Aoibhell

I'm kind of just waiting for one of them to give up in the tank. Maybe we'll try the plate thing if we can't get him unhooked.

Aoibhell

Update: My husband tried unhooking them by pushing the oto in and lifting out, but no luck. He put them in an empty bowl for a good 10 minutes, hoping one of them would give up, but nothing happened, except that the frog jumped out and onto the floor. They flopped around a little bit, then he put them back in the tank.

The fish. is still. alive. I can't believe these two are holding on like this. Unreal. We don't know what else to try.

fish monger

The frog has to breath air from the surface. Can't believe it can with a mouthful of fish. Let me check with someone and get back to you. Crazy.

Aoibhell

He's been breathing at the surface all day- the oto just goes for the ride. I guess he's breathing through nostrils?