“I am 100 percent certain that Wiggly learned nothing from the experience.”
For the past two years, Wiggly the goldfish has lived happily with his owner, Stephanie Ware. But last week, Ware noticed that something wasn’t right.
Wiggly seemed uncomfortable, and by the next day, it was clear he was struggling. He kept moving his mouth as if he was trying to push something out, but nothing was happening.
Concerned, Ware took a closer look.
When Wiggly turned toward her and opened his mouth, she spotted the problem — there was a shell stuck inside.
Some time earlier, Ware had added a few snails to the fish tank to help with algae. But Wiggly had apparently tried to eat one, and the snail had become lodged in the back of his mouth.
Now both the goldfish and the snail needed help.
Ware felt terrible and began calling around for advice. Eventually, she reached Anton Vets, a clinic experienced with treating unusual pets.
Wiggly was brought in right away, with the snail still stuck in his mouth.
The veterinary team sedated him so they could safely remove the obstruction. Using forceps, they carefully and gently pulled the snail free.
Thankfully, the procedure was quick and successful.
Ware was incredibly relieved when Wiggly’s mouth was cleared. Even better, the snail survived the ordeal unharmed.
After returning home, Wiggly quickly went back to his normal self. Within a couple of hours, he was already asking for food again.
To avoid another risky snack attempt, Ware found a new home for the snails that had been living in Wiggly’s tank.
As for Wiggly, his owner is pretty sure he learned absolutely nothing from the experience — and would probably try it again if given the chance.