Bad Water Change

[Chinnery]

Hi,
Ive jus completed my quaterly waterchange and have had an accident. The tank is 48x12x18 inch with a gravel type filter. I was hoovering the gravel an wasnt watchin properly as my cat was goin nuts tryin to get at the tank and fishies an somehow one of my large fanny goldfish (i have 3 in there) got sucked in. Hes in there now but he wont come out. And hes alive. Any suggestions on how I can get him out alive?

 

[a.i.m]

are you sure it still alive ?

 

[Chinnery]

Yes its stuck around its stomach and its gills are not jammed so hes breathing ok

 

[Griz]

If it's still alive... Cut off as much tubing as you can, at the head end of the fish, being careful not to crush him. Blow into the other end of the tubing to force him out, head first.

Good luck

edit: I've never done this. It's just what I would do if I were in your shoes.

 

[big mick]

Can you use something to 'lever' him out being carefull not to damage him?.....something not pointy like a folded bit of paper/card??

I do apologise but I did have to laugh childishly at you having "3 big fanny goldfish"......I assume you meant Fancy Goldfish LOL

 

[a.i.m]

i dont know if you have any but some long nose forceps might do the trick , send some water down the pipe to keep it breathing or submerse it back in the tank or bucket inbetween trying to get it out!

 

[Chinnery]

Hmm my m8 who i bought them off specifically said they were fanny goldfish. That prob explain why they laugh at me in the garden centre when im askin about them....anyway right im gonna give it a go im tryin to find a blunt stick to poke him with like you have suggested. I dont really want to cut up my hoover tho it was quite expensive. I think hes swollen up a bit but he doesnt look 2 stressed. Hes a lazy fish anyway! Im gonna try blowind down the tube too...here goes

 

[Griz]

Yes, try to replace the water in the pipe or he will eventually suffocate.

 

[a.i.m]

If you poke or pull it back wards it might make the gill plates open and wedge it there more so id be more in clinded to push - not pull, sorry ive never heard or this happening before so i might be totally wrong.

 

[black angel]

You shouldnt need to cut the pipe yet, how far up is it stuck? Take the gravel end off and give it a good blow.

 

[a.i.m]

If its gone up the pipe and got stuck id say it needs to go back wards not fore-wards, blow it back wards and back in to the tank.

How do you know its still alive?

 

[big mick]

Is it still stuck??....thats been over an hour now. Was is sucked up the pipe head first?

 

[Chinnery]

Hes about half way up the wide plastic bit. Ive tried blowing and some gentle poking but nothing so far. Hes defo swollen up but hes still breathing. I have to go out now so ive left him in the flow of the powerhead and put some pellets on the gravel to try and entice him out. Ill try tonight when i get back in..as long as im not to drunk!! Any suggestions appreciated

 

[Chinnery]

Hes gone in tail first i didnt actually see him go up cause i was fending off my bloody cat, the thing goes nuts when im in the tank. so hes got water flowing accross his gills. Maybe the swelling will go down over then next few hours an he'll come out on his own

 

[big mick]

you are just leaving the fish stuck in the tube while you go to the pub? I would cut the tube and get the fish out....its up to you if you dont want to but it seems a bit of a waste of time posting for advice when you're clearly not overly bothered in freeing your "fanny fish" ......it will probably die if you leave it in there much longer.

Is it just the cost of a new syphon that puts you off cutting it? If you use a stanley blade rather than scissors you can cutit closer to the fish without having to squash down on the pipe.

I appreciate the syphon may have cost more than the fish but cost isnt really shouldnt be the issue, why not free the fish THEN go out, it wont take long and the fish will be very stressed stuck in the tube.