betta got trapped in the siphon

[cutechic]

My poor little opaque. I was doing a big water change, so I started siphoning and put the end of the siphon in the gravel, so the betta couldn't get to it. I guess the siphon got dislodged, and my little guy started swimming up the siphon. He couldn't get down again since he was facing the wrong way. I noticed after a few seconds, but couldn't get him out. After a little while I resorted to jiggling the siphon, and he eventually plopped out

He's doing alright now- breathing heavily, but that's expected. I've added some aquarium salt and will be giving him brine shrimp to apologize.

I just wanted to share my experience so that you guys won't make the same mistake I did.

 

[freshmike]

Argh. I HAVE done that....with a blue ram. Unfortunately he did not make it.....

Good luck and a speedy recovery to your opaque!

 

[Teelie]

I've had that almost happen with my female Bettas. Both are curious and unafraid and one went too close to the siphon and almost got sucked in but I was keeping an eye on them and after a brief moment she got free of the suction. Still scared me though.

 

[DOLORES]

awww FM im Sooooorrry :'( and CC hope your betta feels better :'( thats sad you guys im afraid of using the siphonnn nowwww~ i'll take care of it when it comes to clean my 30 or 29

 

[cutechic]

Sorry to hear about your blue ram Chris Thanks for the good wishes

Teelie: I almost had a heart attack when I saw by betta struggling in the siphon. It seemed like ages before I got him out!

Thanks Dolores! My little guy's new filter should arrive tomorrow- I'm sure that'll make his day

 

[DOLORES]

Thanks Dolores! My little guy's new filter should arrive tomorrow- I'm sure that'll make his day

im sure it will!! thats a perfect decision that u made

 

[Sky042]

Hmm you almost killed your fish with a siphon thats very sad but at least he made it.

Personally when I'm siphoning Nemo's tank my hands are fearing for their lives he has a tendancy to attack the siphon and my hands. He's got the notion that everything that enters the tank is food.

 

[Teelie]

Or he's defending his territory. At my local LFS, one of the employees has a Percula Clown named Otis who is the same way. He's severely defensive of the entire tank and hates anything unfamilar to be in there.

 

[Sky042]

Or he's defending his territory. At my local LFS, one of the employees has a Percula Clown named Otis who is the same way. He's severely defensive of the entire tank and hates anything unfamilar to be in there.

Nemo is also a drama queen. when I'm done siphoning and have added the water back in he'll lie on the bottom of the gravel gasping for air. Then if I walk out of the room and wait like 1 mins then peak around the corner where he can't see me I'll see him up and swimming around like usual. If I walk back in the room it's back to the bottom of the tank gasping. I think he's playing games with me......Guess they don't wall oscars "Water Dogs" for nothing.

 

[Teelie]

That is funny. I've never heard a fish do that.

 

[-cAtFiSh-]

my neons sometimes swim up the siphon. they are so curious when i put it in and they watch the little bits flow up it.

lol btw when i read the title of this thread i though it said "betta got raped in the siphon" sorry just had to share that

 

[Teelie]

That just sounds so wrong.

 

[Gill]

So Sorry to hear that, I hope He recovers fully

 

[Rory the cat]

Hope he's okay. My Albino Cory did exactly the same thing the other day - I looked away for 2 seconds, looked back and zip there he is up the pipe! I nearly had a fit - couldn't get him out at first so had to shake him out.

He sank to the bottom and lay there gasping for 2 minutes, then he was fine. I popped a bit of stress-coat in in case he'd knocked anything. He's been a little quiet the past few days so I am keeping watch on him, but I think he just scared himself. Sure as hell scared me!!

 

[sinistral]

Sorry to hear about that CC; I'm optimistic your betta will recover fully

That happened to me with a 2 centimeter platy fry who decided to zip up into the siphon before I could react (old reflexes and such). I lifted the siphon completely out of the water and he got flushed back into the tank completely unharmed. I bet it was like an amusement park ride for him