Bitten Tail

[Mamashack]

 
........ and unlike the photo, the bit from the bottom that clicks into the rectangular hole at the top only cover about 3/4 of the space.

Not sure what you mean by this. There is a round side and a straight side to the filter - have you got the top and the bottom matching? Sorry of that seems a bit obvious but I didn't spot it straight away and struggled to put it back together at first. 

 

[PrairieSunflower]

Here is a picture of the bit I mean.... and you can see a tiny bit of leaf has got sucked in. 

 

Mine has a bit of open space there when it is fully clicked together.

 

[PrairieSunflower]

Turns out I was wrong and I do have a spare sponge.  So, I cut two slivers and have placed it inside around the lever that changes the spout direction and snapped it back together.  Hopefully that will either block the sucking or just block his fins from actually going into that bit.

 

[Blondielovesfish]

Hopefully, keep us updated.