I Almost Killed A Fish

[SharonCC]

....and I admit, it's my fault, so please no nasty comments. I was doing a large a large water change on my 55gal...getting ready to go out of town for a few days, so this is the second change this week. I want to leave nothing to chance. I left the syphon going, empting the tank, and walked away to make a cup of tea. I did all eight tanks today, so though I'd have a cup while I was doing the last one. When I checked the tank, the water level had not gone down much. Thinking it was blocked, I reversed flow....and out shot a Congo Tetra!!! I can't believe he went up the syphon...the fish is at least two inches long, and the width of the syphon is maybe, an inch. He went belly up, and couldn't swim. Then he straightened out, and after a rest in a plant, he's swimming normally. His tail is damaged...part of it has been ripped off, at the base. I added Melafix to prevent infection. I don't know if the tail will grow back, as it's gone from the base of the tail...I'm leaving on Sun, and will be gone for 5days...Are there any other precautions I should take? Should I continue Melafix every day until Sunday?

 

[minxfishy]

Oh dear, things like this happen, so dont beat yourself up too much.

I would continue the melafix up to sunday, do another water change before you go and add another dose.

 

[orange shark]

dont blame yourself for it, ive done exactly the same with a betta

kinda catches you by suprise eh

 

[guppy_man]

I would say it happens to everyone in fishkeeping, accidentley killing a fish.

 

[nosoup4you]

I had to euthanize a Cory last week because I crushed him with a rock during a gravel vac.

 

[SharonCC]

Thanks all...I'm feeling a bit better, afer hearing that other people have had accidents like this. I think I probably feel worse than the fish...he's swimming around, looking his normal self...well, except for the tail. Do you think it can grow back, even though it's very close to the base of the tail....

 

[drobbyb]

I have accidentally killed a few fish in my time as well. It always breaks my heart. You have already done what I would have suggested to treat the tail. Melafix was made for situations like this. I'm unsure if it will grow back completely but it will certainly heal.

 

[SharonCC]

Thanks!

 

[Corleone]

This happened to me, too, with a peppered cory. I only took my eyes off the siphon for about ten seconds while I moved my bucket to the other end of the tank and when I looked back I saw him struggling in the valve. I didn't think he'd make it, since he was pretty scraped up, but I still have him. He's never been quite as playful as my other corys, which is a shame, since he's a long finned one and quite nice looking when he actually has his dorsal fin up.

 

[Jim Curtis]

Thats nothing. Yesterday I ate a beer battered deep fried Haddock.

 

[drobbyb]

Thats nothing. Yesterday I ate a beer battered deep fried Haddock.

 

[shellz2008]

horrible when stuff like this happens i squashed my bristlenose when i picked up a rock, but thankfully hes still alive.

 

[SharonCC]

I've been away for five days... just checked my Congo, and the tail is growing back!!! Yay!!!!!!

 

[kevinthecow]

lulz, congrats!


And thats why I moniter my fish,

 

[Phage]

My female german blue ram got curious and was trying to 'eat' my flourite substrate that was swirling around in the siphon, she almost got sucked up too
Happy to hear it is doing well