Oranda Got Sucked Into The Gravel Vac - Help!

[CedarZ4]

I've been searching online and it seems like I'm not the only one who's fish became a little too curious and got sucked into the gravel vac.

I was doing a 50% water change with the gravel vac like I normally do. However, this time I was a bit too lazy and was doing everything standing up and without vision of the tank, poor decision. Without my knowing, my oranda got stuck into the vacuum tube. He was too large and was stuck at the opening. Like I normally do, I continuously stick the vacuum tube in and out of the gravel and in the process, kept banging the poor oranda against the floor as I was doing it. When I noticed there was no gravel sound, I took a look and there was the poor guy. I quickly turned off the suction.

He quickly sank to the bottom and was hanging out in the corner of the tank, sideways. I saw that on one side of his body, there were red marks, almost like internal bleeding or bruising. Even before this incident, he wasn't very active and would constantly just lay on the bottom sideways playing dead. He had no problem swimming up when he wanted to, so I didn't think he had swim bladder disease. It's been a day sine this has happened and it looks like he's alive. When he was in the main tank, the other fish kept schooling around him, so I put him into a quarantine bowl. Like before, he's been sideways, on the bottom and barely moving. What else should I be doing? Will he make it, her is my favorite guy? I'm guessing organ or swim bladder damage. He's eating and pooping so that is a good sign (I hope).

Any advice would be great, thank you!

 

[TheAquariumGuy]

You could try putting him into a hospital tank and monitoring him ( I assume you have other fish in the tank with him). This will mean he isn't attacked or bullied by other fish and you can more easily see him and care for him. I think it might just be a waiting game

Good luck, I hope he/she recovers

TheAquariumGuy

 

[PrairieSunflower]

Could you post a picture of the injuries?
 
I would insure pristine water for now, do you have a breeder net?  You could place him in there in the main tank if you don't have another filtered tank available to quarantine him in.

 

[Ninjouzata]

What size is this bowl? I'd think it'd be easier to keep his water clean in the main tank as ammonia will build up really fast in the bowl.
 
What size is the tank that he usually resides in? How much water do you change and often?
Water parameters? (pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate) What are the other tankmates?

 

[Alasse]

Can i ask why you "kept banging the poor oranda against the floor" in the first place. I'm sorry, but common sense would surely prevail and you would either net the poor thing or shoo him at the least out of the way??

 

[betta fish]

Can i ask why you "kept banging the poor oranda against the floor" in the first place. I'm sorry, but common sense would surely prevail and you would either net the poor thing or shoo him at the least out of the way?

?

I don't think they realised the oranda was in the tube so carried on cleaning, just an accident by the sounds of things, fish are too curious for their own good sometimes, especially bettas! fancy goldfish often get swim bladder due to their body shape and possibly feeding of freeze dried and dried foods such as flake make it worse what is the diet you usually feed? I'd keep the water very clean to heal any wounds he may have.

 

[Alasse]

I have fancy goldies and while they do like to swim near the tube, never once have they not been able to swim out of the vaccum current, in fact as soon as they feel it they move away. For the oranda to get into the vac tube, it was not well to start with. The results dont sound good at all, internal damage at the least. If it is that inactive, chances are it may not make it
 
Might pay to keep an eye on the vacuum next time, accidents happen, i understand that. But blindly vacuuming away for heaven knows how long was not the best idea