Puffer in the intake

[pondfreak4365]

While cleaning my daughter's puffer tank, I accidentally knocked off the intake cover. Tried to get it back on, but the phone rang and I had to go pick up my kiddo from a friend's house. We got back home and went straight to the puffer tank, but could not find him! Then I noticed that the filter was stopped. He had been sucked up the intake and was lodged in the impeller cage! I thought he was a goner, but finally managed to shake the cage and he came out like a shot! He is still doing ok, no cuts or abrasions and he is eating fine 2 days later. I will never answer the phone with an uncovered intake again! What a close call.

 

[Pufferpack]

Glad to hear the tough littler gaffer is Ok, bet he won't go near the intake for a while . That is one hazzard with keeping small fish , I lost a Bumblebee goby to vac while doing a cleaning, sucked the little guy right up, I thought he was going to be fine when I put him back into the tank but he must have enjoyed the ride because 2 mins later he zipped from the back of the tank right into the vac hose....unfortunately he didn't survive the second ride

 

[ginamoore]

same thing happoned to me with my freswater puffer last year. i was cleaning my husbend's tank and i went into the bathroom to clean out the intake and when i returned couldnt find one of my puffer's, untill i noticed the filter had stoped. had to take off the hole intake and there he was still alive but bearly. he lived for about 24 hours but sadly didnt make it. i sware i cryed like a baby. and my husbend wantd to strangle me he loved his puffers. and said i should have known better I do now!

 

[djangoboots]

I think a lot more people have done this once or twice and would never admit it. I know I have. Neither of them made it and one of them was a beautiful frontosa baby. I've never felt so bad in my life. It was worse then when I hit the racoon on the overpass. Live and learn... )

 

[pondfreak4365]

I was doing plenty of crying as soon as I realized where Satan was. When I pulled off the assembly I could see his face, but he's so fat, he was stuck. I have NEVER been as happy as I was when he literally flew out of that little impeller guard. He looks too large to even fit in the tube. I have learned my lesson.