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January 2nd, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| He escaped! (cautionary tale)
On Sunday, my favorite and first betta - the one in my avatar - didn't rush to the front of his tank for food when I turned on the light. I panicked immediately and searched his tank, thinking he had died in there.
He's in a 5 gal minibow with the internal Whisper filter. There is a tiny space next to the filter and he somehow jumped out through it! I finally found him behind the tank, lying on the counter. OMG! Threw him back in, where he sank to the bottom, gasping and clamped. 
Put him in a Kritter Keeper with fresh water and he slowly revived. I promised him if he survived, he was getting a 10 gal tank, so the next day I went and got it! 
In the meantime, I got plastic craft sheets and cut it to fit over every single opening in every tank, no matter how small. So even if you think your fish can't fit through a hole, cover it anyway!
However, his accident certainly didn't change or improve his temperament, and this is what I got the day after when I was checking on him.  | 
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January 2nd, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| Im glad that you found him in time!! Thank Goodness!!
I hope he likes his new home! He looks great in the pic. | |
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January 2nd, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| OMGosh! I just read this out loud to my family (they're watching the hockey game) and we all said whew! What a good item to use for closing up holes, that's a great tip for us all. I just love his flare pic! So glad about a happy ending! Thanks for the thrilling story...but just glad it's the last one  | |
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January 2nd, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| I'm glad he's ok! That would be so scary. Love the pic of him! That plastic mesh stuff is great for covering holes.  | |
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January 2nd, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| I"m so relieved!
I do have lots of that plastic mesh stuff, but honestly I never thought such a large fish could get out through such a small opening. Wrong!
Last night I tore my 20 gal apart, looking for my baby albino BN. Finally found him - in the filter! Another lesson learned..
I think my fish are trying to give me ulcers.  | |
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January 2nd, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
|  Sorry bout that discovery so soon after your betta incident. I didn't mean to be a jinx in my reply post  | |
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January 2nd, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Barbrella  On Sunday, my favorite and first betta - the one in my avatar - didn't rush to the front of his tank for food when I turned on the light. I panicked immediately and searched his tank, thinking he had died in there.
He's in a 5 gal minibow with the internal Whisper filter. There is a tiny space next to the filter and he somehow jumped out through it! I finally found him behind the tank, lying on the counter. OMG! Threw him back in, where he sank to the bottom, gasping and clamped.
Put him in a Kritter Keeper with fresh water and he slowly revived. I promised him if he survived, he was getting a 10 gal tank, so the next day I went and got it!
In the meantime, I got plastic craft sheets and cut it to fit over every single opening in every tank, no matter how small. So even if you think your fish can't fit through a hole, cover it anyway!
However, his accident certainly didn't change or improve his temperament, and this is what I got the day after when I was checking on him. |
Sorry to hear this but not shocked. as i said in another post my new boy 'Kismet' looks like your boy. My boy is a jumper too!! The little buggers will take us to an early grave!!!! | |
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January 2nd, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Barbrella
He's in a 5 gal minibow with the internal Whisper filter. There is a tiny space next to the filter and he somehow jumped out through it! I finally found him behind the tank, lying on the counter.
However, his accident certainly didn't change or improve his temperament, and this is what I got the day after when I was checking on him.
| In the picture, it looks like he's throwing you a kiss-kiss for saving him, or more likely for all our applause. He could be saying, "Thank you, thank you, Dahlings. Now for the next number." It also looks like he's wearing pink lipstick. And black mascara around his gorgeous but mischievous eyes. What might seem to be flaring gills could be an elaborate headdress. Then, there are the long purple to red fins. Perfect colors for a flowing gown for a drag queen.
I suspect he *is* a drag queen. They can be snobby and temperamental, but gorgeous with all their makeup and other amusing show tricks. Getting out of the tank was quite a trick that would pit him against the best of the human queens. Like all healthy bettas, I know he can dance. But can he sing?
Seriously, I'm glad it seems you saved him so far and that he looks good. Hope nothing bad develops as a result, and thank you for the warning. Who would have guessed?
Last edited by pamd; January 3rd, 2008 at 12:00 AM.
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January 2nd, 2008
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| | Fish Mentor
| Well, the only experience with fish getting into my filter, ended up deadly. Did your baby BN survive?  | |
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January 3rd, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| OMG...heart attack. My tank isn't covered at all. But I keep the water level down...I think I'll be putting a canopy of some sort on there today. Mine jump but only at me or my bf. | |
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January 3rd, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote: |
Did your baby BN survive?
| Yes, he did! He went in by the outflow and not the intake tube. Quote: |
My tank isn't covered at all. But I keep the water level down
| I'm glad you're putting a cover on. My guy never jumped, or tried to jump, until the night he DID. It's not worth taking the chance with no cover. You'll hate yourself if you come home and find a dead fish. I feel guilty enough and DO have a cover. Quote: |
it looks like he's throwing you a kiss-kiss for saving him,
| LOL, that's his "Stop watching me!" flare. | |
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January 3rd, 2008
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| | Master Of Fish Poo!
| Wow! We're so glad he survived his jump! | |
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January 3rd, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| Yikes. close call. Like you I would never have thought of them jumping through a smaller hole on the lid - I have those also. So glad you found him and he is ok....he sounds like a showman..and he is beautiful. I really like those betas with a personality.
thanks for the tip, How did you secure the plastic mesh 
Val  | |
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January 3rd, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| I cut a slot in the plastic canvas for the filter cord, then attached it to the cord with a twist tie. | |
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January 3rd, 2008
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| | Moderator
| Hi Barbrella
I am so happy that you found your guy in time!  that is great news indeed.
I love the photo of him above.. and the lil guy shouldnt be flaring at you lol... doesnt he realize you saved his life?  He must be a happy camper in his new home! Im so glad this ended with a happy ending  ~ kate | |
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January 3rd, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| Wow. Amazing that you went to check precisely as he'd just jumped out. That fish is a lucky soul! | |
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January 3rd, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| I didn't check precisely when he jumped out. I have no idea how long he was lying there.
I'm just lucky I found him before he died. Quote: |
the lil guy shouldnt be flaring at you lol
| He's a total brat - flares in my face all the time and bites me too! What a character! | |
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January 4th, 2008
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| | Master Of Fish Poo!
|  LOL.. But would you change that, if you could?  Quote:
Originally Posted by Barbrella He's a total brat - flares in my face all the time and bites me too! What a character! | | |
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