Red1313

So I got home from class yesterday (my family was over so I only gave the tanks a quick check) and Charlie was hanging out behind the filter. Ok I didn't think much of it I mean after all there was more traffic then usual in the apartment and I just figured he was spooked. Last night I couldn't get him to come out from behind the filter, I was literally getting no response, however all the lights were off in his tank and the others so I figured ok he's sleeping hard. This morning I get up and he's in the exact same position. Ok now so something's up. I stick my hand in the tank to sort of "shoo" him away and low and behold, the rotter has the first couple rays of his dorsal fin tangled in the floss I use to slow the water down! I don't know for sure how long he was stuck there but I tried easing him out (one hand on the floss two fingers on his back) and that didn't work. So I pulled out the scissors and carefully snipped at the floss until he was free. However he still has a bit of "fuzz" stuck in his dorsal. I fed him and I've got to run to class now. I'll post pic's later and I'm definetly removing the floss until later when I can deal with it.
Charlie seems a little off and his back just in front of his dorsal is redish hopefully he'll be ok until I get back.

Shawnie

aww red poor charlie!
ive use it for years and never had an issue like that.....but my floss isnt hanging in the water by any means ..and if i use it on the intake, i put an elastic totally around it....free floating floss isnt good at all for any fish ....I hope he does ok!!!!!!!!!

Lucy

Wow, first I've heard of a fish getting caught on it. Kind of a freaky thing, isn't it?
Def. post some pics later. I'd like to see how you had it set up.
I had mine hanging down like Shawnies.
Hope your babys are ok.

Red1313

Ok so the pictures a late but the situation is... evolving.

First two pictures are of how I had the floss. (I've not removed it and Charlie appears to have no issues with it so I won't be replacing it.) Next is the best pic i could get of him right after I got him out. (blury but you can see the bit of floss that's still stuck on him.

Attached Images

	DSC07688-smaller-.JPG (699.7 KB, 76 views)
	DSC07689-smaller-.JPG (678.5 KB, 75 views)
	DSC07687-smaller-.JPG (467.0 KB, 73 views)

Red1313

Apparently there was more damage to by boy then I thought... not sure what to do now. He's active, and swimming, begging whenever I go by the tank so not sure if I should be concerned about the floss that's still stuck on him or just leave it be.

Attached Images

DSC07695-smaller-.JPG (568.3 KB, 72 views)

peacemaker92

So sorry about your boy getting stuck. Sounds painful. It freaked me out reading about how you had to cut the floss. Scared me there, thought you were going to cut his fins or something before I finished reading that part.

Well, I doubt the floss would do more damage unless it gets caught somewhere and your boy might get stuck again. I'm sure other members might have other opinions. Good luck and hope Charlie recovers soon.

Lucy

Poor thing. I wonder if you held on to it, if it would just loosen enough to come off while he swam.
I doubt I'd go tugging hard at it, use your best judgment.
I see the floss you're talking about now. I use a peice of filer media cut from a cartridge or a sponge, not the fluffy stuff.

whisper

regular floss is to loose. You have to use the polyester quilt matting. It stays flat and does a great job of slowing the flow. Just open the filter cartrige, cut the quilt mat the width of the filter box return flow. Stick one end of this in the filter cartrige and close it with the little clip. Have your piece of mat long enough to hang into the tank water or just above the water depending on how much you want to slow it down. This is how I do it and it works great. Also you will be suprised at the added amount of crud that gets filtered out on it that doesn't get filtered out of the regular filter.

aquarist48

Hello Red. Sorry to hear that your Charlie scared you. I would also recommend using a sponge to slow down your current. You may have to catch the little fellow in your hand and gently try and remove it. Some additional stress reliever would help too once you're done. Keep us posted.

How To: Slow Down Current From A Filter
A link you may find helpful above.

Ken

shellbell4ever

Oh my poor charlie I hope he recovers,he sure has kept you on your toes hasn't he I used a piece of plastic canvas cut to size in front of my overflow it worked for me Please keep us posted...

Shawnie

oh poor charlie boy!!!!
red , I would find some sterile surgical gloves(without residue on the outside of them) and palm him gently under the water...take some sterile tweezers and slowly try to remove the strands ...using some sterile fingernail scissors if you have some stuck pieces....then a week or so of partial daily water changes with some stress coat+ ......floating floss is what caused this and should be more stuffed in the filter with just a bit hanging out to touch the surface of the water..you can use the free stuff just as good as the other but cant be free floating....im sending much love to the charlie man!!!! hes a tough cookie

Melissawater

Oh poor boy, I hope he is okay

Red1313

<hugs>
Thanks everyone. Luckily the last of the fuzz must have come off while he was swimming last night so that at least isn't a worry. Also the top edge of his dorsal (or at least what remains of it) is turning black so I'm hoping that's re-growth that I'm seeing.