Devon

Yesterday I did a water change in my Neon/Barb tank which I've been treating for ich, so I'm vacuuming the gravel every time. I always unplug all the electric devices for safety reasons, including the light, so sometimes it's difficult to see exactly what I'm doing. I've never had a problem with my neons getting too brave when I'm messing around in the tank, but after the water change I couldn't find my sixth neon. I'm pretty sure that he got too close to the siphon and was sucked up in it... and flushed with the old water. I feel like such a horrible person... I can't believe I didn't notice him in the bucket.

From now on, all my neons are coming out of the tank before water changes. Completely unacceptable that I let something like this happen...

Amanda

Don't beat yourself up! Neons are so small, it could have been overlooked so easily. But at least you're making sure that it could never happen again. I'm sorry that you lost your neon.

Lucy

I'm so sorry Devon, it was a terrible accident.
I have neons and turn off all my stuff too, I can see how something like that can happen. Try not to be hard on yourself.

Blub

I have cherry barbs which are the same size as black neons... Have you checked the filter? There is no current to stop them getting in when it's off. I wouldn't take them out of the tank, but check the bucket thoroughly (A white bucket and flashlight will help) because it will be extremely stressful to be removed from the tank every week for them!

Cody

im worse. i was adding tubing to one of my filters so it would extend farther down in the tank and i had the intake pulled off for size reference adn the filter was going still it was just part of the intake taht was still in the tank and i saw one of my platys looking around buy the intake and will it went stragith up it. i saved her and she was fine just shooken up for a little bit

platy ben

Dont worry about it devon thats an easy mistake to make!

Mohawk group hug lol!

sirdarksol

Not gonna tell you not to feel bad, since I do the same thing. However, it is a simple mistake to make (all the more reason to take steps to make sure it doesn't happen again). I worry about this every time that I do a water change in my big tank.

Cody

shrimp are always hard to watch out for also

KyWildFish

Sorry to hear about that, its hard to accidently kill something (makes even this hard guy kind of sick). What I do to protect the little guys I have is put a small piece of screen in the intake for the vacuum. Its holes are big enough to let the garbage through and the screen will keep the little ones from going through the vacuum. I also have a spot lamp I use when cleaning with the equipment off. Just some preventative stuff I have tried. Sorry about the experience.

Devon

A screen is a really good idea... thank you! I am going to try and find something to fit my vacuum now... some of them REFUSE to be netted and I refuse to un-plant my entire tank every week just to get them to safety. We'll see...

LilMollieBreeder

sorry about your poor tetra. when I first had my dalmatian's molly babies two of the poor babys got sucked up in the filter and they didn't make it