The (big) problem with decor...

Decor can be useful as a way to transfer some BB to a new tank or a QT - along with some seeded filter media. I have a few little pieces I keep in my main tank for that very purpose... however:

A couple of days ago, a little inner voice called me out of the blue to take a look at my fish (as if that NEVER happens, LOL!), and my gaze fell to the little house pictured below. Something looked odd - and then I realized that one of my Bronze Corys was stuck in the tiny porthole at the top! His mouth and barbels were clearly visible, and I could tell he was on his side. I picked up the house and tried to shake him free... no luck, so I evvvver so gently nudged him with my fingertip until he broke free. Needless to say, the house is no longer in the tank.

I wish I'd snapped a pic because the sight was unbelievable - but my brain went immediately to "save the little guy!" I would never have imagined that a fully grown Bronze Cory could get himself nudged sideways, face first, in a hole 3" up from the substrate, and a mere 3/8" in diameter!

No doubt our very experienced aquarists here on FishLore are nodding, "yes, indeed"... but for the rest of us.. beware! Ensure that any openings in decor are at minimum, larger than the maximum circumference of your largest tank resident. Tough lesson learned!

PS: Just FYI, "Cat 3" as I call him (we live in hurricane territory) was seriously shaken at the time, but today, a few days later, he's doing fine. There's a little mark, a potential minor injury, near his dorsal fin and I'm monitoring that - but so far, no issue...

 

Been there, done that and lesson learned. If there is a hole fish will attempt to go through it. In my case it was also a cory. Little guy went on to live many more years. I had one just this morning that had wedged itself between the glass and a sponge filter. I moved the filter out just a tiny bit to prevent that happening again.

 

Yup you even need to silicone a small stone or something in the hole of the little orange terra cotta pots. I have heard many stories on fish getting stuck in those too.

 

Mattgirl and StarGirl, two of my favorite gurus on this site - if it's happened to experts like each of you, I feel a little better. Thank you for (again) sharing your wisdom!

 

I know we get posts here on occasion of people losing their bettas because they get stuck and die in some of the smaller decor, or in holes on the smaller decor. Like kids, if a fish can figure out a way to do something stupid, they sure will!

 

Fish are basically toddlers that eat-poop and get into things they aren't suppose to.

 

I had to bust apart a log decoration that one of my yoyo loaches got trapped inside. That guy is still alive and still gets into everything, but I try to be very careful what to add to the tank, fingers crossed.